Is it time for electric vehicles yet?

A growth in the popularity of electric vehicles has led to more of them being on the UK's roads than ever before. According to Nextgreencar.com, the number of new registrations of electric vehicles has risen from 3,500 in 2013 to 85,000 for 2016, proving the electric vehicle market appears to be a progressively strong industry. But, with limited battery life, a lack of charging points and expensive prices being the main fall backs in the market so far, are things beginning to turn a corner as costs start to decline, infrastructure improves, and range and performance increases?

According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), perhaps unsurprisingly, registrations of new electric vehicles hit a 12-year high in January this year, reaching a record 4.6% share in UK new car registrations, up from 3.6% in November 2016. Globally, the electric market has accelerated past the two million mark, with China, USA and Europe accounting for more than 90% of the electric vehicle sales in 2016. It’s now expected to continue to rise more swiftly following the news that Norway has a plan in action to eliminate petrol and diesel cars by 2025, and Germany by 2030. Following in the footsteps of some of our neighbouring countries, the UK is planning to ban the sales of all petrol and diesel-powered cars and vans by 2040. This would suggest that the UK is slowly moving towards an all-electric vehicle nation.

Photo: www.electricnation.org.uk

Could this be the electric vehicle market’s time to shine? Recent figures and news would suggest so. Here, VW dealership, Vindis Group explore how electric-powered vehicles are helping cut CO2 emissions and what the future looks like for the market.

Reducing CO2 emissions

With petrol and diesel cars producing carbon-dioxide and other pollutants from their internal combustion engines, it’s no wonder governments have to be seen to plan to stop their production in the (as near as possible) future. The use of electric cars has the potential to massively reduce these carbon emissions in the atmosphere, though the generation of the electricity used to charge the batteries must also become "cleaner". The cars are only as green as their ‘juice’ is! Batteries charged by electricity generated by coal power stations actually do nothing to cut total emissions. However, more efficient natural gas generated power might help, possibly resulting in less than half of the total emissions of even the best internal combustion vehicle, including the manufacturing processes.

The current market

Previously, the electric vehicle market has been slow. In 2013, just 3,500 new electric vehicles were registered. However, the market has shown promising progression in the past few years. One indication of the electric vehicle growth might be seen in the shift away from diesels that’s underway across Europe, where its market share has fallen by 3.6% over the last year.

Whilst diesel share drops, electric vehicle sales continue to rise. Back in 2014, on average around 500 electric vehicles were registered per month – compared with 2017, where in the first seven months of the year, almost 26,000 cars have been registered, averaging just over 3,700 cars per month. It’s a dramatic increase in such a short time.

The future market

So, what does the future hold for the electric vehicle market? Is it finally time for EVs? The remarkable surge in demand for electric vehicles looks to continue. If plans to eliminate petrol and diesel cars in the UK by 2040 are anything to go by, cities of electric cars will be cleaner and quieter than our present roads.

The market must first get over the industry’s stumbling blocks if the UK is to see all-electric roads. This means lighter batteries with better range and quicker charging periods being required across all models. Thankfully, some models, with these points in mind, have already started to appear on the market and global investment should ensure the progress continues.

More brands have revealed plans to develop electric models – and if the 2040 goal is to be reached, they will all have to act pretty sharpish to keep their heads in the game! BMW and MINI revealed new electric plans in July, confirming the MINI EV. Mercedes have also announced their plan to enter Formula E, with the likes of Audi, BMW, Porsche and Jaguar as they attempt an all-electric racing series too.

With Norway and Germany already on their way to hitting their goals to tackle air quality issues, it’s time for the UK to put a strong strategy into action. If things are to go as planned, and petrol and diesel vehicles will no longer be available from 2040, this is something both drivers and brands need to keep in mind over the next 23 years, and not wait until 2035 and act surprised!

London to Brighton Veteran Car Run 2017

This 121st running of the annual Bonhams London to Brighton "Emancipation Run" (celebrating a freeing up of British road laws) sees over 400 vehicles that were built before 1905 complete the 60 miles from London's Hyde Park, to Brighton's Madeira Drive on the seafront.

We caught up with them at the Crawley High Street Paddock, before following on the southern part of the route to Brighton.

We recorded many interviews with participants on the day, and here include chats with Bonhams Malcolm Barber, John Dennis, and Gilbert Warning, owner and driver of a beautiful 1899 Peugeot.

Some of the sights at the Crawley checkpoint...:

Go Faster – Marketing done sideways

A cold October day in a goods yard in Dagenham might not seem like the most glamorous way to spend a day, but it made the perfect setting for a getaway movie. Containers littering the area suggest that the location could be anywhere industrial. We’ve arrived for a day of stunt driving in Ford’s Focus RS and Mustang halo models, with a promise of being part of the action.

Pulling up through a set of security gates, we tuck our nose in to a space alongside a modified bright blue Focus RS,  this thing has presence. The RS is less than subtle in standard guise but sat low with exhausts big enough to attract interest from a party of caving enthusiasts keen to wander in and explore; there is no doubt that this is a machine meant for more than family-hatch duties. The two other blue examples look considerably more reserved by comparison.

It’s clear that the day is going to connect with enthusiasts – one of the keenest proudly grinning under his RS emblazoned baseball cap; but there’s a good mix of people and cars in the car park, a selection of hot machinery from Subaru to Golf R, Mustang to a GT40, and plenty of more ordinary metal too.

Between two huge movie poster style banners, is a sign on a tent showing a trailer reel, ‘props’ from the movie and a machine dispensing welcoming hot cups of coffee.  Producer Jess comes over and firmly grabs my hand “Michael, great to see you!” (We’ve never met before) “I’ve seen some of your work and your agent… well they say you’re the best in the business! Look forward to seeing you out there”. It’s a fully immersive experience this – think Secret Cinema and you’ll not be far off the mark.

The basic premise is that a slick looking heist movie ‘Go Faster’ (itself a play on Ford’s current ‘Go Further’ tagline) is in the process of being shot. Most of the film has been cast, save for one key character the androgynous ‘Wheels’ as eponymous wheelman (or woman). Here’s where we come in, auditioning for the role.

We’re given a tour of the ‘set’ complete with catering, edit suite, wardrobe and led through to a coned area where a team of stunt drivers arrive sideways, in a cloud of tyre smoke, drifting, donuting and braking hard to a stop just ahead of us, a line of 8 or so RS’ and a pair of Mustangs, offering a taste of what’s to come. ‘Henry’ a superbly over-the-top British ‘Stunt Supervisor’ gets us going. Calling names from his clipboard, he directs us off in groups of three to our various stunt lessons.

First up, it’s the J turn; actually my favourite of the day. There’s a nervous energy made all the better by being one of three people taking turns behind the wheel of the car. ‘J Turn John’ gives me a nod “Right arm at 9 o’clock, spin it right, round to 6… Into first – away you go.” My turn. Jumping into the driver’s seat I eye up the rear-view mirror and my hand for some reason wanders to the handbrake. “You won’t be needing that!” I give it a go… up to 20, some fast steering, but too slow into first. It’s ok though, there’s two more goes to perfect this... Second time, left hand on the gearknob ready; I focus, hard on the throttle – aggressive steering input and flat out with a satisfying squeal from the tortured tyres. I checked the trip computer – 83 miles old and an average of 2.7mpg. No question these poor cars have lead a hard life... The third time I hit it harder still, properly satisfying. Taking a seat in the back the manoeuvre feels absolutely savage and my head ricochets off of the inside of the c-pillar in a cascade of four letter words. None of us are being easy on the car. Poor thing.

Next, is a handbrake park. This time the car’s been rigged with a hydraulic handbrake to help kick the back end round– it’s particularly tricky this, a tight box marked out with cones looks impossibly small. Our driver, one of Paul Swift’s team, tucks it in in an effortless manoeuvre that’s never going to be easy to replicate… Deep breath and away we go, the back swings round and I miss... the back end is sticking out. Round two with a bit more aggression and the front end nearly swallows a cone. Third attempt and it’s in; just, and not neatly either. Reverting to type I ask our young driver about his job – “Go on” I say… “What’s it like to do this for a living?” He grins at me “What do you think? […] I’m at college actually” he replies… “I do this part time”. I’m jealous – when I was his age the closest I got to professional driving was behind the wheel of a B&Q van in between hefting bags of concrete. We goad him into some hooliganism – holding on to anything we can use to keep ourselves upright – the RS pulls up to 1G sideways… It turns out he’d been stunt driving since the age of 14.

For the next challenge it was time to swap RS abuse for Mustang time-trial action. Just one practice this time, slaloming through cones, a couple of roundabouts and stop in the box. Sounds easy, but it’s tight. After the agility of the RS the Mustang feels like an absolute barge. Yes, it sounds the better of the pair, arguably it looks better too, but by comparison it feels soft and unwieldy; like pushing your couch through football agility training. The key here is smoothness not speed. Sadly, by this point my inner yob had already made a judgement call. I’m not going to be the fastest but I definitely want to be the most sideways. No time to wrestle with my Id, I decided to go committed. The donut is a mix of understeer, oversteer and smoke but if nothing else a big grin. Fast it was not – around the bottom of the top ten. On the road this is a superb GT, here it lacks finesse, I suspect the brilliant Fiesta ST would have taken several seconds off the time.

Back to the RS then; this one feels more tortured, more tired than the others. The heating is on full blast, almost unbearably hot, an effort to direct heat away from the engine. The rear grab handles are missing too, ripped from the headlining. It’s filthy, with bits of tyres hanging off the wheel arches. It looks mean; angry at its mechanical torture. This is the drifting section and there was no sympathy. The Focus is in ‘Drift’ mode, ESC off.

As I hurled left around a single cone in the centre of the deliberately wet box, the back end broke free and my poor passengers were thrown into the door cards, switching direction was absolutely savage, violently throwing everybody to the otherside of the car “that’s how the handles came out” laughed our instructor. With no air to cool the 2.3 turbocharged lump, engine temps climbed, eventually overheating the steering and rear diff causing the car to wash wide. We’d broken it… temporarily at least and a slow drive was needed to get some cool air back through the front.

 

I needed it too. Dressed via the wardrobe in a green bomber jacket and leather gloves we made our way indoors for some green screen action. Posing for a photo and doing my best to wind down the cheese, I found myself in a rig ahead of a green screen, superimposed into a movie poster. Director Gus, a hilarious pastiche encouraged us through a short acting sequence that would be inserted into the film's movie trailer (see below) – an awesome momento of the day. Of course, interior shots driving the car were also needed, bringing us on to the final challenge.

We were met again by Henry, who gave us our final instructions – a series of manoeuvres, this time watched by all the participants and no practice, just one take. The Focus looked odd, the badges and plate backwards, setup so that it would work for the left hand drive cars of the America-set film.

For the first time I felt nervous.. Nobody wants to fluff up a stunt in front of a crowd. J turn first; I floored it, yanked the steering, slipped the RS into first and floored it again. I pulled it off too, phew.  A drift around a camera followed for a side in – shot and a powerslide with a glasses off – stare at the camera before heading back to the studio.

It has been an epic day and I awaited the trailer eagerly – yes it’s a bit cheesy but I’m somehow quite proud of it. This was a day of genuine excitement, yobism and automotive abuse that you’d never in your right mind subject your own car to.

Worth the £99 ticket price? Absolutely.

I must have used that in tyres and fuel, let alone the wear to the cars.

This had us thinking, surely Ford couldn’t pull this off at a profit; rough maths says £3,000 a group, £9,000 a day versus a fleet of cars, damage, a lot of expensive Michelin tyres and a fuel bill that would make you consider shares in BP…

No, the cost of Go Faster is incidental; really, this is a masterstroke in marketing. A few cars, a superb setup and experienced stunt team all cost; but compared to say, pitching an SUV during Premiership half-time this is cheap advertising. In an age where social media rules, this is viral marketing at its best. It’s an experience you’re unlikely to forget and one you’ll probably keep talking about too.

If this is how Ford want to sell us its cars, sign me up; I’ll happily pay for the privilege. Marketing is most definitely best when it’s done sideways.

Michael Gates

UKMotorTalk News highlights podcast - London to Brighton Veteran Car Run 2017

In this episode of UKMotorTalk:

• 2017 London to Brighton Veteran Car Run
• Lewis Hamilton - 2017 F1 World Champion
• Ford Robutt - Robot seat tester
• Project Bloodhound
• Winter Driving - Tyres and Lights
• Autonomous driving tests
• Older Drivers

UKMotorTalk - UKMotorTalk News Highlights - London to Brighton Veteran Car Run 2017

To follow the UKMotorTalk podcast, and not miss a thing, go to:
http://shoutengine.com/UKMotorTalk/

Ford's Robutt seat tester can be seen here:

Jaguar Land Rover and project REALITY: The Future of Recycling

Jaguar Land Rover, the largest vehicle manufacturer in the UK, made ground-breaking steps in 2008 with the launch of their REALCAR and REALCAR 2 projects, aimed at increasing aluminium recycling rates and reducing carbon emissions.

However, their latest project REALITY is showing early signs of being the most pioneering yet.

So, what has been going on behind the scenes so far…

What is the REALCAR Project?

The REALCAR project began in 2008 and was the first step introduced by Jaguar Land Rover to boost aluminium recycling rates, aiming to boost the amount of recycled aluminium used in vehicle manufacture to 75%, lowering their overall carbon footprint.

This project assisted in the design of a new alloy made from discarded, aluminium scrap; the RivAlloy, which combines the benefits of largely reducing the amount of wasted material and dramatically minimising transport emissions from using UK materials.

REALCAR 2

REALCAR 2, the second wave of the REALCAR project, focused on separation technologies and the “technological shift” needed to change the future of vehicle recycling.

In figures set out by Jaguar Land Rover, the REALCAR programmes have reclaimed more than 75,000 tonnes of aluminium scrap which was then able to be used in the manufacturing of new vehicles.

What is the REALITY Project?

Moving into the final stage of a larger plan, Jaguar Land Rover have announced how their last project will attempt to increase the amount of recycling from ‘end of life’ vehicles to witness a surge in the amount of aluminium coming from scrap:

“Aluminium from other sources, including end-of-life vehicles, can now be graded and ‘born again’ in the manufacture of new cars.”

The REALITY project is scheduled to last for three years and will build on the foundations of the REALCAR projects. REALITY is concerned with enabling and promoting closed loop recycling- a unique system that helps to bring about both financial and environmental benefits.

The REALCAR projects have so-far already received super brain-power from the likes of Brunel University, Novelis and part-funding from Innovate UK:

"Innovate UK is proud of our support for the REALCAR programme, and this exciting latest stage of the project, REALITY, is another excellent example of collaboration between large and small businesses in the supply chain, supporting them to scale up and become more productive. These projects have been a model in terms of professional delivery of complex research and development."

REALITY has now also called upon the help of a new partner- AXION for a specifically designed process tailored to the recycling of aluminium.

If you’re interested in seeing more videos like this, you can subscribe to Innovate UK’s YouTube channel here.

Additionally, you can follow @InnovateUK on Twitter here.

The UK’s ongoing headache with potholes

The RAC have released new data that suggests that drivers in Britain are still having recurring issues with potholes and this is causing a lot of problems. Used Volkswagen provider Inchcape Volkswagen, who offer thorough aftersales services, MOTs and repairs to solve issues such as wheel misalignment and suspension damage, explores…

Between January and March of 2017, the RAC had dealt with almost 7,000 breakdowns that were likely caused by poor road conditions. The last time that so many pothole-related breakdowns were recorded in a three-month period was in the first quarter of 2015 (almost 6,900 breakdowns were recorded then). However, in the early months of 2015, the country was subjected to more days of frost and rainfall when compared to the first three months of 2017, when the nation experienced mild and moderately dry conditions.

“Our figures sadly show a surprising and unwelcome first quarter rise in the number of breakdowns where the poor quality of the road surface was a major factor. We had expected a figure no worse than that recorded in the first quarter of 2016 (4,026) and it is very concerning that the roads, strangely, appear to have deteriorated in a mild, comparatively dry winter.” Commented David Bizley, a chief engineer at the RAC.

But do we actually know how bad these pot holes are in Britain? 

Where are the potholes?

The table below is based on the number of road hazards which were reported to them with research carried out by FillThatHole.org.uk:

Position	Authority	Region	Total reports	Open reports	Fixed reports	% fixed
1	Surrey	SE Eng	7,657	6,473	1,149	15%
2	Hampshire	SE Eng	4,133	3,241	849	21%
3	Essex	SE Eng	3,804	2,912	878	23%
4	Hertfordshire	SE Eng	3,557	3,004	530	15%
5	Kent	SE Eng	3,478	3,105	364	10%
6	Lancashire	NW Eng	3,301	2,484	792	24%
7	Oxfordshire	SE Eng	3,245	2,225	985	31%
8	Glasgow	Scotland	3,059	2,444	601	20%
9	Cheshire East	NW Eng	2,980	2,110	787	27%
10	West Sussex	SE Eng	2,845	2,034	783	28%

... Surrey having almost twice as many reports as the next county, Hampshire.

How many potholes are being filled?

We can see that across England 13,468 potholes were filled throughout 2016/17 by local authorities – in the Asphalt Local Authority Maintenance Survey 2017 - A small percentage of the total number being reported and causing damage (and compensation costs!).

Some local authorities are able to claim that more than 90% of the reported potholes are subsequently fixed... Well done to them!

However, from the table above, it is clear that there are still many places where only 10-15% are being dealt with.

In the past year, in London and South East England, more than 1.6M drivers reported damage to their vehicles. A costly problem.

With the cost of road repairs averaging £163 per pothole in Eastern England, and £124 in London and the South East, you can see why struggling authorities appear to be burying their heads in the sand.

UKMT comments:

My recent drive across several neighbouring nations has convinced me that Britain is now the  pothole capital of Europe.

Travelling mostly on secondary category roads, the equivalent of our A and B roads, I have found French and Spanish roads to be in considerably better condition than ours. 

Ah you say, they have toll roads. Indeed they do, but the toll network of motorways is entirely self financing and in both countries the A and B roads are financed from local taxes and fuel duties.

In our case most of the finances raised by the treasury from road tax, fuel duties, motor insurance levy, vat etc etc does not get spent on the roads. The ring roads are not ring fenced, nor indeed are any of the others!

The government returns a steadily diminishing amount of the taxation to local authorities to keep local roads in good order. Desperately cash strapped councils then divert some of this money to other equally underfunded areas of their responsibility. 

The result is a pathetically small amount of money left for road repairs and, just as bad, no inspectors to check the few works that are done. The inspectors have mostly been made redundant.

I live in Sussex but drive all over, so am certain this sad state of affairs operates throughout most of the UK. 

Every minor road I travel is littered with holes and those few repairs that are carried out are usually of poor quality and often only last a few months. 

We have become a third world country in terms of our roads despite inventing the tarmacadam process ... or at least the Scots did... Thank you Scotland.

According to a recent survey most local authorities now spend more on settling motoring insurance claims for pothole related damage than on repairing the potholes. 

How on earth did we allow successive governments to get us into such a mess? 

Graham Benge

Sources:

https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/news/motoring-news/pothole-related-breakdowns-up-despite-mild-weather/

*RAC data reported on at

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/05/15/pothole-damage-cars-soars-two-thirds-despite-dry-mild-winter/

http://www.asphaltuk.org/wp-content/uploads/ALARM-2017.pdf 

https://www.fillthathole.org.uk/league-table?sort=desc&order=Total+Reports 

UKMotorTalk News highlights podcast

In this episode of UKMotorTalk:

• London's T-Charge
• A new child seat with air bags
• 2018's Grand Prix of South America long distance rally
• A review of the US Grand Prix
• A look forward to the 2017 London to Brighton Veteran Car Run

UKMotorTalk - UKMotorTalk News highlights

For more information about entering the Grand Prix of South America rally event, visit: http://www.bespokerallies.com/grand-prix-of-south-america-2018/

For more on the London T-Charge, visit: https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/emissions-surcharge

To follow the UKMotorTalk podcast, and not miss a thing, go to:
http://shoutengine.com/UKMotorTalk/

F1 News - Alonso stays at McLaren

So, finally, the announcement Fernando Alonso has signed for McLaren for another year ...

He says he is very happy at Woking alongside Stoffel Vandoorne... but only for 1 more year.

Now the double world champion has had 3 terrible seasons at McLaren, and few other driving choices.

There are no seats at top three Ferrari, Mercedes or Red Bull.

But I don't believe it is either inertia or money that is keeping Fernando in Zak Brown's squad.

He knows something.... There are engine and chassis developments afoot that have persuaded him to stay post the Honda debacle.

I think he knows 2018 could be a major return to form for the team and he wants to be back in the points not back on the retirees list.

Alonso is a truly great racer, give him just half a chance in anything reliable and he will work wonders. All of the other front runners, Lewis, Sebastian, Daniel, know, respect and perhaps fear him a little. Only Max fails to give respect.

Will we see him back on the podium next year? I believe we will ... and much more importantly, Fernando believes we will.

Graham Benge

DS 7 Crossback La Premiere - Guided Tour!

DS Automobiles UK's Head of Communications, Kevin Jones, shows us round the DS 7 Crossback La Premiere, due to be available in the UK early 2018. Kevin's tour is also included as a UKMT podcast:
UKMotorTalk - DS7 Crossback La Premiere - Guided Tour
To follow the UKMotorTalk podcast, and not miss a thing, go to:
http://shoutengine.com/UKMotorTalk/

Are UK new car sales dramatically on the decline?

A balloon can collapse in 2 ways... Either with a dramatically loud explosion, or slowly with a gradual release of air and a humerous noise.

Both ways however result in a flat balloon or whoopee cushion.

Why do I make this zen like analogy?

The SMMT has this morning released the latest car sales figures, and it is becoming increasingly clear to observers that the new car sales market is deflating .... rapidly.

Four straight months of decline clearly show new car sales peaked in 2016, a record year, and a severe decline is now in progress.

The evidence on any motorway journey is there are huge numbers of new cars out there.

Of the 35 million or so cars on the UK's roads, probably a higher proportion than ever are less than three years old.

A sales boom in 2015 and 2016, fueled by cheap credit deals, was simply not sustainable, and has, as a by-product, severely damaged the used car market.

With increasing fears over the end residual values of these cheaply 'bought' cars, the prospects for car dealers, especially the larger groups, look comparatively bleak over the next few years.

Recently introduced scrappage schemes don't seem to have (yet) halted the decline, for that is entirely what they were intended to do. They were never about saving the planet but were all about an increasingly cynical ploy to grab market share.

The initial schemes had some merit but those that came to the market later were often highly selective enhanced trade-in schemes.

Add into this mix the uncertainty over the future of diesel cars - it's taken nearly 30 years for me to be able to say I told you so! - and there seems little chance of an upturn in the mainstream market until some of those 2 or 3 year PCPs come up for renewal.

The Bank of England has already expressed its concerns about cheap car loans and their effect.

A decade ago it was cheap loans on houses that got us all into a global meltdown... 10 years later will the effects of cheap car loans be just as bad? ..... Or is my glass just less than half full this morning??

Graham Benge

Devil's Dyke Road... in a DB7..?

OK, so perhaps it's not quite as dramatically scenic, as rugged or even as long as our other suggested great drives, but a personal favourite of mine is a road that I have often used for benchmarking the handling of a wide variety of cars. 

The road in question is just north of Brighton, the Devil's Dyke Road up towards Horsham.

It's set in the South Downs National Park, and uses the Downs' green contours as a rural switchback.

It's narrow with multiple curves. In fact, it has hardly any straight bits at its southern end, so it's more like the Millbrook Alpine handling track, used all year to put test cars through their paces.

Both have an incredible variety of curves, cambers and elevation changes and if treated with respect, they will reward any keen driver. Just remember, on the South Downs you won't have much time to admire the scenery you'll be so engaged.

It was on the Devil's Dyke Road that I once took an Aston Martin DB7 for a quiet, relaxing drive in the countryside. A beautiful car, in a beautiful part of the world. Both fully lived up to expectations.

Graham Benge