Alternatively fuelled vehicles, pure electric, petrol-electric hybrids and plug-in hybrids saw a 21% increase in UK new car sales last year to 141,270 units but only 15,474 of those vehicles were pure electric models, writes David Miles. So far this year only around 2,000 battery electric cars were sold in the first five months of the year. Still small steps might lead to big strides as … [Read more...]
News
Local AM to oversee Ford Task Force aid
Welsh Government has set out the aims it wants a task force to work towards following the “devastating” closure announcement last week of the Ford Bridgend Engine Plant. After 40 years on the Waterton site east of Bridgend, Ford will close by autumn 2020 and make 1,700 people redundant. Ken Skates, Minister for Economy and Transport, said local AM and former First Minister Carwyn Jones, who has … [Read more...]
Newslines 11 June
Traffic jams on the M4 around and west of Swansea are 78% worse over two decades than South East Wales, says analysis. Work by transport consultant Mark Berry suggests it’s down to the rise in housing estates close to motorway junctions and with still more planned the situation will get far worse without major public transport investment. Half of regular drivers say they are suffering more … [Read more...]
Solar car-port puts rivals in the shade
A Welsh company is launching a high technology car-port which puts rivals in the shade, using advanced solar power panels. BiPVco of Newport also produces flexible panels for the roofs of boats, motor homes, caravans and commercial vehicles and its product is being used on the latest patient transport vehicles ordered by the Welsh Ambulance Service Trusts as part of a £13.5M transport … [Read more...]
Future on wheels is not what you think
From driving to the nearest shop to get some essentials, commuting to work by train or flying to your dream holiday destination, getting around the world has never been easier in 2019. In the last 200 years especially, transport has completely transformed. With the first steam railway built in 1804, the first credited automobile created by Karl Benz in Germany in 1885-1886, to the first powered … [Read more...]
Union urges nationwide fight over Ford Bridgend closure
Ford workers across Britain must stand together against the closure of the Bridgend Engine Plant, GMB Congress has said. An emergency motion, passed at GMB’s Annual Conference in Brighton yesterday, called on the company to reconsider the closure – which will cost 1,700 jobs. Ford workers at the car giant's other UK plants must stand alongside their Bridgend colleagues, the motions … [Read more...]
Volvo takes a head start in cycling safety
Volvo Cars, a leader in automotive safety, is teaming up with top Swedish sports and safety brand POC for a series of world-first crash tests of bike helmets against cars as part of a ground-breaking new research project that aims to further protect cyclists. The partnership is the latest example of Volvo Cars’ leading position in safety development and its ambition to improve road safety for … [Read more...]
Newslines 10 June
Ford will sell its idle Russian plants. Its passenger-vehicle production in Russia will cease by the end of June following the closure of its Fiesta and EcoSport car plants in Naberezhnye Chelny and Focus and Mondeo assembly in Vsevolozhsk near St. Petersburg and an engine plant in Elabug. Toyota will explore making solid-state traction batteries in 12 months time. It is increasing ev … [Read more...]
Summer drink-drive crackdown warning
Motorists are being issued with a drink-drive warning as police gear up for their annual summer crackdown. The number of roadside breath tests carried out in June is 50% higher than any other month apart from December. Police breathalysed 36,041 drivers in England and Wales in June 2017, the latest year for which figures are available. This compares with a monthly average of 23,840 across … [Read more...]
EV planning is improving, say dealers
There’s increasing retailer satisfaction levels with manufacturers’ approach to the electric vehicle sector, said Sue Robinson, Director of the National Franchised Dealers Association. Commenting on the results of the latest Electric Vehicle Dealer Attitude Survey, Ms Robinson went on to say the main objective of the survey is to understand retailers’ views on the approach to the electric … [Read more...]