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Renault Zoe Autonomous Review: First Drive

July 17, 2019Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, Renault, ZOERepost

How far is your car from driving itself?

Typically, when I review a new car, in addition to telling you how it looks, who its competitors are, and how much tech it holds, the main value that I bring to the table (or so I hope) is letting you know how it drives – basically what it feels like from the driver’s seat.

Well, I was rendered largely redundant on this occasion because all I can tell you is what it felt like to be driven around in this vehicle. You see, the car that you see here is Renault’s autonomous Zoe prototype. And I mean fully autonomous – well, sort of. After all, the autonomous Renault Zoe isn’t exactly ready for the chaotic traffic at the Arc de Triomphe roundabout in the heart of Paris as yet. For the moment, it’s restricted to the campus of the University of Paris-Saclay on the outskirts of the French capital. This is part of a pilot project being run by automaker Renault, a public transport multinational, the Transdev Group, technology companies IRT SystemX & VEDECOM and, of course, the University of Paris-Saclay.

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Where does it operate?

For the moment, the autonomous Zoe will operate within the campus of the University of Paris-Saclay. It’s meant to provide an autonomous shuttle service within the campus for a select group of students and faculty who opt into the program and allow their fate to be determined by this vehicle that has a mind of its own – literally! At present, French law prohibits companies from charging patrons for a service such as this, so it’s voluntary and free of cost.

Volkswagen ID.R breaks 20-year-old Goodwood hillclimb record set by V10 F1 car

Volkswagen has been racking up EV records with its ID.R all-electric racecar, and today the VW ID.R piloted by Romain Dumas managed to beat a record which has been held for 20 years — Nick Heidfeld’s record run of the Goodwood hillclimb in the 10-cylinder McLaren MP4/13 which dominated the 1998 Formula 1 season.

Nico Rosberg Formula E Gen2 car at 2018 Berlin E-Prix (Image: Wikimedia/KAgamemnon

The previous record was 41.6 seconds for the 1.86km (1.16mi) hillclimb course. Volkswagen managed to bring that record down to 41.18. They have more runs to go this weekend, so it’s entirely possible that the record might be lowered again.

VW brought their ID.R to the hillclimb last year in an attempt to set the record, and they managed to set an EV record with a 43.05-second run but fell short of the overall record. This year, after taking the ID.R to Nurburgring and setting an EV record there, VW modified their package a little and managed to make the car quicker. In the last year VW also managed to set an all-time record at Pikes Peak with the ID.R.

Electric cars exempt from company car tax next year

July 15, 2019Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, SalesRepost

UK’s million or so company car users will escape Benefit-in-Kind tax if they have an electric car in the 2020/21 financial year

Company car users who drive an electric car will not have to pay any Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax during the next financial year, after the Treasury reviewed tax rules.

The change follows the introduction of the WLTP (Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure) emissions regulations, which are more stringent than the NEDC regime they replaced. Because BiK rates are based on CO2 outputs, and WLTP sees higher on-paper emissions recorded, company car users faced a potentially significant hike in the BiK rates they faced.

To offset that rise, the Treasury has replaced previously published BiK rates for the 2020/21 financial year with new tables that see most BiK percentage bands reduced by two points.

Electric cars were due to get a two per cent BiK rate in 2020/21, so the changes will mean drivers choosing an EV as their company car will pay no Benefit-in-Kind rate whatsoever for that financial year. The tax exemption applies to EVs registered from 6 April 2020, and those registered before that date.

Shell claims UK first with 150kW EV charging forecourt install

July 14, 2019Charging, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, ShellRepost

Shell has claimed a UK first by installing a 150kW ultra-rapid electric vehicle charger on a petrol station forecourt in London.

The charger, which forms part of the energy giant’s Shell Recharge service, is now available for public use at Shell’s Battersea Service Station in Battersea, south London.

The 150kW charger, provided by European EV charging supplier Allego, has been installed alongside the station’s existing 50kW rapid chargers, bolstering the station’s options for EV drivers.

Allego will continue to manage the operation of both the 50kW and 150kW chargers which make up Shell Recharge, and Allego’s chief executive Anja van Niersen said the firm highly valued Shell’s initiative of integrating high-powered charging services at its portfolio of forecourts.

“We know that electric vehicle drivers want the right charging solution at the right place, to be always available and combined with excellent services. Shell Recharge shows how these wishes can be met,” she said.

Renault Captur E-Tech Plug-in hybrid announced

July 13, 2019Captur E-TECH Plug-in, Electric Cars, RenaultRepost

A plug-in hybrid version of the new Renault Captur SUV will be available when the car goes on sale next year

Details of the all-new Renault Captur plug-in hybrid have been released, with the company confirming a pure-electric range of up to 28 miles.

Due to go on sale in early 2020, the Captur E-Tech Plug-in will use a 1.6-litre petrol engine and two electric motors, complete with a 9.8kWh lithium-ion battery pack.

It will be capable of doing 83mph in pure-electric mode, and also features advanced brake regeneration that the company says “always retains enough charge to move away and run at low speeds in electric mode”.

The Captur will also have a single-pedal driving mode – similar to the Nissan Leaf’s e-Pedal system – for low-speed traffic, which is designed to maximise efficiency and ease of driving.

Jaguar Land Rover announces range of EVs to be built in West Midlands plant

July 12, 2019Electric Cars, I-PACE, Jaguar Land Rover, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

The announcement is seen as a major thumbs up for the UK car industry

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has announced it is set to build a new range of electric vehicles at its manufacturing plant in Castle Bromwich, Birmingham.

Honouring its commitment to deliver electrified options for all new Jaguar and Land Rover models by next year, a next-generation all-electric Jaguar XJ will be the first vehicle in the range to enter production.

Crafted by the team behind the Jaguar I-PACE – the brand’s first all-electric car – the new saloon promises to deliver in design, performance and luxury, although the company has given no indication as to when it might take to the road.

“The future of mobility is electric and, as a visionary British company, we are committed to making our next generation of zero-emission vehicles in the UK,” JLR CEO. Prof. Dr. Ralf Speth said.

“We are co-locating our electric vehicle manufacture, Electronic Drive Units and battery assembly to create a powerhouse of electrification in the Midlands.”

First UK Tesla Model 3 deliveries handed over to customers

July 11, 2019Electric Cars, Model 3, News, Reviews and Comment, TeslaRepost

The Tesla Model 3’s arrival in the UK has been anticipated for a long time now. The US brand promised it would be an affordable alternative to both conventionally powered and electrified models from other manufacturers, but a number of issues delayed its delivery to some global markets, the UK not least among them.

Finally, though, the wait for British customers is over, with the first UK customer cars being driven off dealer forecourts around the country last week by buyers who put their deposits down two to three years ago.

Tesla is confident enough in the quality of the Model 3 that it’s giving customers a one-week grace period, at any point during which they can give the car back for a full refund. This goes some way towards explaining why a large number of people were happy to commit to buying a car they had never even seen in the metal, let alone driven.

IONITY targets UK motorways with latest ultra-rapid EV charging deal

July 10, 2019Charging, Electric Cars, Ionity, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

Ultra-fast EV charging provider IONITY has continued its UK expansion by penning a deal with Extra MSA Group, which owns and operates parts of the UK’s motorway network.

Under the deal IONITY, which is a joint venture between automotive giants Daimler, Ford, BMW and Volkswagen, will install its HPC technology at eight MSA-owned service stations on UK motorways.

The service stations will be those under MSA’s ‘Extra’ brand, and each site will initially comprise six 350kW chargers supplied by IONITY.

The first HPC station is to be installed at Extra’s new location on junction 45 of the M1 at Leeds Skelton Lake later this year, with other installs already earmarked for locations in Cobham, Cambridge, Beaconsfield, Cullompton, Blackburn, Baldock and Peterborough.

Combined with other partnerships IONITY has already sealed, most notably with Shell and Motor Fuels Group, the charging firm said it was now closing in on its target of developing 40 HPC stations at strategic locations in the UK.

Electric cars: New vehicles to emit noise to aid safety

July 9, 2019Electric Cars, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

New electric vehicles will have to feature a noise-emitting device, under an EU rule coming into force on Monday.

It follows concerns that low-emission cars and vans are too quiet, putting pedestrians at risk because they cannot be heard as they approach.

All new types of four-wheel electric vehicle must be fitted with the device, which sounds like a traditional engine.

A car’s acoustic vehicle alert system (Avas) must sound when reversing or travelling below 12mph (19km/h).

The EU says the cars are most likely to be near pedestrians when they are backing up or driving slowly, although drivers will have the power to deactivate the devices if they think it is necessary.

Scottish government unveils £20 million fund to bolster public EV charging infrastructure

July 8, 2019Charging, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

Over £20 million will fund the installation of 800 new charge points across Scotland in a bid to increase the country’s EV uptake.

The Scottish government has announced £20.6 million of funding for the new charging infrastructure, delivered through the Switched on Towns and Cities Challenge Fund (STCCF) and the Local Authority Installation Programme (LAIP).

Five local authorities have been awarded £12.1 million through the first round of STCCF for the delivery of 500 charge points. The remaining £8.5 million has been awarded to 31 local authorities through the LAIP, which will see a further 300 charge points installed.

The aim of the funding is to fill in existing gaps in infrastructure to alleviate range anxiety in Scotland.

Glasgow City Council is to install 70 public charge points, including a new charging hub and charging facilities for taxis and private hire vehicles. Stirling Council will install 133 charging bays, as well as trialling 16 lamp post chargers.

Dundee City Council plans to install 66 charging bays and create a rapid charging hub close to the A90, Edinburgh City Council is to install 134 chargers and Falkirk Council is to install 106, including a 32 bay charging hub with integrated battery storage.