A tool has been developed in order to compare the lifetime costs of electric vehicles with petrol and diesel equivalents.

According to Halfords, which has developed the tool, EVs are on average almost 50 percent more expensive to buy than a comparable ICE model.

However, after three years and 30,000 miles, the average EV driver will actually end up saving £100 overall.

The Halfords calculator currently compares data for more than 100 electric, petrol, diesel and hybrid vehicles.

Cost comparisons vary depending on length of ownership and annual mileage; in some cases, electric vehicles are more expensive on a total cost basis, though fuel costs and other savings will ‘at worst, substantially narrow the gap’, the company said.

As an example, Halfords showed that a Mini Cooper Electric Level 3 costs £25,500 to buy, which is a hefty £9,855 more than its petrol equivalent – the Mini Cooper Classic.

However, after three years of ownership, the electric Mini Cooper will have saved the owner so much money in fuel and other costs, they’re actually almost £800 better off.

“Intuitively we know that electric vehicles can be better value than their nearest petrol and diesel equivalents, but we wanted to make it as easy as possible for people to see it for themselves,” said Andy Turbefield, head of quality of Halfords.

“We’re not suggesting that people should buy electric because of the long-term savings, but if people are delaying purchase because of the up-front cost, this should give them pause for thought.”

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BMW has issued more details about its Tesla Model 3-rivalling i4 pure electric saloon ahead of its arrival in the UK in November.

Priced from £51,905, it has a range of up to 367 miles under the WLTP testing regime – an impressive figure that ranks it ahead of the Tesla Model 3.

The i4 will initially be available in two guises; the entry-level i4 eDrive 40 is powered by a 340hp electric motor, while the range-topping i4 M50 version consists of a 544hp all-wheel drive model.

The M50 has a slightly lower range of 316 miles and is priced from £63,995.

This version – pictured here – also carries BMW M Performance styling features outside and in.

BMW says the inclusion of its Combined Charging Unit allows use of DC high-power charging stations with an output of up to 200kW.

It estimates 102 miles (entry-level) and 87 miles (range-topping) of range can be delivered within a 10-minute charging stop at stations of this kind.

The battery, meanwhile, comprises a floor-mounted 80.7kwh lithium-ion pack, which is said to be 30 percent denser than the battery in today’s i3 EV.

Standard kit includes 18-inch alloy wheels, a digital cockpit display, a reversing camera, a parking assistant feature, automatic air conditioning, ambient lighting, LED lights front and back and acoustic protection for pedestrians.

The i4 EV is similar size to the firm’s 3-series saloon and shares underpinnings with the popular model. BMW added that customers in the UK will also receive a 12 subscription to the BP Pulse and Ionity networks when they take on the car.

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Boy George teams up with Waze for Pride

To celebrate Pride month, sat nav app Waze has teamed up with Boy George to create a bespoke theme.

The new Boy George theme includes voice directions from the Culture Club star – with “words of wisdom” thrown in – plus a curated Boy George playlist.

Users can even choose bespoke Boy George ‘Car-ma Chameleon’ or ‘Goldsmobile’ car icons.

The sat nav directions are not any old voice guidance alerts. Rather, they take the form of Boy George “sitting down to a nice cup of tea and a chat”.

Not only will users be told where to turn and receive alerts of hazards ahead, they’ll also enjoy words of wisdom, such as a reminder that “life is about learning to be yourself”.

Wazers can even choose their mood when they set the sat nav directions.

Utilising the Waze integration with Spotify, the Boy George Pride playlist features tracks selected to “celebrate acceptance, freedom of expression, and love”.

As they listen, users are advised to follow Boy George’s golden rule: “Listen to the music you live; passion always eclipses what’s fashionable.”

Want to try out the new Boy George Waze theme? Head to the ‘settings’ cog and click ‘drive with Boy George’.

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‘Majority’ of Bentley Bentayga Hybrid journeys are in EV mode

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Bentley has opened ordering for the revised Bentayga Hybrid – and revealed usage data that shows owners of the existing model are already driving most of their journeys in pure electric mode.

The plug-in hybrid SUV, which has an EV range of 25 miles, is generally used by owners daily, with half of them regularly undertaking journeys of less than 30 miles.

Nearly every customer makes use of EV mode, charging their Bentayga at home and only occasionally using the petrol engine on a day-to-day basis.

For when they need to go further afield, the 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 engine combines with the 17.3kWh battery to deliver a combined range of 430 miles.

It also has a suitably Bentley-like total power of 443hp and 516lb ft of pulling power. 0-62mph takes 5.2 seconds.

The revised Bentayga Hybrid carries over the styling enhancements of the core range, and gains the same significant tech boost inside. Bentley continues to offer it in five-seat or more indulgent four-seat configuration.

Part of Bentley’s drive to have an electrified version of every model in its range by 2025, the firm has priced the Bentayga Hybrid at £155,500 – exactly the same as the Bentayga V8.

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This “focuses the customer choice on powertrain preference rather than cost”.

Ordering is open now with first deliveries due later in June.

It’s not the only Bentley hybrid that’s set to launch in 2021, either: the next is “due to break cover this summer” and more details will be following soon.

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Toyota and Lexus have launched a warranty programme that provides up to 10 years’ worth of cover for new and used vehicles.

Under the ‘Relax’ banner, a year’s warranty is added each time it is serviced at a main Toyota or Lexus dealer. Servicing costs are unchanged from today, and vehicles – including vans and pick-ups – are eligible if they are less than 10 years old or have covered under 100,000 miles.

Relax replaces both Toyota’s previous 5-year, 100,000-mile new car warranty, and the Lexus 3-year, 60,000-mile warranty. It is extended by one year each time a car is serviced at an approved Toyota or Lexus dealer.

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The scheme applies to all new Toyota and Lexus models and also applies retrospectively to models already sold, and vehicles maintained outside of the main Toyota and Lexus dealer networks are also eligible, assuming they are bought back for a main or interim service.

Claims under the warranty can be made outside of the UK too, assuming the firm’s dealership network is also participating in the Relax scheme – Toyota explained that should a car need remedial work in the south of France for example, the local dealer would be able to authorise the work under the Relax scheme. 

The scheme works in the same way for vehicles with longer service intervals: for instance, the Toyota Proace van has a two-year maintenance schedule, and so has two years of warranty added each time it is serviced.

Toyota’s previous warranty scheme, introduced in 2010, remains valid, with Relax beginning at the end of the five-year period.

“This is a game-changing proposition that redefines the manufacturer warranty, giving our customers the reassurance and value of cover for up to a decade of motoring,” said Rob Giles, Toyota’s customer services director.

“There are compelling business benefits to be gained as well, with Relax connecting us with more owners, building loyalty and giving our network partners the opportunity to maximise value chain opportunities in both sales and after sales activities.

“The foundation for this exceptional level of protection is the essential quality, durability and reliability of our vehicles and our commitment to delivering customer-first service.

“As well as rewarding existing Toyota owners, our Relax programme will also strengthen the appeal of our vehicles to new customers, equally whether they are considering a new car or a used model.”

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