motoring
BusinessThe TelegraphPorsche reveals its climate-neutral synthetic fuel for use within two years
“We don’t want to get into the fuel business,” has been the perennial cry from the motor industry, but now it appears they’ve been forced into it, with car companies investing in electric recharging, hydrogen-fuelling infrastructures and now environmental fuels as Porsche unveils its latest scheme for climate-neutral petrol. The plan is to provide a synthetic renewable petrol, which would be suitable for existing and older combustion engines and would cost “about the same” as current pump prices, according to Dr Michael Steiner, Porsche’s research and development director. The reality, however, seems so convoluted that if it were anyone other than Porsche’s formidable engineers suggesting it, you might be moved to look at the calendar to see if it was the first of April. The genesis of this renewable petrol starts at wind turbines installed in the Magallanes Province on the extreme south of Chile’s 2,700-mile length, where the wind blows hard (some sites have average wind speeds of well over 10 metres per second, or 22mph) and frequently (more than 6,000 hours per year). That renewable electricity is used to electrolysize water into oxygen and hydrogen with electrolysers from engineering giant Siemens. Then the “green” hydrogen is combined with carbon dioxide captured from the atmosphere to form synthetic methanol, which in turn is converted into synthetic pump fuel using a methanol-to-gasoline process by Exxon Mobil, before it is shipped to Europe. Other partners in this project, named Haru Oni, are the energy firm AME and the petroleum company ENAP from Chile, along with Italian energy company Enel.
TechnologyPA Media: MotoringFirst details of upcoming DS 4 reveal technology-focused model
Hatchback will bring a premium feel and a high-end interior.
BusinessPA Media: MotoringWaiting until last day to switch car insurance ‘can ramp up cost of policy’
December is also typically a more expensive month to take out a new car insurance policy, comparethemaket.com said.
BusinessPA Media: MotoringToyota Highlander confirmed for the UK
It’ll be the first time that the large SUV will have been available in the country.
BusinessThe TelegraphCharging electric cars must become 'as easy as getting petrol', says market study
Charging electric vehicles must become 'as easy as getting petrol', the head of the competition authority has said. Dr Andrea Coscelli, chief executive of the Competition and Market Authority (CMA), has warned ‘range anxiety’ – the fear of running out of battery charge – is one of the main stumbling blocks to people switching to eclectic cars. The Competition and Markets Authority is a non-ministerial government department responsible for strengthening business competition and preventing and reducing anti-competitive activities Dr Coscelli's comments come as the authority announced it is launching an investigation to see what the main obstacles are to getting enough charging points installed across the country to increase take-up. Last month, the Government announced it was moving forward its ban on buying new petrol and diesel vehicles to 2030 and new hybrids by 2035 as part of efforts for the UK to reach net zero emissions by 2050. Yet, in spite of the target, electric vehicles currently make up a relatively small proportion of new car sales. Figures from October show while electric cars overtook sales of new diesel vehicles for the first time they still made up less that a fifth of new sales at 18.5 per cent. Announcing its investigation, the CMA said people would only switch over en masse to electric cars when they could be confident they would be able to charge them when needed. The number of charge points in the UK has grown significantly in the last decade, rising from 1,500 in 2011 to almost 20,000 today. However, drivers also face other challenges as not all chargers are compatible with all models, meaning owners have to also find one that works with their car. The CMA said its investigation, which it aims to complete next year, will focus on what needs to be done to help the private sector to create a comprehensive network for drivers. Dr Coscelli said: “Making the switch to electric vehicles is key to helping the UK become greener, which is why it’s so important that everyone has the confidence to get behind the move. “Being able to easily stop off at a petrol station is a standard part of a journey and consumers must trust that electric charge points will provide a similarly straightforward service. “By getting involved early as electric vehicles and charge points are still developing, the CMA can make sure consumers are treated fairly now and in the future.
NewsMotoring ResearchWhere can you park for free this Christmas?
To support high-street shops, UK towns and cities have been urged to offer free parking this Christmas. Here's where you can park for free. The post Where can you park for free this Christmas? appeared first on Motoring Research.
BusinessPA Media: MotoringVolkswagen announces pricing for new Caddy
Versatile new model arrives with a high level of standard equipment.
NewsPA Media: MotoringCitroen bolsters Berlingo range with Rip Curl special edition
New model continues on from a long line of cars made through joint venture between the brands.
BusinessThe ConversationCan an Apple search engine ever compete with Google?
Will Apple's search engine have the same ill fate as Microsoft's Bing?
TechnologyPA Media: MotoringNew Dacia Sandero arrives priced from £7,955
Value model is available with a variety of specification and engine options.
NewsPA Media: MotoringCars across the UK failing MOT due to ‘avoidable faults’, finds survey
Simple faults can often cause an MOT failure.
NewsMotoring ResearchCar sharing: can you still share a lift in tier restrictions?
As England comes out of a national lockdown, what are the rules surrounding car sharing in the different regional tiers? The post Car sharing: can you still share a lift in tier restrictions? appeared first on Motoring Research.
TechnologyPA Media: MotoringJaguar revises high-performance F-Pace SVR
Powerful SUV brings a supercharged V8 engine.
BusinessThe TelegraphCompetition watchdog to investigate electric vehicle charging 'range anxiety'
The competition watchdog has kicked off a probe into the market for electric vehicle charging points amid concerns that “range anxiety” over electric cars will hold back Britain's climate ambitions. The Competition and Markets Authority said it would be taking a “close look” at the industry, which it said was “crucial to the roll-out of electric vehicles”. A surge in electric vehicle use is expected with new petrol cars banned by the end of the decade. Already the number of charging points around the UK has increased from around 1,500 points in 20,000, although the CMA said more would be needed given this is the “only way to power electric vehicles”. The launch of the study comes weeks after the Government brought forward its timeline for banning new petrol and diesel cars to 2030. The RAC at the time said this meant the charging network would need to grow “exponentially” to cope with the upsurge in electric vehicles, and allay driver concerns over their range. “Some of these problems will disappear as the average range of electric vehicles increases, but it's vital that the government continues to invest in developing a fast, reliable and widely available network of chargers that support electric vehicle owners no matter what their circumstances or travel plans,” Nicholas Lyes, the RAC's head of roads policy, said. The Treasury has set aside more than £1bn to accelerate the rollout of charge points for electric vehicles across the UK. As part of the probe, the CMA said it would be analysing how to make the sector competitive and attract private investment, as well as ensuring members of the public could feel confident that they could use electric vehicles. Andrew Coscelli, chief executive of the watchdog, said: “Making the switch to electric vehicles is key to helping the UK become greener, which is why it’s so important that everyone has the confidence to get behind the move. Being able to easily stop off at a petrol station is a standard part of a journey and consumers must trust that electric chargepoints will provide a similarly straight-forward service. “By getting involved early as electric vehicles and chargepoints are still developing, the CMA can make sure consumers are treated fairly now and in the future.” In a separate probe, the CMA said on Wednesday that it is considering whether the acquisition of eBay's classified ads to Norway's Adevinta would cause competition issues.
LifestylePA Media: MotoringLong-term report: A month of doing pick-up things in our SsangYong Musso LWB
Trailering, carrying builders bags, picking up mountain bikes? All in a month’s work for Ted Welford and his truck.
BusinessPA Media: MotoringWatchdog probes electric vehicle-charging
The Competition and Markets Authority said range anxiety is a 'key concern for many consumers'.
BusinessPA Media: MotoringBritain’s best new car discounts revealed
New data shows that savings of more than 20 per cent are available on some of the UK’s most popular cars.
BusinessPA Media: MotoringAutomobili Pininfarina Battista completes first high-speed testing
Hypercar was put through its paces at the Nardo test center in Italy.
NewsMotoring ResearchLewis Hamilton to be guest editor of BBC Radio 4 Today
Seven-time Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton will present a special edition of the the radio show during the festive period The post Lewis Hamilton to be guest editor of BBC Radio 4 Today appeared first on Motoring Research.
BusinessReutersHyundai Motor to launch dedicated EV platform in major push into electric cars
South Korea's Hyundai Motor Group said on Wednesday it will introduce an electric vehicle-only platform early next year that will use its own battery technology to cut production time and costs. The plan underscores efforts by the world's No.5 auto group to become a major player in the global EV market, as car makers around the world are pouring billions of dollars of investment to improve battery technology, which keeps EV prices high compared with combustion engine models. Market leader Tesla said in September it aims to halve the cost of its EV batteries and bring more production of the key auto component in-house to lower EV prices to $25,000 each.
TechnologyPA Media: MotoringFirst Drive: The Fiat 500 EV proves this supermini’s unrivalled longevity
Fiat has brought out a new 500, but this one's all-electric. Darren Cassey gets behind the wheel.
BusinessPA Media: MotoringMini says an electric John Cooper Works hot hatch is on the way
Mini Electric is already on sale, and now a performance version is on the cards.
Newsmotor1Audi RS6 Battles RS Q8 In Three Wagon-Versus-SUV Drag Races
Settle sibling rivalries on the tarmac.
Newsmotor1Posaidon A45 RS 525 is a bonkers Mercedes-AMG A-Class with obscene bhp
It's called RS 525 for a reason.
LifestylePA Media: MotoringTop Gear presenters unveil their cars of the year
Paddy McGuinness, Freddie Flintoff and Chris Harris all opted for wildly different cars.
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