Category Archives: Electric Cars

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

Green number plates explained

October 10, 2022Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, RenaultRepost

Wondered what the green stripe you see on the side of some cars’ number plates is for? Wonder no more

In June 2020 the Transport Secretary announced that electric cars would be able to wear number plates featuring a vertical green stripe (officially known as a ‘flash’) on the left-hand side of the plates.

If you’re curious what the thinking is behind the green number plates, we’ll go through this here, as well as precisely which types of car are eligible for them, and what the mechanics of procuring a set of green plates involve.

What does the green strip on a number plate mean?’

In short, if you see green number plates, it means the car wearing them is an EV. The plates can only be fitted to cars that produce zero tailpipe emissions, so only pure electric cars can benefit from them.

These plates still feature the traditional yellow (at the rear) and white (at the front) colours, but have a green box to the left of the characters. The plates themselves are also often made sustainable materials.

Hydrogen cars can also have green plates but there are only two such cars on the market in the UK (The Hyundai Nexo and Toyota Mirai), both of which remain niche propositions sold in tiny numbers.

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Barclays commits to electrifying its UK fleets by 2030

October 7, 2022Electric Cars, Fleet, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

UK-based Barclays has joined Climate Group’s EV100 initiative committing to electrify its fleets by 2030.

The multinational bank confirmed it would introduce a variety of electric vehicles (EV) in order to decarbonise its UK operations. This is of growing concern with the impending internal combustion engine (ICE) sale ban coming into force from 2030.

Although recognised as a global movement, the UK has reaped the benefits from the EV100 initiative with nearly 16,900 EV chargepoints having been installed by companies signed up to initiative.

Copyright: arisanjaya / 123RF Stock Photo — 9822883 – cars pattern

“In March 2020 we become one of the first banks to announce an ambition to be net zero by 2050, which includes our operational emissions,” said Myriam Coneim, global sustainability and governance lead, operations at Barclays.

“To decarbonise our operations, earlier this year we committed to transitioning all of our UK vehicle fleet to electric by 2025 with an additional target of 2030 for our global fleet, using ultra-low emissions vehicles for the latter where electric is not viable.

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MG ZS EV vs Hyundai Kona Electric: 2022 twin test review

October 6, 2022Electric Cars, Hyundai, MG, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

Entry-level electric SUVs from MG and Hyundai are put through their paces to find the penny-pinching champion

The words “budget” and “electric” seem to sit a little awkwardly beside each other in the new-car world at the moment. While the cost of batteries has tumbled significantly since the early mass-market EVs from as little as 10 years ago, in many cases electric models cost more than their fossil-fuelled alternatives. This forces many brands to pitch their EVs as high-spec premium models, pushing costs up even further.

However, dig a little deeper and you’ll find some fantastic exceptions to the trend, and we’ve got two of them here. The new arrival comes in the form of the refreshed MG ZS EV, which has received a wide-ranging update focusing on both style and substance.

It’s going up against the Hyundai Kona Electric, a car which sits at the more affordable end of the EV spectrum and is also among the cheapest to run, while being highly rated by owners. So does the updated MG have what it takes to overcome the Hyundai in this test?

The current MG line-up is quickly gaining a reputation for delivering affordable yet accomplished performance, and its EVs are spearheading the charge. Our Standard Range Trophy test car costs £31,995, which rises by £545 to £32,540 when you add Monument Silver paint.

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Will every electric car feel the same?

October 5, 2022Electric Cars, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

Unlike with gas-powered motors that can sound and feel different, there seems to be a lack of diversity when it comes to electric motors.

We hear it all the time. Behind closed doors, we even talk nervously about it. The idea that as vehicles become electric, brands will lose what makes them unique.

That every vehicle will feel exactly the same without the separation that comes with engine choices like an inline-six instead of a V8. And that the only difference for the driver will be the logo on the steering wheel they’re sitting behind.

For some brands, it can feel like the powertrain — all those components that make the wheels turn — is an afterthought. For others, it’s a key part of what makes the brand.

Kia Ceed Sportwagon PHEV and XCeed PHEV (Image: Kia)

We spoke with both BMW and Kia, brands on opposite ends of the automotive spectrum, to ask how important the powertrain experience was to each, and to find out what they were doing to tune their EVs to help give their vehicles a unique feel. Their answers surprised us.

David Sherrard, director of strategic planning for Kia Canada, said the feel of the powertrain was important for the automaker.

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California’s ban on gas-powered vehicles: Huge victory in the 50-year war for the electric car

October 4, 2022Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, PollutionRepost

It took 50 years, but California clean-air regulators never surrendered — and the electric future is here

The California Air Resources Board’s recent decision to phase out all sales of gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035 marked the culmination of a 50-year struggle by CARB to clean up California’s vehicular pollution, which has long been the largest source of the state’s infamous and sometimes horrendous smog syndrome, and is now its biggest contribution to the climate crisis.

The story begins with two defeats, more than 20 years apart: All the way back in 1969, the California legislature came within one vote of phasing out the internal combustion engine. Even then, nearly enough legislators were convinced that the gasoline-powered engine could never be sufficiently clean. A generation later, in 1990, CARB tried again to mandate a shift to electric vehicles (EVs) in place of oil-dependent gasoline and diesel — this time with new concerns about climate change as a driving force. On that occasion the oil and auto industries dug in their heels — while making seemingly insincere efforts to produce a few thousand electric cars — and then managed to roll back the entire EV mandate as a failure. The cars that had actually been built were almost all scrapped, leaving behind, as this effort’s principal legacy, the powerful but plaintive 2006 documentary “Who Killed the Electric Car?” narrated by Martin Sheen.

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Used Kia EV Batteries Have A New Purpose Now – Energy Storage Systems For The Grid

October 3, 2022Electric Cars, Energy Storage, Kia, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

Kia Europe has revealed a new partnership with Deutsche Bahn to reuse former EV batteries to develop scalable energy storage systems. The prototype is in works in Germany using Kia Soul EV batteries and marks the beginning of the automaker’s Europe-wide initiative.

The Hyundai Motor Group, Kia has fully adopted electrification as it moves toward zero-emissions and carbon neutrality throughout its businesses. Additionally, Kia and Hyundai Motor Group have invested in new technologies, like robotics and autonomy, to increase sustainability.

However, EV battery recycling is an issue. To address this issue, major manufacturers like CATL and recycling specialists like Redwood Materials are already helping reduce and reuse precious materials across the globe.

Deutsche Bahn (encore DB) has been partnering up with many businesses to procure used batteries and give them a second life as energy storage solutions.

Kia announced the details of its new partnership with encore DB in a press release today, explaining how its EV batteries will be dismantled and repurposed for a second life cycle. Under the new agreement, Kia Europe will be the first mobility solutions provider to officially partner with encore DB.

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Top 10 best small electric cars 2022

September 30, 2022Cooper Electric, e-208, Electric Cars, MINI, News, Reviews and Comment, PeugeotRepost

Small electric cars make a lot of sense for commuting, city life and slashing your running costs. Here, we pick out the best ones to buy in the UK right now

Electric cars have also come a long way since the infamous G-Wiz arrived on the scene, especially when it comes to the most compact EVs on the market today. Thanks largely to big improvements in the package of EVs and the amount of range available from their batteries, carmakers can build more convincing and usable small zero-emissions models.

Plus, since small EVs have smaller batteries on board, charging them up is quick, and you can expect your running costs to be far cheaper than even the most economical small petrol cars. However, electric cars, even ones this size, are still more expensive to buy than their petrol-powered counterparts, so it’s worth considering the purchase price as well as the running costs when you buy.

It’s only a matter of time before the gap closes though, with sub-£20,000 EVs on the way from Volkswagen, Cupra and Renault, to name but a few. If you are concerned about cost, you can check out our list of the cheapest electric cars you can buy right now – but you’re here for the best small electric cars, so read on to find out our top picks.

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Cost-of-living crisis: ‘Electric cars are still cheaper to run’

September 29, 2022Buying/Leasing, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, OpinionRepost

Despite the soaring electricity prices, research shows you’ll still save money running an EV ‒ plus top tips from the experts on how to save even more

There’s been a flurry of energy-price fluctuations over the past couple of months, but despite the dropping of fuel prices and energy price rises (and more to come), the latest research shows that it’s still cheaper to run an electric car.

The planned rise of electricity to around 34p per kWh (a jump from the current average unit of 28p) on October 1 will bump up the price of running an EV, but, according to the RAC, it’s still cheaper than driving a petrol car. Comparing similar cars under comparable conditions, the organisation found that an EV driver would pay 9p per mile while a petrol driver would pay 19p.

Still, with electricity at an all-time high, EV drivers will be looking to save all the charge, and pounds, they can. With the help of Stuart Masson, editor of car ownership advice site The Car Expert, and Simon Williams, EV lead at the RAC, here’s our list of money-saving tips to help keep costs as low as possible…

Charge at home overnight on the off-peak rate. Most chargers have smart-charge software that powers up when electricity is cheapest at around 2am ‒ so if you’re charging a home only do so overnight.

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Jeep has revealed three all-new electric cars

September 20, 2022Electric Cars, JLR, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

And the Avenger, Recon and plush new Wagoneer will be joined by a fourth EV soon after…

Jeep is having a major pile-on in battery electric drive. It wants to be the ‘global zero-emission SUV leader’. In Europe that means all its new-vehicle sales will be full electric by 2030. Even in the US, land of freedom and gasoline, it’s expecting 50 per cent by then.

And instead of just boring us with airy but blind promises, they actually have some cars to show for it. Three of them.

First is the Avenger, the JCB-yellow car pictured above. This itty-bitty Jeep was designed in Italy and will be built in Poland. It fits under the Renegade in the lineup, and uses the smallest of the new Stellantis specialist electric platforms. It’ll be launched at the Paris Show on 17 October and available to order from that date.

Says global design chief Ralph Gilles: “It was designed in Italy for a reason. These cars exist in cities, they go up kerbs, they need body armour. But it also has Renegade elements like the tail lamps and grille.” City use means the planned 250-mile range should be OK.

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One in seven cars bought in August were EVs

September 19, 2022Buying a new car, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

Electric car sales in August accounted for one in seven of new cars registered, according to new data from New Automotive.

While internal combustion engines (ICE) registrations have maintained steady in August, the electric vehicle (EVs) market continues to grow. It accounted for 14.48% of the market with 8,926 EVs registered in August, an increase of more than 2,000 on August 2021.

More motorists are looking to reap benefits of owning an EV amid the rising cost of living, and while hybrid sales continue to fall, EVs have grown at the expense of that market as more customers opt for a fully electric car instead of an hybrid.

“As the cost of living crisis worsens, UK motorists continue to turn towards cheaper-to-run electric vehicles,” said Ben Nelmes, co-founder and head of policy at New Automotive.

“Even with the increase in the Ofgem price cap for electricity in October, EVs will continue to offer running cost savings compared to ICE models.”

In July, total sales of electric cars in 2022 had already passed totals for the entirety of 2020, despite July being the first full month since government scrapped its plug-in car grant on 14 June.

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