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UK Plugin EV Share Doubles To 26% As Tesla Model Y Debuts

March 24, 2022Buying/Leasing, Electric Cars, LEVC, Model Y, News, Reviews and Comment, Tesla, UncategorizedRepost

The UK, Europe’s second largest plugin market, saw electric vehicle share almost double year on year to 25.6% in February. Full electrics alone took 17.7% share. Overall auto volume was down some 28% over seasonal norms, to 58,994 units. Debuting in February after a long wait, the Tesla Model Y was the best selling electric, and 4th in the overall market.

February’s combined plugin result of 25.6% comprised 17.7% full battery electrics (BEVs), and 7.9% plugin hybrids (PHEVs). This strong weighting towards BEV is in line with recent months.

Petrol-only powertrain share was down to 40.6%, its second lowest ever (from last December), a significant fall off from the 52.1% of February 2021.

The temporary “quick fix” transition technology of plugless hybrids (both HEV and mild) may have already peaked, seeing 27.2% in February, from over 30% in mid 2021.

UK’s Popular BEV Brands

With Tesla’s international shipping arriving again in February, and after a long wait, the Tesla Model Y saw its UK debut. It took the number one spot for best selling BEVs in the month, and #4 in the overall UK auto market. Its older sibling, the Model 3 was right behind, at #5 overall.

For context, here’s the list for February’s overall auto market leaders (all powertrains):

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Renault Megane E-Tech Electric 2022

March 23, 2022News, Reviews and Comment, UncategorizedRepost

Introduction

Renault was a pioneer of electric cars in the early 2010s, with its Zoe EV remaining one of the most popular EVs made to date. But after a solid start, progress seemed to slump at the French firm.

Until recently, that is, when the firm began its ‘Renaulution’ – essentially its future plans, many of which focus around electrification. There will be a raft of new EVs, some with new names, and others playing on the brand’s heritage, including this new Megane E-Tech Electric.

Based on an all-new platform designed purely for EVs, which will be used on a range of models in the future, and allows greater flexibility when it comes to packaging and design, as this is without doubt one of Renault’s most stylish looking cars in some time. But is it worth considering? Let’s get behind the wheel.

Performance

Renault offers three powertrains on its new Megane E-Tech Electric, which are all new for the firm.

Kicking off the range is a more affordable option using a 129bhp electric motor and 40kWh battery – equating to a 0-60mph time of 10.3 seconds, and a claimed range of 186 miles. The 129bhp motor is also available with the larger 60kWh battery – this version managing 292 miles of range between charges.

More buyers are likely to go for the top-spec powertrain, which bolts a 215bhp electric motor with a 60kWh battery, dropping the 0-60mph time to 7.2 seconds, and increases the electric range to a respectable 280 miles.

They can charge quickly too, at a rate of up to 130kW, which Renault says allows 186 miles of range to be added in 30 minutes for the smaller battery model. A full charge with a 7.4kW wallbox takes just over six hours for the small battery and nine for the 60kWh battery model.

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British drivers buying millions of EVs – second only to China in number of cars purchased

March 22, 2022Ariya, Buying/Leasing, Electric Cars, Electric Taxis, Energy and Climate Change, Fleet, News, Reviews and Comment, Nissan, SalesRepost

CAR BUYERS in the UK have purchased the second highest number of EVs in the world – second only to China.

The staggering rise in the number of electric vehicles (EVs) purchased by Britons was underlined by new figures showing the UK second only to China in the amount of battery-powered cars bought in the past ten years. The research by experts at PartCatalog showed there were more than 1.75million EVs sold in Britain since 2010.

It also showed that between 2015 and 2020, yearly sales of electric cars have increased a massive 444 percent globally, going from around 500,000 sales to just shy of three million per year over the five years.

China leads the world in EV uptake with more than 4.5million cars sold over the past decade.

The country also manufactures more EVs than anyone else, with even US-based Tesla making more cars in Shanghai than they do in California.

But the UK is runner-up and way ahead of countries like Germany, the USA and France.

Even traditionally early technology adopters like Japan are way down the table.

Both China and the UK have seen their Governments hand large subsidies and grants to buyers to tempt them into buying electric vehicles, which is likely to be an influence on the amount sold.

However the Government here will shortly scrap the £350 grant for installing a home charger and last month lowered the grant for buying an EV from £2,500 to £1,500.

It was originally £5,000 when initially introduced but has been reduced every year since.

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Liberty Charge completes Northamptonshire on-street EV charging installs

March 21, 2022Charging, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

A portfolio of 82 residential on-street electric vehicle (EV) charging sockets spread across west and north Northamptonshire has gone live.

Two Northamptonshire councils have partnered for the portfolio, which is owned and operated by Liberty Charge and was delivering using its strategic partner Virgin Media O2.

Two charging points have been installed at each site to serve up to four vehicles at a time, with the chargers being 22kW. Initially, two bays will be dedicated to EV charging while the other two can be used for either electric vehicle charging or general parking.

They have been rolled out across seven locations in West Northamptonshire and seven in North Northamptonshire. Funded by Innovate UK and the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles, the Virgin Park and Charge project was supported by the West and North Northamptonshire Councils.

A full charge point at Newport Pagnell services, and my first ever sight of an Audi A3 e-tron (Image: T. Larkum)

Graham Lawman, North Northamptonshire Council’s executive member for highways, travel and assets, said: “Only about 9% of Electric Vehicles are owned by people with no off-street parking against there being about 30% of properties in that situation, so, to catch up, it is vital that we progress kerbside charging points like this to enable all drivers the opportunity to charge their cars locally to them and overnight.”

The Northamptonshire rollout follows the recent announcement of Liberty Charge rolling out chargepoints across Wandsworth, with 35 sites set to see installations.

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Ford splits gas-powered and electric vehicle businesses but doesn’t spin them off

March 18, 2022Buying/Leasing, Electric Cars, Fleet, Ford, Ford, Formula E, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

(CNN Business)Ford is creating two new business units, one for electric vehicles and software and another for its traditional internal combustion vehicles. These companies will report their financial results separately from the rest of Ford but they will not be spun off as entirely separate companies.

This new corporate structure will allow investors to more clearly see the value of the two types of business, Ford (F) chief executive Jim Farley said, but it will not enable investors to buy stock in just the EV business. Farley said he had considered a full spin-off of the electric vehicle business, but it was simply too difficult to entirely carve it out as distinct from the rest of Ford’s operations. Also, he said, there was no need to sell stock in a new company.

“We have enough capital,” he said. “We can fund this ourselves.”

Farley, himself, will lead Ford Model e, the division focused on electric vehicles, technology, and software. Kumar Galhotra, president of Ford’s international business unit, will lead Ford Blue, the internal combustion business.

Model E is a play on Ford’s famous Model T, the car that popularized automobiles in America in the early 20th century. Tesla had once wanted to use the Model E name for its own more affordable electric car — the company’s model names would have spelled out S-E-X-Y, had it been successful — but Ford presented a legal challenge, thanks to the long-running production of Ford’s E-series van. Tesla ultimately named its vehicle the Model 3, instead.

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Massive cargo ship carrying electric cars sinks in Atlantic Ocean after fire

March 17, 2022Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, Pollution, UncategorizedRepost

A large cargo vessel carrying cars has sunk in the Atlantic Ocean, thirteen days after a fire broke out on board.

The ship’s manager and Portuguese navy confirmed on Tuesday that the Felicity Ace sank around 400 kilometres off the Azores.

The Panama-flagged vessel was being towed after a salvage team had extinguished the fire, MOL Ship Management in Singapore said in a statement.

The view from our hotel window in Falmouth, ZOE in foreground (Image: T. Larkum)

The 200-metre-long vessel had been sailing from Germany to the United States before it caught fire last month. Portugal’s Air Force had evacuated the 22 crew members, before letting the ship drift for several days in the mid-Atlantic.

Ocean-going tugboats with firefighting equipment had been hosing down the ship’s hull to cool it.

It was not clear how many luxury cars were onboard, but vessels of the Felicity Ace’s size can carry at least 4,000 vehicles.The ship was transporting electric and non-electric vehicles, according to Portuguese authorities.

Authorities suspect the fire may have broken out due to the lithium batteries used in electric vehicles, but an investigation into the cause of the blaze is still underway.

The Portuguese navy confirmed the sinking of the Felicity Ace, saying it occurred outside Portuguese waters.

There were also concerns that the sunken vessel could pollute the ocean, given that it had been carrying 2,000 metric tons of both fuel and oil.

The Portuguese navy said in a statement that only a few pieces of wreckage and a small patch of oil was visible where the ship went down. The tugboats were breaking up the patch with hoses, it added.

A Portuguese Air Force plane and a Portuguese navy vessel will remain at the scene on the lookout for signs of pollution.

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New Nottinghamshire solar point can charge 100 electric cars a day

March 16, 2022Charging, Charging, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, Solar PowerRepost

A new solar-powered hub could charge up to 100 electric vehicles a day, according to the authority behind it.

The hub is opening in the car park of Gamston Community Centre in Nottinghamshire.

Rushcliffe Borough Council said the facility formed part of its carbon management plan and would, in time, largely be powered by natural light.

It said electric and hybrid users would be able to charge their vehicles up to 80% in 30 minutes.

‘Greener transport’

The facility will add to the council’s network of sites in Keyworth, Radcliffe on Trent, Cotgrave and Rushcliffe Arena in West Bridgford, the authority said.

The council’s portfolio holder for communities and climate change Abby Brennan said: “The charging point is an essential part of our work to… help reduce the environmental impact of our operations.

“As a council, we’re committed to installing more electric vehicle charging points across the borough.

“This will continue to encourage the use of electric or hybrid vehicles, as the infrastructure to support them becomes even more convenient and available to residents.”

The authority has been able to provide the site, near the A52, as part of the government’s Transforming Cities Fund.

The council’s portfolio holder for environment and safety Rob Inglis said: “We’re once again thrilled to bring more public electric charging points to Rushcliffe by providing this new solar-powered facility in Gamston and just yards from one of our major road routes.

“This infrastructure will continue to support residents to make the switch to greener transport and complement our existing sites with more to come later this year.”

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Renault’s Mégane E-Tech: a seductive bet on the EV future

March 15, 2022Buying/Leasing, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, Renault, UncategorizedRepost

Renault’s new 100%-electric Mégane E-Tech is the French company’s non-hedged bet it can convince drivers they’ve nothing to lose in swapping their traditional ICE rides for modern a EV – and gain considerable performance, cost, and flair advantages in the bargain. A day test driving the car on the roads of southern Spain suggests the company stands a good chance of winning that wager and setting some standards for European EV development as it does.

Renault electric SUV (Image: Auto Express/Playback)

Renault is in no way a newcomer to electric vehicles, having sold over 400,000 EVs since the 2012 rollout of its Zoe e-compact. Yet the Mégane E-Tech represents a veritable milestone in several ways. For starters, it’s the first battery-powered vehicle built using the firm’s common module family (CMF) platform, meaning it will inevitably influence later models. And while Renault is adamant the car is positioned to enter Europe’s C-segment at the top of the family hatchback class, its design, spaciousness, and operating chops may well convince some cross-over and the occasional SUV shoppers to reconsider their plans.

Indeed, as Renault staffers acknowledged when asked, the Mégane E-Tech is playing to several kinds of drivers and expectations at once. Conceived to provide the sound, solid, and powerful performance of a German-engineered car – rival Volkswagen ID.4, for example – Renault’s showcase EV is also an unabashed demonstration of French seductive flair. Its innovative design, stylish flourishes, myriad creature comforts, and various features play as much to the eye and heart as its emissions-free, sustainable, efficiently manufactured hardware and tech appeal to pragmatic buyer demands.

And it does so under the name of Renault’s most popular and recognizable Mégane model – but with everything in, on, or about it completely new and different.

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How Much Range You Really Need in an Electric Car

March 14, 2022Buying/Leasing, Charging, Charging, Electric Cars, Leaf, News, Reviews and Comment, NissanRepost

Stop trying to re-create your gas engine car from electricity and the answer will become clear.

If you’re considering an electric vehicle, don’t make the mistake of buying one with too much range. Unlike combustion engine cars with virtually unlimited range, electric cars make the most sense when they have the right amount of range, not a surfeit of it.

There are several reasons to temper your instinct to get the most range possible.

Cost

Range costs a lot of money. For example, a Nissan Leaf with 226 miles of range costs $6,600 more than the same trim level with 149 miles of range.

There is no real parallel with combustion cars as their cost of range is in the price and consumption rate of fuel, not the vehicle’s MSRP. You can argue that an EV earns back its overall cost premium in per-mile energy savings, but a long-range electric car will need many more of those low-cost miles — and probably years of covering them to do so.

The cost of EV range can make buyers recoil from one without knowing that their perception of sufficient range, not cost, is the real problem.

Weight

Longer range versions of a given electric car have larger, heavier batteries. Unlike a tank of gas that weighs about 100 pounds and gets lighter as it’s used, an EV battery can easily weigh 1,000 pounds and stays just as heavy as it is “emptied,” increasingly becoming dead weight the remaining amount of charge must lug around.

The long range Tesla Model 3 (358 miles of range) weighs 172 pounds more than the RWD version’s still-generous 272-mile range, a weight difference equal to the entire payload a car will most often carry: the driver. The difference is even more pronounced when comparing a long range Model 3 to a comparable conventional BMW 3 Series, which is about 475 pounds lighter.

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END of British petrol station: UK urged to ditch iconic locations as revolution looms

March 11, 2022Charging, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

PETROL stations are predicted to become a thing of the past as electric vehicles allow drivers to fit charging more around their lifestyles.

As electric vehicles become more popular drivers will be able to incorporate charging into day to day activities such as visiting a supermarket or while they are at work. That’s the view of leading UK charging provider Pod Point who have partnered with Tesco to provide charging facilities in hundreds of branches around the country. Their CEO Erik Fairbairn told Express.co.uk many people assumed they would charge an electric vehicle in something resembling a petrol station, however this often didn’t match reality. Instead he explained charging would likely come in a variety of settings to reduce the time taken out of peoples’ days.

“We say about 97 percent of all energy flows into electric cars at something other than something that feels a bit like a petrol station.”

A number of forecourts have begun to feature electric charging options with Shell opening its first all electric charging hub in Fulham.

Mr Fairbairn said in general terms such an approach could be a dead end although there would still be a role for service station style options for long distance journeys.

“It’s not fair to say none are required but it’s certainly significantly the minority and the future of the petrol station network in the UK in 10 or 20 years looks nothing like what we’ve got now” he explained.

“The vast majority of petrol stations in my view probably don’t really have a role to play in the electric vehicle future.”

In the long run companies such as Pod Point want to rollout charging points in every parking bay however this would require a big increase in the number of electric vehicles to encourage the investment.

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