Category Archives: Electric Cars

News and reviews of the latest electric cars (full electrics and plug-in hybrids).

France will ‘ban all petrol and diesel vehicles by 2040’

July 23, 2017Electric Cars, Energy and Climate Change, News, Reviews and Comment, PollutionJo

Environment minister unveils five-year-plan to fulfil country’s commitments under Paris Agreemen.

France plans to ban all petrol and diesel vehicles by 2040, the country’s new environment minister has announced.

Nicolas Hulot made the announcement as he unveiled a series of measures as part of newly elected President Emmanuel Macron’s plan to make the country carbon neutral by 2050.

Mr Hulot said he recognised the target would put pressure on France’s car manufacturers, but he said they currently had projects which

“can fulfil that promise”.

As part of the plan, poorer households will receive a premium so they can swap their polluting vehicles for clean alternatives.

The announcement comes after Volvo said on Wednesday it planned to build only electric and hybrid vehicles from 2019.

Speaking at a press conference, Mr Hulot told reporters France would stop using coal to produce electricity by 2022 and that up to €4bn of investments will help to boost energy efficiency.

The announcements are part of a five-year-plan to encourage clean energy and fulfil the country’s commitments under the Paris Agreement.

Mr Hulot said the government wanted to maintain the country’s “leadership” in climate policy.

“We want to demonstrate that fighting against climate change can lead to an improvement of French people’s daily lives,”

he said.

France is not the only country which aims to ban combustion-powered cars. The Netherlands and Norway previously said they wanted to get rid of petrol and diesel vehicles by 2025 and Germany and India announced similar plans ahead of 2030.

Reacting to the news, ClientEarth CEO James Thornton said: “This is a huge statement of intent from the French government and an example of how we’re likely to see exponential change in the coming years as governments grapple with the necessary changes we have to make for air quality and our climate.

“Coming hot on the heels of Volvo’s announcement yesterday, the outlook for the internal combustion engine is bleak. This is now clearly the direction of travel and industry players who are not on board will find themselves struggling before long.

“These moves should be heeded by other governments and industry, who need to act to protect us from air pollution in our towns and cities and help mitigate climate change.”

Cars we won’t regret going electric: Speed Matters

July 23, 2017Electric Cars, ForTwo Electric, News, Reviews and Comment, SmartJo

Ditching internal combustion may be the best thing that ever happened to the Smart – could any other cars benefit?

What will the Goodwood Festival of Speed be like in 25 years’ time? Just as noisy and thick with the smell of tyre smoke and exhaust fumes I’d hope. And populated by our generation, misty-eyed at displays of the machinery of our youth being given a run out. Much as our parents may enjoy visits to volunteer branch lines to relive the glory days of steam or gaze in wonder at Spitfires looping the loop at air shows.

I’d expect there to be rather fewer internal combustion powered cars in the queues for the car parks though. A thought that struck me as I watched a Formula E car whistle past me at the Festival at the weekend. It was fast. But up against the mightiest examples of petrol-powered excess, an electric car was always going to suffer on the excitement stakes. An opinion perhaps not shared by the driver of the Rimac that very nearly ‘did a Hammond’ in front of the hospitality pavilions. But even that raised little more than a curious shrug from onlookers against the thunder of Jochen Mass power sliding a Mercedes W125 or the sound of the sky being ripped apart by an 8.4-litre McLaren M8F.

Will I be so nostalgic about the car I drive to the event though? Not sure. Accepted wisdom has it that electric cars are interesting. They can be fast – ludicrously so in the case of Tesla. But can they ever be better than their internal combustion equivalents? Does, for instance, the idea of an electric Porsche 911 fill you with hope? Or fear?

Renault Zoe becomes first EV pool car for Slough Council

July 23, 2017Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, Renault, ZOE Z.E. 40Jo

Slough Borough Council has purchased three Renault Zoe EV vehicles as staff pool cars.

The purchase follows Slough Borough Council’s ‘journey to clean air’ initiative, as part of its low emissions strategy.

The pool car scheme is part of Slough’s wider fleet challenge programme, providing ‘environmentally friendly’ solutions for staff travel to meetings, site inspections and client visits. This all helps towards Slough’s aim to decarbonise its fleet.

Leader of Slough Borough Council Cllr Sohail Munawar said:

“The fleet challenge is just one of the ways we are making a difference to our communities and our environment. By introducing a pool of both ultra-low emissions electric cars and e-bikes, we are moving towards that goal.

“Forty staff tried the Renault Zoe and the feedback was excellent. They found it easy to drive and the controls clear and simple to understand. The charging lead is easy to connect and the range the car offers makes it ideal as a pool car.

The three Zoe Dynamique iNav R90 Z.E.40 models were sourced through Renault Croydon and have been fitted with the optional rear-view parking camera.”

Groupe Renault UK’s national fleet manager Mark Potter said:

“We’re delighted that Slough Borough Council has chosen the Renault Zoe as its first electric pool car. The Zoe creates no emissions at the tailpipe, and with the 250-mile range (NEDC) available from its Z.E.40 battery, it will be able to complete return journeys across the borough without needing to stop and charge up again. We are sure staff will also enjoy its smooth, quiet performance and fun character.”

Source: FleetNews

Every new Volvo model to be electrified by 2019

July 22, 2017Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, VolvoJo

From 2023, you won’t be able to buy a new Volvo without an electric motor.

As part of a radical move to increase sales of its electrified cars, every newly launched Volvo will come as either a hybrid, a plug-in hybrid or as a fully electric vehicle by 2019, with the brand’s entire portfolio of models following within four years.

Five new electric cars

Volvo will also build five new fully electric cars between 2019 and 2021. Two of these will be sold under Volvo’s new Tesla-rivalling performance sub-brand, Polestar.

The remaining three new Volvo electric cars will be all-new models, rather than being derived from existing cars. The electric vehicles will be offered with two battery choices – in much the same way as Tesla offers different varieties of both the Model S and Model X depending on desired range and performance.

It’s understood that one option will focus on extended range, while the other will maximise power. That second option will still have a range of around 310 miles, meaning you’d be able to travel further than in a Nissan Leaf, Renault Zoe or entry-level Model S.

While it hasn’t been confirmed what form Volvo’s all-electric models will take, the most likely candidate is the upcoming XC40 small SUV.

Volvo hasn’t said how much it will charge for its electric models, but has re-iterated that it intends to create premium cars. The brand wants to sell one million electric cars globally by 2025.

A range of hybrid vehicles

Throughout the rest of Volvo’s product range, new cars will be offered as either a hybrid, a plug-in hybrid or as a mild hybrid. Mild hybrids are the least noticeable form of electrification, as the small electric motor only provides extra power when accelerating away from junctions or traffic lights.

That means time is limited for Volvo’s current range of petrol and diesel-engined cars, although the Swedish car maker already offers plug-in hybrids, most recently on the XC60 small SUV.

Renault Actually Considering Production Of Hot Zoe RS

July 22, 2017Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, Renault, ZOE E-SportJo

Fingers crossed that it will make it!

The pint-sized Zoe is far from being the most exciting electric car out there, but it’s a whole different story with the bonkers E-Sport concept. Unveiled earlier this year in Geneva, the zero-emissions city car had a pair of electric motors good for a combined output of close to 460 horsepower (343 kilowatts) and a torquetastic 472 pound-feet (640 Newton-meters).

As it turns out, Renault Sport is actually analyzing the prospects of coming out with a high-performance Zoe that would carry the “RS” suffix. In an interview with Autocar, the go-faster division’s boss, Patrice Ratti, admitted

“we are thinking about doing a Zoe RS but it is a big study that will take time.”

He went on to specify the hot e-hatch is being considered thanks primarily to the developments made in battery technology, thus making the Zoe RS a feasible project worthy of being evaluated for a potential production model.

If green-lighted, the Zoe RS (see render here) will go through some significant changes compared to the concept. Besides being subjected to steering and chassis modifications, the batteries would also have to be tweaked in order to boost range over the E-Sport, which had enough juice for a mere 15 minutes while being driven at full throttle. For the sake of comparison, the regular Zoe ZE 40 you can actually buy can cover up to 250 miles (400 kilometers) between charges as per the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC).

Should the road-going model get even close to the concept’s performances, it’s going to be a little electric beast. Renault Sport said the show car would do 0 to 62 mph (100 kph) in just 3.2 seconds. Top speed was electronically capped at 130 mph (210 kph), a process which took less than 10 seconds from a standstill.

But Renault Sport has bigger fish to fry right now as it’s gearing up to introduce the all-new Megane RS. Slated to debut on September 12, the newest performance model carrying the diamond logo will premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

Source: InsideEVs

Plug-in hybrid completes Ioniq trio

July 22, 2017Electric Cars, Hyundai, IONIQ Plug-in Hybrid, News, Reviews and CommentJo

The plug-in hybrid uses a 105hp 1.6-litre petrol engine in conjunction with a 61hp high-efficiency electric motor driven through a six-speed dual-clutch transmission. This produces a combined output of 141hp and CO2 emissions of 26g/km, thereby attracting a zero-rate Vehicle Excise Duty for the first year.

Hyundai has completed the line up of its Ioniq with a plug-in hybrid model.

Hyundai claims that its new PHEV is capable of up to 39 miles of pure electric driving and a total range of 680 miles.

The Ioniq PHEV can be plugged into a domestic three-pin outlet when no dedicated charging points are available. For an additional £300, a 7kW charger and wall box can be supplied and installed at a customer’s home.

The standard paint finish is Polar White, though customers are able to specify from Phantom Black, Platinum Silver, Iron Grey, Demitasse Brown, Marina Blue and Phoenix Orange. Two trim levels, Premium and Premium SE, are available.

The Ioniq PHEV goes on sale this month with UK pricing starting from £24,995, including a £2,500 Plug-in Car Grant.

Polar White is the standard paint finish for the new PHEV

Source: The Car Expert

BMW i3 is the good kind of nerdy

July 21, 2017BMW, Electric Cars, i3, News, Reviews and CommentJo

There’ a new crop of nerds. Not the old-style outcasts of high school, but instead, the new age definition where brains are worn as a badge of honor. And this is their car.

The BMW i3 is intelligence for the road by offering an electric vehicle that’s engineered to maximize every last kilowatt. And it does so while boldly standing out from the crowd — loudly and proudly proclaiming its nerd-mobile status.

Its short stubby nose and blocky build give the i3 a memorable silhouette. BMW’s hallmark twin-kidney grille helps create an angry face, but the standard tri-tone color options make the whole package feel a bit livelier. So the total impression is like an electric bulldog on wheels (bet you’ll never find that kind of comparison on any other car.)

The front doors are large enough to look like a coupe, but there’s a second set of rear-hinged ones for better access to the back seats. Other cars of the last decade like the Honda Element and Mazda RX-8 have done this, too, but the i3 seems to open larger and wider, which makes it particularly impressive.

The extra exposure comes from its revolutionary construction. The frame is made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic. It’s a material that’s both extremely lightweight and exceptionally strong. BMW left it unpainted in the door jams so the cool nerds can marvel at the metallic-like weave that isn’t found in many production vehicles.

Once inside, this electric car reminds that it’s one with nature. The seats are made from a broad thread that looks like woven on a country loom. The optional leather was tanned with olive leaf extract. The dash and door panels have a fibrous appearance that clearly came from recycled plastics. And completing the natural atmosphere is the optional open-pore Eucalyptus Wood flowing over the glovebox and under the infotainment screen. BMW says it’s one of the most sustainable lumbers available, but really, we just like how it gives the i3 a unique and premium atmosphere.

Premier Used BMW i3 Available Today for £499pm

July 21, 2017Blog, BMW, Electric Cars, i3, i3 94AhTrevor Larkum

As many people are starting to learn, the downside of increasing interest in and sales of electric cars is that the manufacturers are struggling to keep up. In particular both the BMW i3 and Hyundai IONIQ Electric have increasing lead times, heading towards 5 months from order to delivery.

Used BMW i3 94Ah with Range Extender (Image: T. Larkum)

One side effect of this is a shortage of used i3’s, particular the longer range i3 94Ah which was only launched a year ago. We are very fortunate, therefore, to be able to offer a used i3 REx that just came into stock this week and, after preparation, became available to sell today.

It has a very high specification – it’s a top-end i3 with all the bells and whistles. It is available from now to the first person to complete the paperwork.

Used BMW i3: Specification

The complete specification is here:

BMW i3 94Ah with Range Extender (REx)
Mineral Grey Metallic with Highlight BMW i Blue (£530)
Aragats Grey Neutronic Cloth
i3 Sport Package (£1700): alloy wheels, LED headlights, Harman Kardon Hi-Fi, Sun Protection Glass
Media Package – Professional (£960): Navigation system Professional and Online Entertainment
Park Assist Package (£790): Park Assist, Park Distance Control (PDC) front and rear, Reversing Assist camera
20″ BMW I Double-spoke Style Alloy Wheels (£520 on top of Sport Package)
Comfort Access (£330): Open front vehicle doors and tailgate without having to use the car key
DC Rapid Charge Preparation
Electric Glass Sunroof (£780)

The current prices and specs for the options are included just to give an indication of how well featured this vehicle is.

In my personal view (as an owner of an i3) this could represent an electric car to keep for life. It has the longer range battery (120+ miles), it has the Range Extender (a small petrol engine in the boot to keep the battery charged on longer journeys – adding another 100 miles or so per fill up), it has a great look inside and out (sport package, alloy wheels, sunroof), and it has the larger screen satnav and nearly all the other gadgets you can think of.

Used BMW i3: Price

This is a car that would have cost an impressive £37,350 when bought new last year. It has only done a little over 4000 miles so it’s virtually new (I do that in ten weeks). It is now available on 4 year PCP for £1200 deposit plus £499 per month, and that includes servicing until 20 May 2019 or 36000 miles. That’s for a high 15000 miles per year PCP – of course we can do it for a lower mileage at a lower price if that would suit better.

Do get in touch if you want to know more: trevor.larkum@ fuelincluded.com, mobile 07920 790600.

Volvo Is Going Electric: Does that Mean Its Cars Will Cost More?

July 21, 2017Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, S90, VolvoJo

Volvo is committing itself to an ambitious plan to overhaul the way it powers its cars by introducing only fully electric or hybrid-powered vehicles, beginning in 2019. While Volvo hybrids now are significantly more expensive than their traditional counterparts, the automaker said it can change that, though not for some time.

“We believe that enhancing our cars with electrification will make them more desirable,”

Volvo spokesman Russell Datz said Wednesday.

“People will not want a pure [internal combustion engine] car when they can have one with better efficiency, lower emissions, and more performance, all at an equal or lower cost.

“Pricing for the technologies are coming down, helped by technological advances and considerable investments across the industry,” Datz added. Still, he noted, reaching “the break-even between internal combustion engines and plug-in hybrids will take some time and plug-ins will remain a premium option for the near future.”

In its release Wednesday, Volvo said it will introduce five new electric or hybrid models by 2021, three under the Volvo name and two under the company’s Polestar performance car brand.

“This announcement marks the end of the solely combustion engine-powered car,” Hakan Samuelson, Volvo’s president and chief executive, said in a statement. “Volvo Cars has stated that it plans to have sold a total of [1 million] electrified cars [worldwide] by 2025. When we said it, we meant it. This is how we are going to do it.”

Hyundai IONIQ Plug-in Hybrid Goes on Sale in UK

The much publicized and hyped Hyundai IONIQ Plug-in Hybrid is gearing up to hit the British market later this month with a starting price of £24,995. It’ll be interesting how the IONIQ will do in terms of sales, especially as cars with all-caps names rarely become big hits. We have to say though, things are looking pretty good for this green Hyundai on paper.

The 2018 Hyundai IONIQ Plug-in Hybrid is the best version of the car you can ask for when you look at the number. 25 grand, 39 miles of pure electric driving with a total range of 680 miles. Granted, an output of 140 PS is not something one would write home about, but then you don’t buy a plug-in hybrid for performance, do you? So it’s all right. And the IONIQ doesn’t look horrible, as one would expect from a 25 grand hybrid made in Korea. Up close it’s actually kind of futuristic and nice. Of course, none of that is guarantee of success and we should wait and see how the market reacts to this thing.