Monthly Archives: January 2022

Renault Zoe awarded zero-star Euro NCAP safety rating

January 31, 2022News, Reviews and Comment, UncategorizedRepost

The all-electric Renault Zoe hatchback is only the third car in history to receive zero stars from Euro NCAP, despite the previous model scoring top marks

The Renault Zoe has become only the third car in Euro NCAP history to be awarded zero stars for crash safety. The previous version of the popular electric hatchback received a five-star rating in 2013, but thanks to more stringent safety tests and the omission of certain safety features, the latest model scored poorly.

The Zoe didn’t fare well in the frontal offset crash test, with Euro NCAP citing poor protection of the driver’s chest area. It performed worse in the side pole test, however, which simulates hitting a tree or lamppost side-on. According to Euro NCAP, a third of these accidents are serious or fatal, and the pole struck the test dummy’s head when testing the Zoe.

A key factor in the Zoe’s poor performance is the removal of a head airbag, which protects occupants from side impacts. Renault introduced this type of airbag in 2001 with the Laguna 2, which became the first car to achieve a five-star Euro NCAP rating. The Zoe’s 43% adult occupant safety score is the lowest in the past 11 years of testing.

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OPINION: We need more great-value electric vehicles

January 28, 2022Electric Cars, MG, News, Reviews and Comment, ZS EVRepost

The MG ZS EV is DrivingElectric’s Car of the Year 2022, but one thing is clear: we need more affordable electric cars

The list of 2022 DrivingElectric Award winners has been revealed in full, with the new MG ZS EV taking both the Best-Value EV prize, as well as our overall Car of the Year trophy.

But if the rundown of finalists highlights just one thing, it’s that there still aren’t enough affordable electric cars on sale in the UK. The MG qualifies without question, but great-value EVs are still few and far between.

Sure, the ZS EV isn’t the cheapest new electric car on sale, but it is, unquestionably, the best value. As a package, the ZS simply can’t be beaten: long range, impressive efficiency and a lengthy kit list, all wrapped up in a practical SUV body. Commenting on the verdict, I said: “The updated MG ZS EV perfectly encompasses everything that’s important to electric-car buyers in 2022.”

Take a look at the MG’s competition. Models like the Smart EQ ForTwo or MINI Electric may cost less in their most basic trims, but they’re compromised when it comes to range. The new Fiat 500 – last year’s DrivingElectric Car of the Year – can do almost 200 miles on a charge, but even that falls down when it comes to space and practicality.

And then there’s the Renault ZOE, which despite its relatively roomy cabin and impressive range, was recently re-evaluated by independent crash-test body Euro NCAP and awarded a dismal zero-star rating; buyers of cheap electric cars simply mustn’t be forced to compromise on things like safety and security.

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Opinion: Are electric cars really too expensive?

January 27, 2022Corsa-e, News, Reviews and Comment, VauxhallRepost

‘Electric cars cost too much’. Well, yes, they are expensive. But too expensive? I’m here to argue they’re not.

Let’s look at a perfect example: the award-winning, best-selling Vauxhall Corsa, which is offered in petrol, diesel and pure electric Corsa-e guises.

Vauxhall Corsa-e (Image: Vauxhall.co.uk)

Now, you can buy an entry-level Corsa for £17,015, whereas the cheapest Corsa-e is £26,690. There, argument proven: electric Corsa costs £9,675 more than a petrol one. Those handy with numbers will note it’s a 44 percent increment, compounding the point: EVs cost almost half as much again as normal cars.

Although many make it, though, this isn’t quite a fair comparison. For starters, the basic Corsa is an SE Edition. The entry-level Corsa-e is a Griffin, which comes with extra goodies such as LED ambient lighting, heated front seats and steering wheel, bigger 17-inch wheels and a contrast black roof.

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New electric e-Rifter is a real shifter: RAY MASSEY gets behind the wheel of Peugeot’s latest offering

January 26, 2022e-2008, e-208, e-Expert, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, PeugeotRepost

Peugeot’s boxy, van-based Rifter has proved a hit with active families
The new electric model is available in two trim levels: allure premium and the GT

Have you noticed how van drivers who whizz past you or sit on your tail always seem to look happy and contented?

That’s because vehicle manufacturers know that ‘white van man’, who almost lives in his vehicle and covers exceptionally long distances, needs very comfortable seats, a high driving position, a practical layout with lots of storage and cubby holes, plenty of cargo space, and a good lick of pace.

That’s why Peugeot’s boxy, van-based Rifter has proved such a hit with active families and couples seeking a no-nonsense vehicle that will carry up to seven people, be flexible enough to load up with leisure equipment, and be no slouch on the road.

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Electric Nissan Ariya goes on sale in the UK as Nissan finally delivers a new EV to market

January 25, 2022Ariya, Electric Cars, Leaf, Leaf 30kWh, News, Reviews and Comment, NissanRepost

The new electric Nissan Ariya goes on sale in the UK from £43k, as Nissan finally delivers a new EV to the market, 12 years after the Nissan LEAF arrived.

Nissan has become synonymous with EVs ever since the electric Nissan LEAF arrived back in 2009, but despite that early lead in electric cars it’s failed to deliver anything really new to the market since.

But that changed last year with the arrival of the Nissan Ariya, an all-new electric Nissan Crossover / SUV, which we’d expected to have gone on sale at the start of 2021.

But ‘Covid and Chips’ put paid to an early arrival for the Ariya, but now Nissan is ready to take orders for the Ariya in the UK – with first deliveries in summer 2022 – with prices starting from £41,845.

Offered with a choice of front or four-wheel drive, and two battery capacities, the Ariya sits on the new CMF-EV Platform, with the range kicking off with the FWD Ariya Advance with 215bhp and 65kWh battery, good for 0-62mph in 7.5 seconds and range of 233 miles.

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Tesla’s Model 3 is a ‘mind blowing’ cop car

January 24, 2022Electric Cars, Model 3, News, Reviews and Comment, TeslaRepost

The UK police’s trial of the electric vehicle is getting rave reviews from officers and the public, it says

Tesla says 9 month UK trial of a Model 3 as a patrol car has had ‘great results’
Fully-electric vehicle can be used for 4 hours in ‘advanced driving conditions’
Officers recharging the car during shifts, taking 20 minutes to boost batteries
If rolled out nationwide by forces, Tesla says it would lose the roof light bars
Says blue-and-twos mounted on the roof act like a parachute and impact range

Tesla police cars could soon be a common sight on our road if reported positive reviews from UK forces are to be believed.

The US firm provided a £60,000 police-liveried Model 3 to be used by forces up and down the country earlier this year, with Tesla claiming it has received ‘mind blowing’ reports from officers as well as public support.

A synopsis of the first nine months of the trial published this week says the electric cars are capable of running for up to four hours of continuous ‘advanced driving conditions’ and says charging during shifts has been working with officers plugging into the brand’s Supercharger network.

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Remote autonomous car-hailing trial now live in Milton Keynes

January 18, 2022Autonomous Driving, Electric Cars, Milton Keynes, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

British start-up Imperium Drive has started its Fetch trial in Milton Keynes that will see remote-controlled driverless vehicles used as a car-hailing service.

The technology enables users to summon an unmanned vehicle via a smartphone app, which is driven by a remote driver to their location.

The customer then drives the car normally to their destination, from where a remote vehicle operator takes over and pilots the car back to base or to the next user.

Imperium Drive said for trips up to a couple of hours, the service offers the same convenience as a ride-hailing or taxi service, but with the ability to cover greater distances at less than half the cost of services like Uber or Bolt.

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Electric vehicle boom fuels rise in UK new car sales

January 17, 2022Electric Cars, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

November increase is first in four months year on year but sales are still down on pre-Covid levels

The number of new cars sold in the UK rose in November for the first time in four months, fuelled by a doubling of sales of electric vehicles as consumers increasingly look to more environmentally friendly forms of transport.

Almost 22,000 pure electric vehicles were registered in November, more than double the 10,345 registered in the same month last year, as the share of total sales accounted for by battery-powered electric vehicles climbed to 19%.

The Tesla Model 3 was the third bestselling car, with 3,077 sold, and is the bestselling pure electric vehicle in the UK, according to the figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

The boom in electric car sales helped overall sales of new cars to reach 115,706 in November, a 1.7% rise on the same month last year. While the increase is a welcome boost for the car industry, sales are still close to a third down on pre-pandemic levels.

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ALL-NEW RENAULT KANGOO HAS BEEN CROWNED INTERNATIONAL VAN OF THE YEAR 2022

January 14, 2022Kangoo Van E-Tech, News, Reviews and Comment, RenaultRepost

All-new Renault Kangoo Van has won the International Van of the Year award (IVOTY) 2022 as voted by a jury of 24 European journalists

New Renault Master ZE Electric Van with Kangoo ZE Electric Van behind (Image: Renault)

Renault’s latest innovative van was recognised, along with the new Mercedes-Benz Citan, as the best LCV out of the 14 light-duty vehicles released over the past 12 months
With the ‘Open Sesame by Renault’ side door* that opens up to a 1.45-metre-wide side access, the All-new Kangoo Van boasts unparalleled innovation
The All-new Kangoo Van is made at Renault’s Maubeuge factory, a site where excellence has become a trademark
Full UK specifications and pricing to be announced in January 2022
During the Solutrans trade fair in Lyon, Mr. Jarlath Sweeney, Chairman of the IVOTY jury, presented Mark Sutcliffe, SVP, LCV Business Unit, Renault Group, with the 2022 International Van of the Year award for All-new Kangoo Van. The Pan-European jury, of 24 leading journalists specialising in commercial, industrial, and transport vehicles, placed Renault’s latest van in front of the 14 light commercial vehicles from 11 different brands that have also been released in recent months.

For the IVOTY jury, the main criteria for the International Van of the Year Award are the vehicles’ contribution to the efficiency, safety, sustainability, and environmental standards of the light commercial vehicle sector.

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Osprey opens first dynamic EV charging hub ahead of nationwide rollout

January 13, 2022Away From Home, Charging, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

Osprey Charging’s first electric vehicle (EV) dynamic charging hub has opened in Wolverhampton today (30 November) .

The site has four high powered chargers, and is the first in the UK to use smart charging Kempower technology according to Osprey. These chargers are designed to optimise charging across multiple vehicles when more than one EV is plugged in.

This allows power to be distributed based on demand, helping to reduce waiting times by maximising the speed and availably of chargers for drivers. In doing so, consumer footfall is increased for the landowners hosting the hub. Osprey’s first site is located adjacent to the A463, and includes a Costa Coffee on-site.

Additionally, the Kempower chargers mean grid connections can be optimised, meaning multiple high-power chargers can be installed without the need for more grid power.

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