Monthly Archives: November 2020

UK public EV charger network grows by 18%

November 20, 2020Charging, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

The number of public electric vehicle charging points in the UK increased by 18% in 2020, according to the latest data from the Department for Transport (DfT).

The Electric Vehicle Charging Device statistics for October 2020 also shows a 7% increase in available chargers in Q3 2020 alone.

Of the 19,487 public chargers now available in the UK, 3,530 are rapid chargers.

London has the highest level of charging device provision per 100,000 of population but is slightly below average in terms of rapid charging device provision.

Scotland is above average in total devices per 100,000 and has the highest level of rapid device provision

Charlie Jardine, founder and chief executive of electric vehicle charge point and charging software developer EO Charging, said welcomed the 18% increase.

He said: “We look forward to seeing this number grow as EVs are set to be an essential part of how we ‘build back better’ from the Covid-19 pandemic.

“While increasing the availability of public charge points is an important step in overcoming the barriers to EV adoption, 59% of vehicles on roads are company vehicles so businesses must carefully consider installing their own EV charging infrastructure.

“We’ve seen much evidence of businesses leading the way on this in recent months, with significant demand from our customers transforming their fleets across the UK and Europe from diesel and petrol to electric.”

In the North West, the number of total devices available decreased by 4.9% over the quarter, predominantly in the Greater Manchester area.

However, total rapid devices in that region increased by 5.7%.

The number of available devices can fuctuate for a range of reasons.

Owners and operators can choose to temporarily or permanently decommission or replace devices, or they can be unavailable due to faults, maintenance or other restrictions in the area where they are located.

In every other region, the number of charging devices increased across the quarter to October 2020.

The West Midlands saw the largest percentage change but London saw the largest absolute increase of 504 devices which accounted for 41% of all new available devices, further increasing the unequal geographical distribution in the UK.

Rapid devices increased in each region across the quarter with the smallest percentage increase in Scotland. Despite this, Scotland still has the highest number of rapid chargers per 100,000.

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Government ‘no longer has any excuses’ as analysis shows 2030 ICE ban could create 32k jobs

November 19, 2020Energy and Climate Change, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

Bringing in a 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles could create 32,000 new jobs and increase GDP by 0.2%, equivalent to £4.2 billion.

This is according to a new report written by Cambridge Econometrics, supported by Element Energy and on behalf of Greenpeace.

The report used the Department for Transport’s transport model and a macroeconomic model to assess impact of a faster transition.

Under both the 2030 and 2035 scenarios analysed, electric vehicle (EV) adoption undergoes “a rapid increase”, however with a 2035 ban only 60% of the new car market would be made up of EVs compared to almost 100% with the 2030 ban. This results in there being almost 6.5 million more zero emissions vehicles on the road by 2040.

To support a 2030 phase-out date, Greenpeace is calling for additional policies that deliver a network of sufficient charging infrastructure across the whole of the UK, as well as for a zero emissions vehicle mandate to be introduced that sets bindings targets for manufacturers to increase sales of EVs.

The majority of the 32,000 jobs that would be created by 2030 would be in the service industries, such as retail, entertainment and leisure although jobs would also be created in energy, battery manufacturing and the rollout of EV charging infrastructure.

The increased economic activity – also by 2030 – comes as a result of lower costs of owning and running an EV, lower demand for imported oil and its replacement by UK-generated electricity, meaning have increased disposable income and spending is reallocated, frequently towards industries that are currently struggling under COVID-19 restrictions, the report said.

“The government no longer has any excuses. We need a firm commitment to ban new polluting cars and vans by 2030, along with an active industrial strategy to boost manufacturing and support re-skilling, so workers can benefit from new jobs that will be created across the economy,” Doug Parr, UK policy director at Greenpeace, said.

“The rewards are there for the taking. It’s time for the Prime Minister to plug in and put electric vehicles on a fast track to 2030.”

The report comes after the government consulted on bringing the date forward to 2035 or sooner if feasible, with Greenpeace stating it expects a decision to be made on this in an announcement from the Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday 12 November.

Last week, the UK’s four biggest vehicle fleet operators – Centrica, DPD UK, Royal Mail and BT and Openreach – joined the calls for a 2030 ban as part of the UK Electric Fleets Coalition.

Tesla Model 3 wins hearts as famed NYC Taxi, picks up where Nissan Leaf couldn’t

November 18, 2020Electric Cars, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

Images of a Tesla Model 3 being used as a New York City taxi cab, complete with the fleet’s iconic yellow paint scheme, have started making the rounds online.

The vehicle, which was sighted in Manhattan near a Tesla store, signifies what could very well be an upcoming shift towards sustainability for NYC’s taxi fleet. It also symbolizes a second chance of sorts for all-electric vehicles, especially considering the failure of the Nissan Leaf taxis in previous years.

Back in 2013, New York City launched a pilot program for all-electric taxis with a fleet of six first-gen Nissan Leafs. The vehicles were let loose in the city on Earth Day to much optimism and acclaim, but by 2015, the Leafs were decommissioned. In its final report, the NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission noted that the Nissan Leaf required drivers to significantly alter their driving habits due to the vehicles’ EPA-estimated 84-mile range. This handicap was highlighted further when the weather was hot, since the use of air conditioners was required for NYC taxis.

The failure of the Leaf as a New York taxi was a cloud above all-electric cars until 2019, when reports emerged stating that the Tesla Model 3 had been approved for taxi service in the city. The all-electric sedan more than meets the minimum requirements for NYC cabs. These requirements include ample interior space, air conditioning for rear-seat passengers, seats that are easy to clean, and enough cabin space to install the clear partition that separates the driver from passengers in the backseat.

More importantly, the Model 3 does not have the same weakness as the first-gen Leafs from 2013. Unlike the 84-mile Leaf, the shortest-range Model 3 boasts at least 220 miles per charge, and that’s if customers specifically request for the non-Autopilot Standard Range version. Otherwise, the Standard Range Plus, the more affordable variant that could be ordered directly on Tesla’s website, offers an EPA-estimated range of 263 miles for $37,990. Autopilot also comes as a standard feature on variants from the Standard Range Plus and above.

Considering the power and range of the Tesla Model 3, there seems to be a good chance that the vehicle will not have the same feedback from taxi drivers as the first-gen Leafs from 2013. The Model 3, if any, would likely outperform the city’s other, conventional taxis, and its fast-charging capabilities through Tesla’s Supercharger Network would allow the vehicle to replenish most of its range while drivers take a brief break. The vehicle’s sizable cargo space from its trunk and frunk would likely be appreciated by commuters as well.

New York’s Tesla Model 3 taxi drivers would best be advised to take it easy on the all-electric sedan’s accelerator, however. Electric cars are famed for their instant torque, and the Model 3 is no exception, with even the Standard Range Plus variant having a 0-60 mph time that rivals muscle cars. If NYC taxi drivers develop a habit of punching the Model 3’s accelerator at every chance, history might end up repeating itself innumerable times. The first speeding infraction ever committed in the United States back in 1899, after all, was from a New York City cabbie who was driving 12 mph down Lexington Street in Manhattan, 4 mph above the legal speed limit at the time.

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Five electric cars that could change your life

November 17, 2020Electric Cars, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

THE current car market is starting to fill up with electric vehicles, as different manufacturers bring their own models into production.

With governments across the world, including in Scotland, incentivising EVs – and bringing into force more stringent emissions regulations for diesel and petrol-powered cars – it’s little wonder why more and more car makers are starting to make the switch.

This means there’s more choice than ever before too – but where to begin? Here’s some of the very latest models around.

Volkswagen I.D 3

Volkswagen’s brand new I.D 3 is based on a bespoke platform designed specifically for electric cars. Standard cars get a 260-mile range, though tip-top versions can achieve over 300 miles per charge. It’s packed with features and clever tech, as well as cabin which lacks any real physical ‘buttons’. This gives the whole area a modern, clean feeling.

Audi e-tron Sportback

The e-tron Sportback is a sleeker, more dynamic version of Audi’s latest e-tron. With a range of around 240 miles and a pleasant, high-tech interior, this is one useable – and very premium – EV option. Because it’s based on a large platform, the Sportback is impressively practical, with a huge boot and plenty of legroom space for those sitting in the back.

Lexus UX300e

Despite making hybrids for several years, the UX300e is Lexus’ first fully electric car. It’s based around its standard UX compact crossover, which brings quirky looks and a smartly-finished interior. It’s also got a range of 196 miles. Somehow, the UX300e offers more boot space than the regular UX, which goes in the face of the norm with electric vehicles. Usually, the additional batteries eat into spaciousness.

Volvo XC40 Recharge P8

Volvo has already committed to an electric future and has been busy creating hybrid versions of nearly its entire line-up of vehicles. The XC40 P8 Recharge, however, is its first electric version and arrives with typically stripped-back looks and a 249-mile range. Apart from a smoothed-off front grille, the Recharge looks largely the same as the standard XC40, which is good news for those who want an EV which doesn’t ‘shout’ about it.

BMW iX3

The iX3 is BMW’s first electric ‘X’ model. Sitting alongside the firm’s smaller i3, it features a 285-mile range while 0-60mph will take just 6.5 seconds. Rapid charging capability means that, when possible, a 0-80% charge can be achieved in just 34 minutes. Plus, because it’s based on the X3, the iX3 offers plenty of space and practicality with a well-sized boot and a high-end cabin.

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Renault Captur E-Tech plug-in hybrid review

November 16, 2020Captur E-TECH Plug-in, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, RenaultRepost

Does a 30-mile all-electric range make this compact SUV a more attractive option?

Renault isn’t shy about its role in the growing electrification of the motor industry.

In fact, it’s downright boastful about being one of the first major manufacturers to offer a fully electric car in the shape of the Zoe, which it launched in 2010. A decade later the Zoe is still going strong but the world hasn’t fully embraced EVs so car makers are looking at other ways to ease buyers into an electric future.

One such obvious method is hybrid models, which get drivers used to electric power but also, coincidentally, help manufacturers cut their fleet CO2 emissions at a time when serious new fines are on their way.

Which leads us to the Renault Captur E-TECH plug-in hybrid.

The Captur is one of three new hybrid variants launched at the same time by the French firm, sitting alongside a Clio “regular” hybrid and the Megane plug-in hybrid.

From the outside, the only obvious difference between this plug-in version of the compact SUV and a regular petrol Captur is the additional filler cover for the charging socket. Besides that, a couple of subtle E-TECH badges are the only indicators that this is a three-motor motor.

Yep, you read that right – three motors. The Captur hybrid uses a non-turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engine as its main source of power, matched to a 49kW electric motor for a total of 158bhp. There’s also an integrated starter/generator like you’d find in a mild hybrid, which handles the start-up element and a small portion of the energy recovery that charges the battery. It’s all tied together with a clever clutchless transmission derived from Renault’s F1 technology.

It sounds complicated but in operation you’ll probably never worry about it. Everything runs together smoothly (most of the time) and the hybrid system generally takes care of switching between all-electric, all-petrol or a combination of the two, feeding energy from the engine or braking back to the battery as conditions allow. If you want to lock the car into electric-only mode, for example when in town, there’s a dashboard button for that. And, similarly, if you want to store battery power for a later time, there’s a battery save function.

The only problem with the hybrid system is a brief but distinct pause before the petrol engine kicks in if you accelerate hard in EV mode, for example when leaving a town for a national speed limit stretch. Around town, however, the Captur feels responsive as the electric motors give instant urgency for nipping through traffic. And once everything’s running harmoniously, the Captur is quick enough, with power to reach up to 83mph in all-electric mode.

In official testing, the Captur managed an all-electric range of 30 miles and fuel economy of 188mpg. On our test route, which took in a mix of A-road and urban driving, we saw an eye-opening 117mpg thanks to a fully charged battery and some useful energy recuperation.

Charging is taken care of via a 3.6kW on-board charger. This limits the charge speed but Renault says rapid charging isn’t necessary with a relatively small battery. Renault wants owners to use the Captur hybrid as an EV first and foremost so it will kindly fit a free home charging wallbox for buyers, allowing a full charge in between three and four hours.

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Battery electric vehicles continue streak of strong sales with almost 200% rise

November 15, 2020Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, SalesRepost

Sales of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) continued to outperform 2019 in October, jumping 195% year-on-year.

This is despite overall sales of cars dropping 1.6% in the month, according to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The SMMT attributed this largely to the Welsh firebreak lockdown, which it said subdued demand.

However, this seems to have had little to no impact on BEVs, with 9,335 sold in the month and a continued increase in sales compared to 2019’s figures.

In fact, so far this year, BEVs have seen an increase of 168.7% compared to 2019, with sales rising from 28,259 to 75,946.

April was a particularly strong month, with BEVs scooping up 31.8% of the market, outselling all fuel types except petrol as overall sales dropped 97.3%. This drop was largely attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic and the introduction of the lockdown, with BEV sales also dropping 9.7% despite its market share.

July also saw strong sales, with an increase of 259.4% compared to 2019, and in September sales broke the 20,000 mark, representing a third of all new car sales that year and a 184.39% increase on 2019.

Commenting on the figures, Centrica’s sustainable transport editor, Amanda Stretton, said that it’s “encouraging to see that there is still an appetite for EV adoption despite the current climate” but that there is still a need for a “greater commitment to rolling out charging infrastructure in public places and the continuation of grants available for home charging”.

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Van of the Year 2021: Best Electric Van

November 14, 2020Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, OpinionRepost

The running costs for the Vauxhall Vivaro-e are as low as you can get, but it’s a winner here because it couples that with all-round practicality and great driving manners…

WINNER: Best Electric Van
Vauxhall Vivaro-e
Priced from £27,028 Range 143-205 miles CO2 emissions 0g/km Load space 5.3-6.1m3 Payload 1002-1226kg Power 136bhp Torque 192lb ft

The chances are that you’ll buy an electric van for economic or environmental reasons, so perhaps it’s no surprise that the van we name as delivering best value for its ownership costs is also our overall winner in this class.

However, don’t make the mistake of thinking the Vauxhall Vivaro-e is a worthy winner only for the rational reasons of being able to save you money in terms of taxation and fuel costs, because while that is true, there is also far more to it than that.

Vauxhall Vivaro-e (Image: gb-media.vauxhall.co.uk)

For instance, it runs the Mercedes eSprinter close as a calm, comfortable and fun van to drive. Its 75kW motor – equivalent to 136bhp – delivers strong pace without the need to change gear and with the bonus of instant torque that propels you off the line in a flash.

Its claimed range – 143 or 205 miles depending which model you buy – which in the real world we would estimate is good for at least 100-150 miles, is more than enough for most van drivers to complete a day’s work. And, for those who need to go farther, the Vivaro-e supports rapid charging of up to 100kW – at it’s peak, this will charge from 0-80% in 32 minutes. Rivals such as the Mercedes-Benz eVito can not match this.

You might also have expected the Volkswagen ABT eTransporter to challenge the e-Vivaro on residual values, but whereas the combustion-engined versions of the German van deliver strong figures, the relatively unknown electric conversion has yet to convince the market. As a result, the Vivaro-e beats the more expensive eTransporter for ownership value. In fact, current predictions are for it to hold more value over a typical ownership cycle than the Citroën e-Dispatch and Peugeot e-Expert, to which it’s very closely related.

Yes, there are quibbles: we’d prefer its driving mode controls to be steering-wheel mounted and for some stronger regenerative braking to be available, but at present the Vivaro-e is a great example of how an electric van can deliver as an all-round package.

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Exercise bikes to charge EVs at GRIDSERVE’s Braintree Electric Forecourt

November 13, 2020Charging, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

Exercise bikes are to help power electric vehicle (EV) charging at GRIDSERVE’s first Electric Forecourt in Braintree.

The company has partnered SA Green Fitness and SportsArt to offer the solution, which uses G576U Upright Cycles. The energy produced from pedaling using these cycles is to contribute to the power grid for charging the vehicles at the forecourt.

Toddington Harper, founder and CEO of GRIDSERVE, said the partnership formed a “key part of our mission to support education initiatives, helping people to understand more about energy, and how clean energy can help contribute towards healthy and more sustainable lifestyles.”

Alongside the wellbeing area – which will house SportsArt’s G576U Upright Cycles – the forecourt is to have 350kW charging stations to accommodate 36 EVs and a lounge with high speed WiFi, washrooms and children’s area.

There is also to be a retail space with supermarkets and coffee shops and a designated spot for non-EV drivers to learn more about low-emission motoring.

Braintree was unveiled as the location for GRIDSERVE’s first forecourt in 2019, with plans to install solar PV and battery storage on site alongside the chargers.

Construction began on the site in March 2020, with plans for 100 such sites also in the works.

In April it was announced that Hitachi Capital had made a multi-million pound investment into GRIDSERVE to help fund the development of the Electric Forecourts as well as GRIDSERVE’s hybrid solar farms.

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Europe: Massive Record For Plug-In Electric Car Sales In September 2020

November 12, 2020Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, SalesRepost

With record sales of multiple models, and strong general demand for plug-ins, the market is booming.
September was an exceptional month for passenger plug-in electric car sales in Europe, even taking into consideration the strong growth in previous months.

Sales went through the roof, reaching a new all-time record number of registrations – 160,059 (up 166% year-over-year)! The market share hit an outstanding 12%!

Most of the sales were BEVs, but PHEVs are growing quicker:

BEVs: 91,615 (up 120% year-over-year) and 7.1% of the market
PHEVs: 68,444 (up 268% year-over-year) and 4.9% of the market

After nine months, more than 772,000 new plug-in passenger cars were registered in Europe, which is 9% of the total volume (4.9% falls on BEVs)!

With three months to go, we should see a million for the very first time in a calendar year! Actually, it will be much more than a million.

The most popular models
Volume deliveries of the Tesla Model 3 (16,125) allowed it to take the first place for the month and set the best result so far this year.

The second best was Renault ZOE (11,026), which is also the best selling so far this year (63,504) with a noticeable advantage over Model 3.

The long-awaited Volkswagen ID.3 was third (8,571) with a very good result in its first month of customer deliveries, although the 10,000 mark was not crossed.

A pretty strong result was record by Hyundai Kona Electric (6,143), while the Mercedes-Benz A-Class 250e turned to be the top plug-in hybrid (4,772).

There are tons of other plug-in models that set their own personal best/or the best this year results in September, as everything rechargeable seems to be selling pretty well.

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Electric vehicles make up just one per cent of Department for Transport fleet

November 11, 2020Electric Cars, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

Only 22 of the 1,860 vehicles in the Department for Transport’s fleet are fully electric, new data reveals

Electric vehicles make up a mere one per cent of the Department for Transport’s (DfT) fleet, it has been revealed.

The DfT runs a fleet of 1,860 vehicles, of which only 22 are fully electric, while 134 are hybrids, 43 are petrol and 1,326 are diesel – the other 335 vehicles are described as being motorbikes and specialist LCVs – light commercial vehicles, such as vans.

The Government has previously said that all its ministerial cars will be fully electric by 2030, with at least a quarter of the total fleet being made up of EVs by 2022. The DfT said it had detailed guidance to all other departments on how to transition to zero-emission fleets, but this data – which comes from a Freedom of Information (FoI) investigation conducted by Air Quality News – calls its own progress into question.

In its FoI response, the DfT referred to all of its electrified vehicles as being ultra-low emission, even though this category included a number of mild hybrids, which cannot be driven using electric power alone, while plug-in hybrids only have a very limited electric range and still rely primarily on an internal combustion engine.

Greg Archer, UK director of the European think tank Transport & Environment, told Air Quality News that the DfT had made “pathetic progress”.

“There is a mountain to climb to meet the aspiration that a quarter of cars should be electric by 2022,” he commented. “The department is even trying to mask its failure by wrongly counting mild hybrid cars as ultra-low emission vehicles. The DfT should lead by example and only operate zero-emission vehicles by 2025.

“Five years after the Dieselgate scandal and over 70 per cent of the vehicles operated by DfT and its agencies are diesel.”

He added: “It is time for a complete overhaul of the department’s procurement practices; they should be leading the shift to clean vehicles, not hanging on to the past.”

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