Category Archives: Electric Cars

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

Octopus Energy and National Grid ESO hail ‘line in the sand’ moment for V2G tech

September 1, 2022Electric Cars, Energy and Climate Change, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

Octopus Energy Group and National Grid ESO have used electric vehicles (EVs) to help balance the grid in what they are dubbing a first for vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology.

The ESO directly sent a series of signals to Octopus between 17:00-05:00 over 3-5 August 2022, which then charged and discharged 20 EVs depending on the needs of the Balance Mechanism, helping to balance the system in real-time.

“This is a real ‘line in the sand’ moment for V2G tech. We have shown that this technology is capable of helping to balance our future, green grid, to the benefit of people and the planet,” said Claire Miller, director of technology and innovation at Octopus Electric Vehicles.

“We’ve proved what is possible with the technology and cars that are currently on the market, and this is only going to grow. Soon we will have millions of electric cars sitting on driveways capable of storing and exporting green energy back to the grid when it needs it most – and once the vehicle-to-grid proposition is ready to be launched, these cars will help to support our renewables expansion and taking us a huge step closer to net zero.”

It’s Time to Go Green!

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Shortage of electric cars set to derail sales boom: Supply issues delaying orders for up to TWO YEARS – we reveal waiting times for the most popular EVs

August 31, 2022Buying/Leasing, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

Sales of electric cars have been booming in recent years but restricted production of new models looks set to derail the nation’s switch to plug-in vehicles, according to a new report.

Drivers wanting to make the switch to an electric vehicle are facing long delays for cars to arrive, in some cases up to two years from the point of ordering, research by Electrifying.com has revealed.

The combination of surging demand together with a global shortage of semiconductor chips and other key components that has wreaked havoc on the wider automotive industry for the last two years is now starting to have a crippling impact on the availability of the latest electric models.

And we can tell you how long, on average, you might have to wait to get your hands on a brand new electric car if you placed an order for one at a dealership today.

Just four months ago, popular models including the Vauxhall Corsa-e, Mokka-e and the Renault Zoe were freely available, however, buyers now face waiting times of up to four months to get their hands on one, the website said.

At the more luxurious end of the market, consumers could be waiting for up to 18 months for an Audi E-tron, which costs from £63,000.

Comparatively modest models including the Kia EV6 (from £44,195) and Skoda Enyaq (£42,435) come with waiting times of more than a year.

The current climate has even led to Elon Musk’s Tesla brand pausing production altogether for the Model X and Model S in order to meet the higher demand for its smaller – and more affordable – Model 3 and Model Y.

It’s Time to Go Green!

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Electric cars to solar panels: tax breaks in Biden’s climate law for Americans

August 30, 2022Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, Solar Power, UncategorizedRepost

The giant $369bn bill signed by the president on Monday promises to bring big savings by offering tax rebates for green investments

The giant climate bill signed by Joe Biden on Tuesday is set to touch upon myriad aspects of Americans’ lives, helping shape everything from the cars they drive to the stovetops in their kitchens.

Biden has lauded the $369bn of climate spending in the Inflation Reduction Act as the “largest investment ever in combatting the existential crisis of climate change” and predicted it will save people hundreds of dollars each year in energy costs. This claim is based upon a series of investments aimed at shifting buying habits away from a polluting status quo towards cleaner, electrified vehicles and appliances.

A US household could save $1,800 on their energy costs each year, according to a recent estimate, although this would require the installation of electric heat pumps for hot water and air conditioning, replacing a gasoline-powered car with an electric vehicle and installing solar panels on the roof.

But even without these modifications, the climate bill is expected to lower costs by funneling support to renewable energy projects, such as wind and solar, that will provide a less price volatile source of electricity than gas, coal and oil.

It’s Time to Go Green!

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Inflation Reduction Act passes the US House of Representatives

August 26, 2022Buying/Leasing, Economy, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, Press ReleaseRepost

The Inflation Reduction Act, which also includes the reform of the EV tax credit, has now passed the House of Representatives after the Senate and is expected to be signed by President Joe Biden in the coming days. The new eligibility requirements will make most electric models ineligible for the tax credit.

After the package was repeatedly reduced in the Senate in numerous rounds of negotiations, the vote in the House of Representatives was considered a formality due to the majority ratios there. The same applies to the final signature of US President Biden. Even in its greatly reduced scope, the climate-related expenditure of 369 billion US dollars is the largest climate package ever passed in the USA.

For the tax credit on the purchase of an electric car, the changes are massive – it remains at the maximum $7,500 subsidy amount, but the requirements to qualify for the full subsidy have been tightened enormously. And the requirements will continue to increase in the coming years. The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, whose members include the US corporations GM and Ford, as well as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and Hyundai-Kia, estimates that 70 per cent of BEVs and PHEVs will no longer be eligible for subsidies as early as 2023.

It’s Time to Go Green!

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Charge Of The “LEAF Brigade” Kept Small Towns In The Philippines Connected After Super Typhoon Rai

August 25, 2022Charging, Electric Cars, Leaf, News, Reviews and Comment, Nissan, UncategorizedRepost

In December of 2021, super typhoon “Odette” (international codename Rai) battered many provinces in the Visayas, the second largest cluster of islands in the Philippines, as it made landfall on and first ravaged the tourist town of Siargao, known for its pristine beaches and surfing. Rai devastated many other provinces in the region including the province of Tacloban, Leyte, still recovering 7 years after the onslaught of Typhoon Haiyan (local codename “Yolanda”), and the chocolate capital of the Philippines, Bohol.

As Odette rumbled through the Visayas, it took particular interest in Bohol and Cebu. And as it intensified into the equivalent of a Category 5 hurricane, with sustained winds of some 100 miles per hour (160 km per hour) sweeping across an area some 600 miles on both sides. By the time it exited the Philippines a day later, it had destroyed over 80,000 homes and displaced some 481,000 people in Cebu alone. In total, some 992,000 homes were damaged and 368,000 completely destroyed in the whole region, according to the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC).

The most immediate requirement was shelter, power, and water. For power, the most immediate solution was solar power kits which could run one household each. Big business and several non-government organizations and church groups chipped in for most of the needs.

It’s Time to Go Green!

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Range anxiety: here’s what happens when an electric car runs out

August 24, 2022Charging, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, UncategorizedRepost

What is range anxiety? Here’s what happens when an electric car’s battery runs out – and what you should do if it happens

You’re sure to have heard of the term ‘range anxiety’ – this refers to the stress of running out of electricity in a car powered solely by batteries. Since it’s not possible to nip to the petrol station and fill a can of electricity like you can with conventional cars, it’s more worrying to think about running out of power in an electric car.

It was a major worry in the early days of electric cars. Early models like the Peugeot iOn and the first Nissan Leaf had small batteries and limited range, and public chargers were few and far between. Not every station was compatible with your car, either, while charging took a long time.

It’s becoming less of an issue with each new generation of electric cars – these days, even the affordable Renault ZOE can manage 245 miles, while high-end models like the latest Teslas can exceed 350 miles (check out our list of the longest-range electric cars for more). The MINI Electric, meanwhile, has a small range but an accurate range estimate – so it won’t surprise you by dropping suddenly.

It’s Time to Go Green!

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The MG 4 EV will start at just under £26k in the UK

August 23, 2022Buying/Leasing, Electric Cars, MG, News, Reviews and Comment, UncategorizedRepost

Maker of affordable EVs unveils tempting prices for its new 281-mile electric hatch

It’s been a busy week for the new-age MG. After releasing an extremely low-resolution teaser video of its upcoming flagship electric sports car, it has now confirmed pricing for the 4 EV hatchback…

And it’s good news for all those interested in genuinely affordable electric cars, because prices will apparently start at £25,995 for the base-spec SE Standard Range, rising to £28,495 for the SE Long Range and £31,495 for the all-you-can-eat Trophy Long Range.

The former of those three gets a 51kWh battery and a decent 218 miles of range, while the SE Long Range and Trophy Long Range make use of a bigger 64kWh unit that can rapid-charge at speeds of up to 135kW. MG says range for those two specs is 281 miles and 270 miles respectively.

Like what you’re hearing? It’s worth remembering now the Government’s Plug-in Car Grant has been ditched, a boggo Nissan Leaf starts at £28,995 and comes with a 39kWh battery for just 168 miles of range.

As with the 5 EV electric estate, MG will throw in a load of kit on the 4 including a 10.25-inch central infotainment screen and a 7.0-inch driver display. You’ll get a seven-year warranty too, plus a choice of six different exterior colours from launch. Our advice? Spec the Volcano Orange you see above.

It’s Time to Go Green!

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Renault ZOE hatchback review

August 22, 2022Buying/Leasing, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, Renault, Uncategorized, ZOERepost

“The Renault ZOE is a stylish electric supermini that’s affordable and has a decent range, making it very convincing”

Renault prides itself on being at the forefront of electric car development and the ZOE is the first electric car to offer a real zero-emissions alternative to regular family superminis. This is thanks to its relatively low purchase price and packaging that broadly matches the Renault Clio for practicality.

The introduction of the latest ZOE in 2019 brought a welcome increase in power, along with styling changes, a simplified range structure and updated infotainment system, improving what was already a quite appealing electric-car proposition. Its low-mounted battery pack has the dual advantages of increasing interior space and lowering the ZOE’s centre of gravity; the car is rewarding to drive around town as a result.

2020 Renault Zoe (Image: Renault) — The improved Renault Zoe has a longer range and posher interior (Image: Renault)

ZOE line-up was revised with the battery leasing option being discontinued. Now every ZOE comes with the battery pack included, putting it on a level playing field with new rivals like the Peugeot e-208, Vauxhall Corsa-e, Honda e and MINI Electric.

Its 52kWh battery offers a claimed range of up to 239 miles of range on a charge and can be charged from 0-80% in around an hour and ten minutes using a 50kW charger – although this is only feasible on version with the R135 Rapid Charge powertrain that have the CCS fast-charging capability. The quoted range is more likely in good conditions, and this new model shouldn’t drop as much range in winter as the old version.

It’s Time to Go Green!

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Renault e-trucks to pick up dirty linen in a move to decarbonise

August 19, 2022Electric Vans, News, Reviews and Comment, Renault, Renault, UncategorizedRepost

French company Elis has acquired eleven electric trucks from Renault Trucks. The textile service will use the new EVs for night-time delivery and collection of linen from Elis customers in the hotel and catering sector in Paris and Clermont-Ferrand.

Elis reasons that low-emission zones in Paris and Clermont-Ferrand have made this a necessary step in line with its CSR commitments. The eleven electric trucks of type E-Tech DE will travel more than 100 km daily and serve around 700 customers weekly. Elis has installed AC charging infrastructure at its laundry centres.

The company committed to decarbonising by 2025. Accordingly, the new Renault EVs follow purchases Ellis made for another three sites in France, where they acquired ten new light electric vehicles. The company would not disclose details but added that another eight Renault Zoe cars were also in operation.

As for the new Renault electric trucks, the manufacturer offers lithium-ion batteries from 200 to 400 kWh to enable ranges of up to 400 kilometres. The 16-ton vehicles have a 185 kW electric motor (maximum output), and Renault specifies the continuous line at 130 kW. The maximum torque is 425 Nm. The payload is up to 11 tons.

Renault is also accelerating the decarbonisation of its operations and aims to make electric vehicles the new standard. The company targets realising half of its sales volume electrically by 2030.

It’s Time to Go Green!

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Have booming EV sales crossed the mass-adoption tipping point?

August 18, 2022Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, PollutionRepost

Analysts suggest the world could be nearing a critical electric vehicle sales tipping point, when volatile early adoption trends are overtaken by mainstream demand.

It is widely acknowledged that we are not acting quickly enough to address climate change. Global emissions have now exceeded pre-pandemic levels, China and India continue to build coal plants across their countries, and even the EU – long lauded as a climate leader – was told this month it needs to double the pace of its wind and solar roll-out to be on track for 1.5°C.

One area where progress has been pleasingly apace is the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). Sales of EVs – defined in this article as both battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) – doubled in 2021 on a year-on-year basis, to hit 6.6 million worldwide. Back in 2012, just 120,000 electric cars were sold.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) said in its net-zero pathway that 60% of new passenger cars must be EVs by 2030 for the world to be on a trajectory for net zero by mid-century, with all cars being so by 2050. While sales of EVs only made up 8.3% of cars sold in 2021, projected exponential growth means that EVs are one of the few areas the IEA believes to be on track for net zero 2050.

It’s Time to Go Green!

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