Skip to main content

Early phase-out of full hybrid vehicles may be a political risk too far for UK ministers

Pragmatism will win over purism, unless the government favours early closure for car manufacturers

The main timetable is set: no new petrol and diesel cars will be allowed to be sold in the UK after 2030, and sales of all new hybrids will be forbidden from 2035. But that phasing still leaves open the critical matter – for the automotive industry, and for a couple of manufacturers in particular – of which new hybrids will be allowed to be sold until the last day of 2034.

Just the variety that comes with a socket – plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs)? Or should old-style hybrids, such as the Toyota Prius, which have smaller batteries charged by a main internal combustion engine, also be permitted?

Continue reading...

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

German police crack down on illegal street car tuning as season begins

Enthusiasts gathering on Good Friday – renamed Carfreitag – face curbs on unauthorised tuning, illegal races and pollution Police in Germany have announced a crackdown on illegal racing and the unauthorised modification of cars as members of the so-called tuning scene meet across the country for the start of their annual season. The Good Friday holiday marking Christ’s death on the cross, called Karfreitag in German – from the Old High German word kara , meaning sorrow – is otherwise known by the extreme car enthusiasts as Carfreitag (car Friday) for its unofficial gathering of the “tuners” and “car posers”. Continue reading...

Tesla stock marks lowest close in years as investors worry about Musk’s focus

Experts blame Elon Musk’s management style at Twitter for the electric carmaker’s financial problems Tesla shares fell on Tuesday to their lowest in more than two years, marking the company’s worst day in eight months, as Elon Musk’s electric carmaker confronts a rocky financial period. The company’s stock has lost more than half its value since the start of October. Investors worry that Twitter is taking much Musk’s time, now that he is the social network’s owner and CEO. Continue reading...

Jannarelly Floats The Idea Of An Electric Design-X1 Roadster

With 2017 now drawn to a close, automakers around the world, big and small, are looking towards the new year ahead. That includes Jannarelly, which is floating the idea of an electric version of its Design-1 roadster. The Jannarelly Design-1 is the work of the same Anthony Jannarelly who designed the Lykan Hypersport and Fenyr Supersport for W Motors (among other projects ). The minimalist sports car draws inspiration from classic roadsters, powered by a 3.5-liter V6 mated to a six-speed manual transmission. The project dubbed the Design-X1, however, would do away with the internal-combustion engine in favor of an electric powertrain of undisclosed specifications. The version pictured – in a neon tint akin to the new Aston Martin Vantage's with a red grille frame and grey stripes – also features a single-seat cockpit, with the rest of the cabin covered by more bodywork. At this point, Jannarelly and company are gauging public opinion to see whether they should proceed ...