Newport has the highest MoT failure rate in Wales and it’s tenth in the league of losers nationwide. Wipers and washers are the most common cause of MoT failures and can be easily avoided says a spokesman for the AA Garage Guide. Oxford is currently the favoured location for building an electric version of the Mini, two sources familiar with the company's thinking told Reuters. BMW has … [Read more...]
Fleets adopting more hybrids and EVs
More than half of UK fleets are already operating at least one alternative fuel to traditional petrol and diesel models or are planning to do so in the next three years – an increase of 6% since 2015. The finding comes from the 2017 edition of Arval’s long-established Corporate Vehicle Observatory Barometer, research which covers 3,847 fleets. Their choices include traditional hybrids (22% … [Read more...]
Smart-charging trial to ease power demand
The last week has seen an explosion of news items about increasing numbers of electric vehicles (EVs), including France banning petrol and diesel cars by 2040, Volvo planning to sell only electric and hybrid vehicles by 2019, and Tesla announcing that its Model 3 mass-market electric car has started rolling off production lines. There have been many subsequent articles in the media about … [Read more...]
Government EV plans are short of range, says RAC
Drivers will be let down by Government proposals outlined to Parliament this morning, according to the RAC. Reacting to announcements made as part of today's Queen's Speech at the Houses of Parliament, RAC chief engineer David Bizley said, “While more electric vehicle charging points are welcome, the proposals are rather unambitious and do not include plans for more charging points in places … [Read more...]
PHEVs are favourite for future
The plug in hybrid market is about to be transformed, say analysts. From the imminent launch of 100 new models, favourable incentives, and emission target compliance, to sufficient battery capacity for daily driving ranges and consumer willingness to pay, plug-in hybrid vehicles, or PHEVs, are ready for growth. The research finds that the global PHEV market is estimated to reach about 3.7 … [Read more...]
Diesel sales take another knock
Diesel car sales in the UK have fallen again. Figures from the SMMT monthly registration show a drop of 20,000 diesels in May compared with a year ago and some believe this is the beginning of the end of the diesel engine in the wake of emissions concerns. It will come as a blow to vehicle makers who have invested millions of pounds, euros and dollars in the latest Euro6 compliant units over … [Read more...]
Tradelines 31 May
The first consignment of Chinese made Volvo S90s have started arriving in Europe after being shipped by rail from their factory, writes Robin Roberts. Up to 225 Volvo cars a week are shipped in special containers so they cannot move in transit on the Iron Silk Road trade route over 6,000 miles in about 18 days, reaching the UK in July. Electric cars will soon be cheaper to buy than … [Read more...]
Brakes going on Wales car sales
March car sales in Wales were 19,885, just 2.1% up on 12-months earlier and the lowest increase in Britain, said the SMMT. With a new plate being introduced, March is traditionally the highest month for registrations and across the UK and they were 8.4% up nationally to 562,337, the highest on record. The jump was largely due to the rise in VED rates from 1 April which will affect every … [Read more...]
Majority business motorists thinking of EVs
Venson Automotive Solutions says 85% of motorists would now consider buying an electric vehicle or choosing one as their company car. However, concern over a lack of charging points is a significant ownership hurdle for those surveyed (69%). People living in the South East of England (88%) were more concerned about the availability of charging points than those living elsewhere in the … [Read more...]
Drivers are ditching diesels for hybrids and electric models
UK drivers are slowly falling out of love with diesel cars as research shows a significant drop in buying intentions in the past three years. Meanwhile, the appetite for hybrid and electric vehicles has doubled since 2014, according to AA Cars, the used car website. The desire for diesels amongst UK drivers has fallen – last year, under two in ten (18%) intended to buy a diesel as their … [Read more...]