Cenex, the Loughborough-based Centre of Excellence for Low Carbon and Fuel Cell Technologies, has chosen Chargemaster, the largest UK supplier and operator of chargepoints, to run the Plugged-in Midlands Network (PiM) following a competitive selection process.
The National Franchise Dealer Association has stated that it remains “optimistic about the rise of Ultra Low Emission Vehicles (ULEVs), and London’s plans to become the ultra-low emission vehicle capital of Europe,” following a speech by Isabel Dedring, London’s deputy mayor for transport. Sue Robinson, the association’s director, added that the NFDA “hopes that there will be sufficient support to ensure their uptake.”
The UK’s plug-in vehicle sector is already experiencing record levels of demand in 2015 and the finale of the Formula E season in London could accelerate this trend. With thousands of spectators watching the races, plus millions more watching the event across the world, electric vehicle campaign Go Ultra Low anticipates a boost to plug-in car enquiries and registration figures.
The outcome of the FIA Formula E Championship was decided at the final round in London. Sam Bird (Virgin) won the last ePrix of the season, whilst the all-electric series’ inaugural titles were won by Nelson Piquet (Nextev TCR) – Drivers’ championship – and e.dams-Renault – Constructors.
Car hire company Europcar underlined its commitment to moving its fleet to 5 per cent electric vehicles by 2020, with the launch of a new electric vehicle service in Birmingham City. The 100 per cent electrically powered Nissan Leaf cars will be used for delivery and collection of hire cars in Birmingham and will be available to hire at Europcar branches across Birmingham, allowing customers to experience the greenest motoring technology.
The Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV), has clarified the status of the Plug-In Car Grant (PICG), which is available for vehicles emitting less than 75g/km CO2. It has confirmed that the current version of the grant, worth up to £5,000, will end this year, at a date yet to be confirmed. Until that date, OLEV has said that it will honour any deal placed on its system for a qualifying car, provided that the vehicle has been allocated to a customer and is delivered and registered within nine months.
The Mini Plant at Oxford is showcasing a high-efficiency street lighting system that doubles as a charging station for electric vehicles (EVs) during the city’s second Low Carbon Oxford Week. Known as Light & Charge and demonstrated for the first time in the UK, this innovative system is the outcome of a pilot project developed by the BMW Group and is a state-of-the-art LED street light that combines energy-efficient lighting with affordable EV charging.
Formula E’s eighth round was staged over the weekend at Berlin’s former Tempelhof Airport; an unusual backdrop for a track described by tyre supplier Michelin as one of the most delicate of the season for tyres. The twisty 17-turn, 2.47km course was dusty and dirty early in the day due to the relative lack of traffic, while its concrete slabs were particularly abrasive. The circuit’s width also allowed drivers to run three abreast in places, meaning heavy braking and hard acceleration were a feature of the event. These conditions present an obvious challenge for tyres to which Michelin’s grooved Pilot Sport EV rose.
The National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) is urging the Government to review urgently the funding and infrastructure plans associated with alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) to make them a viable option for mainstream motorists.
As a luxury class saloon, the Tesla S stands out from the electric vehicle crowd, making it an interesting vehicle for aftermarket wheel supplier Alutec. The manufacturer has announced that its Pearl alloy wheel will be available for the car in stylish carbon grey in the dimensions 8.5×19 inch and 9.0×20 inch.
Following a positive report from Nissan about the performance and reliability of the battery for its Leaf model, Rupert Pontin, Glass’s head of valuations, said: “This is something of a watershed moment for the EV sector, with a major car manufacturer being able to report on the long-term reliability of batteries for the first time – and the results are very, very good.
Cenex – the UK’s first Centre of Excellence for low carbon technologies – has announced the publication of the ‘Low Carbon Vehicle Public Procurement Programme (LCVPPP) Reports’.
Consumers will be able to receive a Government grant of up to £1,500 off the sale price of electric motorcycles and scooters, in a bid to encourage the purchase of zero emission two wheeler vehicles, the Government has announced.
Research commissioned by the SMMT has found that the development of connected and autonomous vehicles will help generate 320,000 jobs in the UK. Researchers from KPMG found that these new vehicles will deliver a £51 billion boost to the UK economy and reduce serious road traffic accidents by more than 25,000 a year by 2030. It also forecasts the UK will be a global leader in the production of this next generation of vehicles.
Five years and more than 35,000 European sales since the launch of its all-electric Leaf, proprietary data released by Nissan for the first time shows that 99.99 per cent of its battery units remain entirely fit for purpose.
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