This author has yet to write their bio.Meanwhile lets just say that we are proud Peter Gardner contributed a whooping 716 entries.
New research released today (31 March) reveals that the impact of the pandemic has resulted in the average driver reducing their mileage by 42 per cent over the last year. However, there has not been an equivalent drop in the amount of pothole damage to the nation’s vehicles.
Almost one in seven (14 per cent) UK drivers have considered getting rid of their car because of the pandemic (17 per cent men and 11 per cent women), rising to one in three (35 per cent) of under 34s. According to a new survey of 2,000 UK drivers by InsuretheGap, a provider of Guaranteed Asset Protection (GAP) insurance, over half (56 per cent) say they do not need a car as much as they did before the pandemic (53 per cent men and 59 per cent women).
Ahead of May’s introduction of the new-style European tyre label, Test World has begun ice grip testing for customers at its facility in Ivalo, Northern Finland. The existing 3PMSF ‘snowflake’ symbol indicates that a tyre is suitable for both Central Europe and Nordic countries, but Test World says that, in reality, the technical demands of these two markets are very different. Nordic winter conditions are typically far harsher than in Central Europe, with more snow and ice on the roads.
The first bespoke Electric Vehicle (EV) charging forecourt opened in Essex recently, regarded by some as heralding the demise of petrol and diesel service stations. The move is applauded by motorists who remain uncertain about the practicalities of charging EV batteries, including charging times and home charging. A recent survey from Venson Automotive Solutions confirms that 68 per cent of drivers would be more likely to make the switch to an EV if they knew they could conduct a rapid 30-minute charge at an electric forecourt rather than the inconvenience of charging their vehicle at home.
Transaid has launched its much-awaited 2021 UK Cycle Challenge, laying down the gauntlet to transport and logistics industry professionals to dust off their lycra, polish their saddles and gear up for the epic coast-to-coast fundraising event, which takes place from 24-26 September 2021.
The battery experts at Varta are issuing advice to vehicle drivers around the risks and complexity of attempting a DIY battery replacement in this age of increasingly complex cars. Varta say that its new awareness campaign seeks to dispel the myth that changing a battery continues to be the easy DIY task it was through previous decades. The advice from Varta is to do their research and if possible, to proactively seek battery fitting options, and if in any doubt, to check in with their local independent garage before attempting a battery change themselves.
On 23 March 2021 the Magna Tyres Group celebrated its 15th anniversary since its foundation in 2006. In the short time since its foundation, the group has grown from a rubber compound specialist to a global player in the market of OTR, Industrial and Truck tyres.
Imerys, a leading supplier of mineral-based specialty solutions, reports a significant reduction in tyre replacement and vehicle downtime since installing a TyreWatch remote monitoring service at its quarry in Furzebrook, Dorset. With a mixed fleet of off-road heavy plant and six bulk tippers, Imerys was looking for a solution to combat problems associated with tyre-pressure loss and, following a recommendation, turned to TyreWatch and their industry-specific PlantSmart telematics system.
Michelin is now offering expert tyre fitting and maintenance training for operators of industrial and heavy-duty machinery via two new one-day courses. The Safe Earthmover Tyre Fitting and Safe Crane Tyre Fitting programmes are delivered at the customer’s site by experts from the Michelin Training & Information Centre (MTIC). The sessions are appropriate for in-house technicians, or tyre dealers, working in a variety of sectors, including surface mining, underground mining, quarries, construction and materials handling.
NGK Spark Plugs (UK) Ltd has appointed Marko Wowczyna UK managing director, effective April 1, 2021. He replaces Tammy Suzuki who NGK says has returned to Japan after four years at the helm. Mr Wowczyna becomes the firm’s first-ever non-Japanese UK MD. With nearly 25 years’ experience in the automotive aftermarket, Wowczyna joined NGK Spark Plugs (UK) Ltd in 2012 as general manager – aftermarket.
Fresh evidence has emerged of the rapidly-growing appeal of electric vehicles for drivers, with a majority of motorists now saying they will consider one ‘in the near future’. That’s according to research by the online car supermarket BuyaCar.co.uk, which is tracking the attitude of motorists to electric vehicle adoption. It’s the first time a majority of car buyers have signalled that their switch to an EV is imminent.
The National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA), which represents franchised car and commercial vehicle retailers in the UK, carries out the Dealer Attitude Survey twice a year. The survey has taken place continuously since 1989. With a total of 2,585 responses from 32 participating dealer networks, the survey received a response rate of 59.5 per cent. “It is positive that despite the significant disruption faced by our industry over the past twelve months, dealers are, on average, fairly satisfied with the relationship with their respective manufacturers”, said Sue Robinson, Chief Executive of the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) which represents franchised car and commercial vehicle dealers in the UK, commenting on the results of the NFDA Dealer Attitude Survey winter 2020/2021 published on Monday 15 March 2021.
As a leading automotive supplier, Hella wants to further accelerate its own efforts against climate change and send a clear signal for climate protection. So, by 2025, all 38 Hella production sites worldwide are to manufacture in a CO2-neutral manner. Carbon neutrality is to be achieved in particular through further energy savings and the purchase of green electricity. At the same time, remaining and unavoidable emissions are to be offset by investments in high-quality certified climate protection projects. In addition, Hella aims to ensure a consistently climate-neutral supply chain by 2050 at the latest and to supply customers worldwide with CO2-neutral products.
Commenting on the government’s decision to cut the Plug-in Grant for electric vehicles, Sue Robinson, Chief Executive of the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA), which represents franchised car and commercial vehicle dealers in the UK, said: “The decision to cut the Plug-in Car Grant and Van & Truck Grant is extremely disappointing as it risks undermining the progress the UK has been making towards a zero-emission market in line with the 2030/2035 deadline set by the Government.
Falken Tyre’s parent company, Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) has successfully developed technology that generates electric power from tyre rotation and supplies this to peripheral tyre sensors. The company says that this marks a major leap towards achieving Sensing Core Technology applications that will be instrumental in enabling future mobility trends.
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