A whole new cell of cars is being created for our electric future and some of them were lined up at the annual SMMT driving day for motoring writers last week. We have seen hybrid adaptations of some familiar models and they have been joined by pure electric derivatives but these are about to be replaced by a completely new generation from the world’s car-makers. After Tesla broke new ground … [Read more...]
Traffic volumes still below pre-pandemic peak
Traffic volumes appear to still be below pre-pandemic levels with flexible working patterns that have become commonplace across the UK likely to be a major factor, said RAC head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes. "Nonetheless, the trend is upwards, especially so for vans and HGVs – both of which show higher traffic volumes than prior to the pandemic. Therefore it remains vitally important that the … [Read more...]
Welsh Government dictate road closure
Welsh Government has told Cardiff to reconsider traffic arrangements and consider permanently closing Castle Street. It was shut to traffic during the Covid pandemic in summer 2020 and then gradually reopened but modified with restricted lanes. The Welsh government has now told the city council to find alternatives to cut pollution. The council said its cabinet will take a … [Read more...]
Public EV charging costs rise 42%
The cost to charge an electric car on a pay-as-you-go basis at a publicly accessible ‘rapid’ charger has increased by 42% – or 18.75p per kilowatt hour – since May to reach an average of 63.29p per kilowatt hour, new data from RAC Charge Watch indicates. The increase – caused by the soaring costs of wholesale gas and electricity – means that it now costs drivers on average £32.41 to rapid charge … [Read more...]
Safety and higher emissions issues from older vehicles
A time-bomb in safety and environmental issues is on our roads. With a shortage of new cars and cost of switching to electric vehicles holding back sales, the average age of the UK car park has risen to 8.7 years. That's a rise of 12 months in the last decade and with the brakes on new business and models coming through it is believed the average age might soon exceed 10 years, the oldest it has … [Read more...]
Charger availability will be 98% worse in 2031
Finding an electric car charger in 2031 will be 98% harder than it is today, according to a GoCompare Car Insurance. This emerges despite the ban on new petrol and diesel car sales, which is set to come in from 2030, highlighting that the country’s infrastructure may struggle to accommodate electric vehicles. Last year, there were 266 electric vehicles (EVs) to each public charger in the UK, … [Read more...]
Homeowners cashing in with EV charge-points
Homeowners with an electric vehicle charging point on their driveway are earning an average of £1,020 a year by renting out their amenity to motorists looking for somewhere to park and charge. That’s according to the online parking portal, yourparkingspace.co.uk, who in recognition of World EV Day on 9 September, has analysed its booking data to reveal that clever homeowners are making a handy … [Read more...]
Higher charging costs threaten electric cars, says RAC
There’s potential for the Government’s net-zero transport ambitions to be derailed if higher electricity prices put drivers off from switching to an electric model, said RAC EV spokesperson Simon Williams. The 34p per kilowatt hour Energy Price Guarantee will significantly cushion the impact of rising energy prices affecting drivers of electric cars. “From 1 October it will cost on average … [Read more...]
How to look after your electric vehicle & keep it tip-top
With a huge hike in domestic utility costs, there’s an even greater focus on whether electric cars are still cheaper to fuel than petrol and diesel cars, says Graham Conway, Managing Director at Select Car Leasing. To extend the range of your EV battery without breaking the bank, I share my top tips on how to find the most cost-effective charging options. Charge off-peak Some energy providers … [Read more...]
Halve your new company car costs
With the cost-of-living crisis heading the domestic political agenda, an EV salary sacrifice car scheme costs nothing to introduce, works for all employees, and can save workers hundreds of pounds per month. An innovative electric car scheme holds the key to solving the two crises facing the world today – the climate emergency and the cost-of-living crisis. After a summer of record-breaking … [Read more...]