Parts suppliers have started 2021 with mixed feelings of optimism and caution. Optimism, because demand for vehicles and components is picking up more rapidly than expected and the appetite for new, innovative technologies is accelerating. Caution, because the scars from 2020 are deep and the level of uncertainty remains high. Thorsten Muschal (above), member of the management of … [Read more...]
Newslines 1 December
The motorist and transport industry will pay the price for the Government’s support package for the UK in the Chancellor's Spring Budget, said Howard Cox, Founder of FairFuel UK. Fuel duties which have been frozen in recent years are likely to be substantially increased as HMRC has lost huge income and the Government wants to discourage motoring to save emissions and drive its green … [Read more...]
Continuing disagreement over evs “green” credentials
While more and more companies are focusing on electromobility in order to meet climate targets, the scientific community has by no means reached a consensus on what the propulsion system of the future will look like. This is shown in a new infographic from Block-Builders.net (right). The CO2 balance of an electric car looks much less attractive than that of a conventional combustion engine when … [Read more...]
Newslines 3 November
Demand for used cars is 15% higher than it was at this time last year, coinciding with a decline in sales of new cars, says AA Cars. Drivers’ interest in used cars spiked to 9.1%above pre-pandemic levels when forecourts re-opened in June, but the new analysis shows that demand has continued to pick up since then with searches on the AA Cars platform in September an average4% higher than they were … [Read more...]
EU risks undermining national low carbon drive
The -55% climate target announced last week makes the EU Green Deal the most ambitious climate initiative in the world, said green group Transport & Environment. But European Commission president Ursual von der Leyen risks undermining her own efforts with a plan that would undercut national action to cut pollution from cars and trucks added the pressure group. Emissions trading would be … [Read more...]
Newslines 15 September
Daimler will pay a $875 million or £681.30 million civil penalty for violating US clean air laws as part of a $1.5 billion settlement with US and California regulators over excess diesel emissions in passenger vehicles and vans, two people briefed on the matter said. It relates to claims over 250,000 US diesel cars and vans after the automaker used software to evade emissions rules. Former … [Read more...]
Newslines 30 June
About 10M cars are expected to hit UK roads at the weekend and head off for getaways, despite facing £60 FPN fines in Wales. Travel restrictions will be lifted in England but not Wales and the RAC says it expects a spike in breakdown calls and urges motorists to check over their cars this week before travelling. Carbon dioxide emissions from new cars in Europe rose for a third year running in … [Read more...]
Tradelines 24 June
Nissan and Renault have been dragged into a new law suit over alleged illegal emissions and defeat testing devices in UK cars. Up to 1.4 million cars could be involved claims law firm Harcus Parker, nearly all diesel but also 100,000 petrol engines, but the car makers have denied the claim and said they have fully complied with testing legislation. Italy is poised to guarantee the equivalent of … [Read more...]
Real world emissions show cleanest cars and vans
New real-world data on vehicle emissions will allow revitalisation of an automotive industry and global economy devastated by the COVID-19 outbreak but with cleaner air and reduced impact on climate change. The AIR Index at airindex.com identifies the cleanest cars to give buyers confidence to switch to cleaner vehicles and restore the automotive industry badly impacted by the pandemic. The … [Read more...]
EVs a third cleaner than conventional cars
Environmental group Transport and Environment has developed a tool that compiles all the most up-to-date data on CO2 emissions linked to the use of an electric, diesel or petrol car. It took into account all possible criteria such as the amount of CO2 emitted when electricity is produced or fuel is burnt, as well as the carbon impact of resource extraction for batteries or of building a power … [Read more...]