Category Archives: Electric Cars

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

Chinese electric cars will reduce UK emissions but what about rivals here?

The UK is facing a dilemma: should it fight the rising imports of Chinese electric cars with big new tariffs, in the same way the EU has threatened to do this week? Or should it allow them to continue? Keeping open to the imports in would make it easier for the UK to hit its goal of no new petrol and diesel cars by 2030, and it would make electric cars cheaper. But the UK car industry could be damaged.

The British car industry is showing off its green electric future at a Bedfordshire racetrack, and behind the marques, some familiar, some less so, there is a new force.

China is cornering the market in electric vehicles.

 

After a rough start, Tesla’s sales in China are booming. It may soon manufacture in Shanghai for the world’s biggest EV market

A friendly man from Chinese firm BYD shows me the Atto.

“We’re really proud of this car,” says Mark Blundell. “It’s new to the market, and packed full of technology. In simple terms we can pack 50% more battery into less space.”

The car’s interior is inspired by a gym. It has a heat pump as standard, vegan leather, and strings on the door map-pocket tight enough to “get a tune out of”. The display screen on the dashboard rotates at the press of a button.

For now, hands should still be on the steering wheel, though China expects to be ahead of the game on autonomous driving too.

And the all important battery life and range? Impressive.

Read more: BBC

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Is faster always better when it comes to EV charging?

22kWh home chargers slash your charging time, but for home use they might not be worth the hassle

Power matters when it comes to charging electric cars. Generally, the more Watts, the faster the potentially tiresome business takes place.

Renault ZOE

The fastest public car chargers offer up to 400kW, nearly 130 times the power you get from a three-pin socket at home. It’s enough to fill even the largest electric car batteries in record time. A long range Hyundai Ioniq 5 for example, on a 350kW charger, can get from 10% to 80% in around 18 minutes. That’s nearly 14 miles of added range every five minutes.

Of course, if you can, it’s vastly cheaper and more convenient to charge your electric car at home. But home chargers, which use alternating current (AC) rather than the direct current (DC) of rapid public ones, are much slower. Getting a full battery is typically an overnight affair.

The slowest home chargers run at 3.2kW, though most are 7.4kW which is about the same power as your home cooker circuit. These will fully charge a car like the long range Ioniq 5 in a rather pedestrian 11 hours or so.

Faster, 22kW AC home chargers are available, though. They sound appealing and can potentially slash your charging time to a third. But is the mindset of maximising your charging power at home a fallacy? Should you buy one? Probably not, and here’s why.

Read more: T3

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ScottishPower launches new overnight charging tariff for EV drivers

Energy company ScottishPower has launched a new tariff for electric vehicle (EV) drivers with “one of the lowest overnight charging rates available”, it claims.

The EV Saver tariff allows drivers to charge their cars for 7.45p/kWh between midnight and 5am.

The company, a subsidiary of Spanish utilities giant Iberdrola, said that they want to help encourage more drivers to make the switch to electric vehicles. The new tariff adds on to an existing home charging package which comes with free AA support for 12 months.

Andy Mouat, head of smart mobility at ScottishPower, said: “Latest figures show that more than 20% of new cars sold in the UK are now all-electric and we’re here to help lead the electrification of transport by making the transition to EVs easier and more affordable.

“Our new, competitive charging tariff offers clean affordable energy for our EV-driving customers while supporting the UK’s decarbonisation journey.”

The company says it is currently investing £8 million “every single working day” in the UK to support the energy transition.

The new EV Saver Tariff is available to existing ScottishPower domestic customers who have a smart meter and opt to pay by Direct Debit, and new domestic customers joining ScottishPower on its Standard Variable Tariff (SVT) who meet the same criteria.

In August, SocttishPower’s parent company Iberdrola secured a €500 million (£432 million) loan with Citi for the construction and development of the East Anglia III offshore wind farm.

Read more: Current+

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Peugeot 3008 hybrid SUV (Image: peugeot.co.uk)

Peugeot E-3008 is an all-electric SUV crossover with over 430 miles of range

The new flagship EV from Peugeot is the first to use the STLA M platform and is set to banish range anxiety forever

The Peugeot E-3008 combines the best of two worlds. This third-generation SUV crossover model is an established ICE model turned electric. However, as it uses a brand new platform the internals have been completely redesigned for electric use, rather than being a simple engine swap.

Peugeot 3008 hybrid SUV (Image: peugeot.co.uk)
Peugeot 3008 hybrid SUV (Image: peugeot.co.uk)

Electric versions of existing models give brand-loyal customers some reassurance when making their first move to an electric vehicle. While the use of a dedicated electric platform, like this one from Stellantis, means that the car is optimised for electric power.

The result is something that not only looks great but also offers the best range in its class – and one of the best in EVs generally. The larger 98kWh battery E-3008 promises a range of up to 700km (or 434 miles). That’s certainly enough to not worry about finding electric chargers. Even the smaller 73kWh battery will deliver 525km (326 miles).

There are a few design changes for the third generation of the 3008 that raise the profile of this car. Designed in France and built in its factory in Sochaux, Peugeot talk of this flagship model of having an allure, and you can certainly see that in the changes.

Read more: T3

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Will Electric Vehicles Become More Affordable? Exploring the Future of EV Prices

Electric vehicles (EVs) are gaining popularity as car manufacturers strive to make them more affordable and accessible. The emergence of mid-range EVs such as the Chevrolet Bolt EV, Nissan Leaf, Hyundai Kona Electric, and Tesla Model 3 has lowered the prices on entry-level models. This trend raises the question of whether EVs will become more affordable in the future.

Experts speculate that increasing competition, government incentives, and the drop in raw material prices, particularly lithium and cobalt, may make EVs more affordable sooner than anticipated. Bloomberg’s New Energy Finance Reports suggests that by 2025, electric cars may cost less than traditional gas-powered vehicles. The advancements in battery technology, including the growth of solid-state batteries, have improved energy storage and reduced production costs, making EV batteries more efficient and affordable to manufacture.

Infrastructure also plays a significant role in reducing EV costs. A well-developed and easily accessible charging network alleviates range anxiety and boosts confidence in EV ownership. Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology allows EV owners to return unused electricity to the power grid, providing additional cost savings.

The used EV market also contributes to affordability. As early adopters trade up for newer models, a thriving second-hand EV market emerges. Savvy shoppers can take advantage of this market to purchase electric vehicles at a fraction of the cost of a brand-new one.

Governments worldwide are introducing attractive incentives and policy changes to encourage EV adoption.

Read more: EnergyPortal

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The EV car crash is a warning for Europe’s industrial transition

China is so far ahead in the electric vehicles market that its competitors are trailing in the dust

AT AN event last week, a businessman suddenly pulled out his phone to show me his experience in a driverless taxi in downtown Beijing. In the video, a robotaxi impressively navigated a turn across several lanes of a busy road.

Needless to say, the autonomous fleets roaming around an increasing number of Chinese cities are electric. The lasting impression, for him at least, was how far China has pulled ahead in the future of transport.

Those at the Munich motor show last week came to a similar conclusion. Germany’s biennial celebration of its own automotive prowess was dominated by Chinese brands, who were there in double the numbers seen in 2021.

While European manufacturers showed electric vehicles…

Read more: TheBusinessTimes

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NEW ELECTRIC PEUGEOT 3008 CROSSOVER GETS 435-MILE RANGE AND DRAMATIC STYLING

There will be hybrid power available, too

Peugeot is replacing its highly successful 3008 crossover with an all-new model with electrification to the fore. The new all-electric E-3008 model is the latest chapter in the French brand’s shift to a fully electric future, something it plans to achieve by 2030.

Helping differentiate the new 3008 from its predecessors is a fastback design featuring a sloping roofline with an integrated spoiler. This is said to funnel airflow over the rear window in a bid to reduce drag and enhance the car’s aerodynamic efficiency.

The three-claw design that has become a signature of Peugeot is seen more vividly in the new car, with LED daytime running lights forming an extension of the headlight units into the front bumper. In the E-3008 EV, the Peugeot emblem is surrounded by a mesh effect that includes body-coloured sections to blend in with the bodywork.

Three different electric powertrains

Two batteries will be available in the E-3008, starting with a 73kWh unit that will feature in the single- and dual-motor versions providing 326 miles of driving range on the WLTP test cycle. The single-motor version has up to 207bhp, reaches 62mph in 5.4 seconds from rest and a top speed of 105mph.

Peugeot will offer an all-wheel-drive version with two motors using the same battery and managing to achieve the same driving range. Peak power climbs to 315bhp, while 0-62mph in only 3.9 seconds.

Read more: Driving

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ZS EV (Image: MG)

‘I bought an electric MG eight weeks ago – it’s incredible value for money’

A motoring expert has highlighted how easy it was to make the transition from a petrol-powered car to an EV.

An automotive YouTuber has revealed his thoughts on a popular , stating that it offers good value for money.

Paul runs the channel Life of Cars, and regularly posts videos in which he reviews a variety of cars and informs drivers on how to fix common issues.

 

ZS EV (Image: MG)
ZS EV (Image: MG)

In one of his most recent videos, Paul talks to a relative who bought an MG4 eight weeks ago about the switch from petrol to electric.

The relative said: “It’s just easy, it does it all for you. Acceleration off the line is pretty sharp, that’s a big difference.

I like to put it into eco mode and into energy saving mode which obviously helps with the battery, especially driving long distances.”

In the video, Paul and his relative take the MG4 for a spin, discussing various aspects of owning an electric car.

The relative noted that the car came equipped with several driver assistance features, such as lane keep assist, preventing the driver from accidentally drifting out of their lane.

They both added that the interior was incredibly roomy, which has been achieved by using a battery that is thinner than ones found in other EVs.

Read more: Express

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Peugeot 3008 hybrid SUV (Image: peugeot.co.uk)

The new Peugeot E-3008 is swoopier and more electric than before

The electric crossover debuts with a fresh platform, three powertrains and over 400 miles of range

This is the new Peugeot E-3008. And yes, it’s another new electric crossover. You’d be forgiven for rolling your eyes so dramatically they’re pointing right out the back of your head.

But this one warrants a lingering glance. The outgoing 3008 was something of a surprise star when it launched back in 2016. It returned Peugeot to form in a number of key areas, not least by virtue of being a car that was interesting to look at for all the right reasons. It drove well, too, and had an interior that first dropped your jaw but then simply worked properly.

Peugeot 3008 hybrid SUV (Image: peugeot.co.uk)
Peugeot 3008 hybrid SUV (Image: peugeot.co.uk)

This new version intends to pick up the baton – and then run with it by adding fully electric power for the first time. The styling is once again arresting, the 3008’s profile now much more coupifed than before (it’s a word) with a boxier, more practical shape likely reserved for the new E-5008.

Both will utilise the Stellantis group’s all-new mid-sized electric platform, debuting it with 400V battery architecture before it no doubt sits below a whole host of Vauxhalls, Citroens, Jeeps and more, such is the sheer breadth of the company now. But the E-3008 is where you’ll sample it first, the car launching with three electric powertrain options before hybrids land further down the line.

Read more: TopGear

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Can an EV be your everyday car? The questions to consider first

In the early 2000s, it would have been difficult to consider an EV as your everyday car. They were too expensive to buy, offered a limited driving range, and the charging network was too small to make them a realistic prospect.

Matters began to improve when the Nissan Leaf arrived in 2010, and EV uptake has only accelerated since. In August 2023, more than 20 percent of new cars sold in the UK were fully electric – and Tesla had two vehicles (the Model Y and Model 3) inside the top 10 best-sellers.

The availability of better and more affordable EVs, along with the rapid growth of the charging network, means the answer to our original question is ‘yes’ – an electric car can indeed be your everyday car.

Nonetheless, there are several important questions you need to ask yourself first…

How long is your daily commute?

The average round-trip commute in the UK is around 21 miles. Even an electric car with the most miserly range estimate will be able to cover that. You don’t even need a longer-range EV, such as a Porsche Taycan, to tackle a longer daily commute.

 

Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid_Geneva 2017 (image: Next Green Car)

For example, the Kia Niro EV offers 285 miles of electric range, which might be enough for an entire week of commuting. At the time of writing, it costs £37,295 in entry-level ‘2’ specification.

Read more: MotoringElectric

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