On 3 December 2019, Manchester Crown Court cleared five current and past directors and managers of Klarius Products Ltd of charges of selling non-typed approved catalytic converters. Following the news of the Klarius directors’ acquittal, Tyres & Accessories got in touch in order to find out the inside line of what happened in and around the case.
Electric car owners could get more than 1,000 miles of free driving per year following the rollout of a ground-breaking complimentary car charging network. Volkswagen announced last year it had partnered with Tesco and Pod Point to install around 2,400 charging points for electric cars.
The European Commission has approved 3.2 billion euros of battery research and development support under EU State aid rules. The funding comes as the result of an Important Project of Common European interest (IPCEI) application jointly notified by Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Sweden to support research and innovation in the common European priority area of batteries.
The ongoing effects of import tariffs, Brexit uncertainty and structural changes in the distribution chain have all affected the tyre business this year. As well as featuring the latest motorsport news and covering market developments in our regular features, this month’s Tyres & Accessories focuses on a number of key examples of changes in the marketplace in our Review of the Year feature. But one trend stands out above the others – virtualization. In short, increasing moves towards electric and autonomous vehicles (complete with their inherent sensorisation tendencies), coupled with changes in vehicle (and tyre) ownership models such as MaaS (Mobility as a Service) are driving changes in the tyre market that are resulting in the virtualizing of parts of the distribution chain.
During the last week Elon Musk and Tesla have been busily promoting their latest innovation – the Cyber Truck. The combination of its angular design and hugely powerful drivetrain will certainly turn heads. And, if the initial orders are anything to go by, it is set to be very disruptive in the growing SUV/pickup sector. Indeed, during the first 72 hours after the Cyber Truck’s launch 300,000 vehicles were pre-ordered – enough to put the Cyber Truck in the top 10 for annual US sales.
Most functions in the vehicle require electrical power. In vehicles with a combustion engine, this is generated by the alternator. In contrast, the car battery serves as a power store and buffer. But what happens when the belt drive is no longer attached to the crankshaft, as in an electric vehicle? What components take the place of the alternator, and what does that mean for workshops?
Leeds-based company Alfa Power is has been awarded the accolade of “Best EV Charge Point Operator 2019” from SME News, which runs the annual UK Enterprise Awards, showcasing the best in UK small and medium enterprises.
Volvo has announced that drivers and buyers of any new Volvo plug-in hybrid model (PHEV) will benefit from a year’s free electricity to charge their car. The offer is open to both private and business customers. Volvo says this is because its “intention is to encourage drivers to get into the habit of keeping their car’s hybrid battery charged, it’s the company car driver who will receive the refund at the end of the year rather than their employer.”
Ford’s introduction of an electric sport utility vehicle (SUV) in 2020 is “a bold move” according to David Leggett, automotive editor at data and analytics company GlobalData. “The idea is to promote the traditional Mustang brand’s strengths of performance and flair for a vehicle that will be fun and exciting, rather than merely created to help meet future compliance standards. The Mach-EE is no econobox.
Electric Vehicle Approved (EVA) is endorsed by the Government’s Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV). NFDA launched the scheme in May 2019 to recognise expertise in the electric vehicle sector and promote industry standards for the benefit of the consumer.
An electric vehicle is the best option for nearly one-in-five new car buyers in the UK, according to exclusive research by What Car? Analysis of the daily mileage, driving habits and vehicle requirements for more than 8400 users of the What Fuel? Calculator by the UK’s leading consumer champion and new car buying platform, shows 19.2 per cent of drivers could use a fully electric vehicle (EV) as their daily driver without compromising their routine.
A recent report conducted by LeasePlan, which surveyed 4,000 people in 16 countries, found 61 per cent of global respondents favour zero-emission electric driving, while half of UK respondents said their desire to own an electric vehicle (EV) has risen in the last three years, reports GlobalData.
Despite the environment being the biggest driver for switching to an electric vehicle, new research by digital transformation agency, Somo, has identified that the interest in petrol vehicles is not declining. In fact, over half would consider purchasing a petrol engine vehicle next, and, surprisingly, a quarter are still considering diesel engines.
Following the news that Toyota and BYD are setting up a joint company to develop battery electric vehicles (BEVs) targeted at the Chinese market, David Leggett, automotive editor at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, says the cooperation makes sense for both parties.
Morrisons is unveiling its first 50 GeniePoint rapid charging points at its stores nationwide, with a further 50 planned by 2020. To help customers, the GeniePoint charging points have been located around the perimeter of the car parks to ensure they are available to those who need them and not obstructed by other customers, says Morrisons.
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