Experts warn EV charger network isn’t keeping pace with demand

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January 27, 2023

New government figures show a 31 percent increase in the number of public electric vehicle charging points in the UK since 2021.

Last year saw a total of 8,680 new public charging points installed, taking the total number across Britain to 37,055. Rapid chargers account for 19 percent of those on offer.

The government has previously forecast the UK will need a minimum of 300,000 public charging points in place by 2030. At present, the UK has only installed 12 percent of this number.

Motoring organisations have expressed concern that EV infrastructure will not meet the increased demand for electric cars. Battery electric vehicles accounted for 16.2 percent of all new car sales in 2022.

Eradicate rapid charging ‘deserts’

RAC head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes said: “It’s all well and good having a zero-emission vehicle mandate for car manufacturers, but if public charging isn’t keeping pace with EV registrations, then drivers will quickly become disillusioned and frustrated.

“Data already shows a record number of electric vehicles per public charging point, so we strongly urge the Government to introduce annual installation targets and do whatever it takes to make it easier for operators to install new charging hubs.

“It should also be noted that rapid and ultra-rapid chargers currently account for just a fifth of all the network and are growing at a slower rate. If people are to make longer journeys quickly and easily, we need to eradicate the rapid charging ‘deserts’ that exist – and make the fastest possible chargers available much more widely.”

New charger targets needed

In response to the new Department for Transport figures, Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for the AA, said: “New EVs are flying off the factory floor, but we desperately need charge point installations to keep pace with an ever-growing demand.

“With a target of 300,000 publicly available charge points by 2030 and just 37,055 installations in place, more focus is needed to accelerate the nation’s charging infrastructure.

“We urge the government to set marker post targets in place so drivers can see the progress is being made, while giving those nervous to switch the confidence to do so.”

Earlier this year, the SMMT highlighted that in order to meet the minimum target of 300,000, the UK would need to install more than 100 new chargers every day. The current rate is 23 per day.

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Dacia gives away FREE hot water bottles to keep drivers warm

By

John Redfern

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January 27, 2023

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In response to a certain car manufacturer offering heated seats on a pay-per-month subscription basis, Dacia has a novel solution.

Next week, the no-nonsense car brand will give away free hot water bottles, intended to help motorists warm their backsides on cold days.

The promotion also highlights the fact that Dacia’s range-topping models come with heated seats as standard, with no need to pay extra.

A heated debate

Dacia has sought to capitalise on the debate surrounding in-car subscription services, which hit the headlines during 2022.

BMW’s £15-per-month subscription for heated seats became the most notorious, generating news at a national level. Available through its Connected Drive online store, the monthly payment acts to allow drivers to access the heated seats already installed in their car.

Other manufacturers have used subscriptions to let drivers activate additional safety technology, or use online infotainment services.

‘Fuss-free ownership experience’

Three dealerships across the country will offer Dacia’s ‘Heated Seat Saviours’. Drivers simply need to visit Dacia Manchester, Dacia Swansea, or Dacia Staples Corner (in London) on the 1st or 2nd of February 2023.

Once collected, the hot water bottles can be used by drivers warm not fortunate enough to have their own heated seats.

Luke Broad, Dacia brand director for the UK said: “Our ‘Heated Seat Saviours’ are a bit of fun, but they do highlight the direction the wider industry is going regarding subscription-based access to features. Asking someone to pay extra to activate factory-fitted equipment certainly isn’t Dacia.

“We believe in simplicity, offering our customers technology that makes driving more convenient and comfortable with features included in a car’s initial price. Whether consumers view heated seats as essential or not, our commitment to value and a fuss-free ownership experience means that we will only ever ask them to push a button to enjoy them.”

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Porsche reveals Vision 357 concept for 75th anniversary

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John Redfern

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January 26, 2023

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Porsche marks 75 years of building sports cars in 2023, with a host of celebrations planned.

To kick off the festivities, the company has revealed a special retro-inspired concept car, called the Vision 357.

The name is a deliberate reference to the 356 No.1 Roadster: the very first Porsche sports car to be granted a general operating permit on 8 June 1948.

Retro-futurism on show

Designed purely as a concept car, the Vision 357 has been ‘liberated from the regulations’ that apply to regular production vehicles. The result is an extreme one-off, based on the platform used for the raucous Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS.

The Style Porsche team has given the Vision 357 the appearance of a narrow cabin sat atop widened bodywork. This is an obvious nod to the shape of the Porsche 356, while the wraparound windscreen and black A-pillars are meant to evoke the shape of a visor on a racing helmet.

Both the headlights and tail lights are mounted beneath bespoke perforated covers. The headlights blend Porsche’s modern ‘four-point light signet’ with a traditional round design.
A central grille pattern at the back of the Vision 357 is a homage to the engine cover on the 356.

Classic looks, modern materials

Despite its retro inspiration, the Vision 357 makes use of thoroughly modern materials. Natural fibre-reinforced plastic (NFRP) makes up the side sills, including natural flax fibres.

Magnesium is used for the 20-inch alloy wheels, which wear carbon fibre aero covers, while titanium and ceramic parts feature on the exhaust tailpipe.

The Vision 357 also borrows its mid-mounted 4.0-litre flat-six from the 718 Cayman GT4 RS. Notably, unlike the rear-engined production Porsche 356, the original No.1 Roadster prototype of 1948 also had a mid-engined layout.

However, the 500hp output of the engine in the Vision 357 slightly exceeds the 40hp of the first 356…

A special 75th birthday present

Porsche opted for a two-tone finish for the Vision 357, with Ice Grey Metallic and Grivola Grey Metallic paint used for the bodywork. Both colours were chosen to mimic the grey tones popular during the 1950s.

Michael Mauer, vice president of style at Porsche, commented: “We created a very special birthday present in the form of the Porsche Vision 357, one which uses the 356 as a basis to underscore the significance of our design DNA”.

The Vision 357 concept will be displayed at the Volkswagen Group’s ‘DRIVE’ forum in Berlin. It takes pride of place in a special ’75 Years of Porsche sports cars’ exhibition, and is on show until mid-February.

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Demand for electric car leasing deals surged in 2022

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John Redfern

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January 25, 2023

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Demand for lease deals on electric vehicles outperformed the overall new car market in 2022.

Data from car leasing comparison website Leasing.com reveals that fully electric vehicles made up 18.8 percent of sales enquiries last year.

By comparison, EVs accounted for only 16.6 percent of new car sales overall.

Leasing.com also saw considerable interest in hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars. Combined with EVs, all electrified models represented more than a third (35.3 percent) of lease deal demand.

Diesel down, mileages up

The surge in interest for electrified cars coincides with the ongoing decline in demand for diesels. Cars with diesel engines accounted for just 10.6 percent of sales enquiries last year, versus 17.2 percent in 2021.

The cost-of-living crisis has also affected the leasing market, with four-year lease agreements now the most popular option. These allow customers to spread costs over a longer period.

Annual mileages increased during 2022, however, to around 8,000 miles on average. The jump from 5,000 miles a year in 2021 is attributed to motorists returning to the office and making more social journeys.

Across all personal leasing customers, the average monthly rental cost in 2022 was £354.

Low-cost options for 2023

The continuing shortage of semiconductor chips, along with wider economic challenges, meant the cars chosen by customers were largely dictated by what was readily available.

The Nissan Qashqai emerged as the lease market favourite, followed by the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson. SUVs made up seven out of the top 10 models.

Low-cost options, along with more EVs, are likely to come to the fore in 2023. Paul Harrison, chief partnerships officer at Leasing.com, commented: “While the momentum behind EVs will continue, the leasing of practical, more affordable cars will be a key trend in 2023 as cost-conscious consumers forego more expensive brands in favour of alternative manufacturers that offer similar benefits, but at a lower monthly cost.”

Most popular lease cars of 2022

Nissan Qashqai
Hyundai Tucson
Kia Sportage
Vauxhall Corsa
Cupra Formentor
Tesla Model Y
Hyundai Kona
Mercedes-Benz CLA
Volkswagen Polo
Volkswagen T-Roc

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Motorists spend three hours a year defrosting their car windscreen

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John Redfern

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January 25, 2023

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Research by Skoda has uncovered the amount of time British drivers lose each year while defrosting their car’s windscreen.

A survey of 2,000 drivers found that, on average, each motorist spends more than three hours a year defrosting their car.

More than a third (35 percent) spend between five and seven minutes on each defrosting effort. An unfortunate 13 percent of motorists take between eight and 10 minutes to remove ice from their screen.

Applied to a total UK car parc of 40.8 million vehicles, that means motorists could lose 337 years to deicing.

Ice breakers

When it comes to methods for clearing ice, making use of the car’s heating system was favoured by nearly two-thirds (63 percent) of respondents.

More than half (57 percent) use an ice scraper, while 13 percent admitted to doing the job with a credit or debit card. Worrying, 15 percent said they used boiling water to clear ice – risking serious damage to the windscreen.

Some 76 percent of those surveyed said they switch their car’s engine on and leave it running to help with defrosting.

However, more than half (51 percent) were unaware this could lead to a fine of £80 if the car is parked on a public highway.

Still Simply Clever

The Skoda survey also highlighted that 74 percent of drivers were unaware electric cars could be ‘preconditioned’ to clear the windscreen in advance.

Skoda highlights how its Enyaq iV electric SUV can be preconditioned remotely using the Skoda Connect app, or via the infotainment system. This allows the Enyaq’s cabin to be heated to a set temperature, and the windscreen defrosted, ready for a chosen departure time.

Using preconditioning could save drivers up to 10 minutes every day. However, Skoda still supplies the Enyaq with an ice scraper mounted inside the tailgate, just in case…

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Bentley celebrates Bathurst race win with bespoke Continental GT S

By

John Redfern

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January 24, 2023

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Bentley has unveiled a pair of special edition Continental GT S models, created in-house by Mulliner.

Inspiration came from Bentley’s success at the Bathurst 12 Hours race in Australia, where the Continental GT3 claimed overall victory in 2020.

Mulliner, the company’s bespoke division, has been responsible for designing the two cars, each of which boasts an individual specification.

Green to be seen

The collaboration between Mulliner and Bentley Sydney is intended to celebrate the launch of the Continental GT S in Australia.

Painted in bright Apple Green, the first Continental GT S features Beluga black for the roof, door mirrors, lower bumper and rear boot outline. A number seven is painted onto the mesh front grille, as found on the winning Continental GT3 racer.

Blackline specification sees all chrome exterior trim replaced with gloss black, while the interior is finished in a combination of leather and Dinamica fabric.

Homage to an epic victory

Apple Green accents are found on the black upholstery, including the word ‘Bathurst’ stitched into the headrests.

A map of the famous track sits atop the carbon fibre dashboard trim, with the names of the winning drivers on the centre console.

The second Bentley Continental GT S is painted in Silver Tempest, a colour chosen to reflect the first-generation GT3 race car. Like the Apple Green example, Blackline specification is used for the exterior, with a similarly bespoke cabin finish.

Demand for custom Bentleys grows

Each Bentley Continental GT S will be supplied with a commemorative framed artefact and a 1:18 scale model of the winning car.

Mulliner has left the turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 engine untouched, meaning a not-insubstantial output of 550hp. A sports exhaust enhances the soundtrack, while standard all-wheel drive allows a 0-62mph time of just 4.0 seconds.

Bentley’s Mulliner division celebrated a major milestone in 2022, building 500 bespoke cars in 12 months. This included the reborn Bentley Blower, along with numerous custom cars for wealthy customers.

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New Lamborghini factory museum is officially open

By

John Redfern

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January 24, 2023

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Lamborghini has officially reopened its museum in Sant’Agata Bolognese, Italy, following a redesign ahead of an important 12 months.

This year will see Lamborghini celebrate its 60th anniversary, with a host of commemorative events planned throughout 2023.

Although the Automobili Lamborghini Museum opened its doors again at the end of 2022, a special ceremony marked the official reopening this month.

Looking to the future

Stephan Winkelmann, Lamborghini chairman and CEO, said: “2023 will be a year full of original activities and developments, which opens with this new museum destination. We will celebrate our first 60 years through international events, initiatives and unexpected activities, which we will reveal during the year”.

Winkelmann added: “We started from a challenge that Ferruccio Lamborghini took up at the beginning of the 1960s, which the company developed through pioneering and revolutionary ideas in the years that followed to write the history of the time and deliver innovations that have shaped the path of luxury super sports cars. Lamborghini always has and always will be a brand that never stops looking to the future.”

The museum now plays host to the new ‘The future began in 1963’ exhibition. This details the company’s progress across six decades. Some 19 cars from Lamborghini’s past and present are displayed in the two-storey building.

A year to remember

First opened as the Museo Lamborghini in 2001, the collection underwent a major renovation in 2016. The latest update includes an updated interior design, with a new layout that showcases the Italian marque’s history.

Lamborghini has more reasons to celebrate at present, as 2022 was its most productive year to date. A total of 9,233 cars were delivered last year: a 10 percent increase on 2021’s performance.

As with previous years, the Urus accounted for the majority of sales. Lamborghini delivered 5,367 examples of its twin-turbo V8 SUV in 2022, alongside 3,113 Huracans and 753 Aventadors.

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Slowest EV charging could cost the most – and MORE than petrol

By

John Redfern

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January 23, 2023

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The introduction of peak and off-peak rates by electric vehicle charging networks could make slow charging the costliest option for EV drivers.

That is the message from the AA, which has just published its latest EV Recharge report, examining the charging market in December 2022.

It finds that while slow charging costs fell by 17p per kWh since November 2022, the use of peak periods risks making it more expensive than ultra-rapid charging.

Peak hours at peak prices

Certain charging networks have introduced peak and off-peak hours for their 7kW chargers, in a bid to manage demand and usage. The aim is to allow power to be provided throughout the day, and prevent drivers charging for longer than necessary.

Not all operators have peak hours at the same times, meaning drivers need to pay particular attention when recharging.

The AA’s research found networks charged an average of 72p per kWh to use a 7kW slow charger during peak times. By contrast, using the fastest ultra-rapid charging devices (in excess of 101kWh) cost only 70p per kWh.

This means adding an 80 percent charge to a 50kW battery would cost £28.00 with an ultra-rapid charger at peak times, versus £28.80 with a 7kW device.

More price monitoring needed

These prices also mean using a slow 7kW charger at peak times costs 16.18p per mile driven. Yet with falling fuel prices, refilling a petrol car now costs only 14.45p per mile.

The AA does note that many EV drivers will charge at home, however, reserving more expensive on-the-go options for a quick top-up.

Jack Cousens, head of roads policy and recharging for the AA, said: “The introduction of peak and off-peak charging mirrors many domestic energy providers’ offering to EV owners.

“We completely understand why this has been introduced as it allows the supply of electricity to remain constant throughout the day, while ensuring drivers don’t overstay their welcome.

“However the price gap between the two is staggering, so much like refilling a petrol or diesel car, drivers should check the rates they could be paying before plugging in.

“While pump prices are falling, electricity prices are going in the other direction, but we are hopeful prices could tail off later this year. The government must keep an eye on prices and act if necessary.

“Unlike fuel, EV charging already has a regulator in place to monitor public charging ratesand they shouldn’t be afraid to step in if prices escalate.”

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Sporty electric Skoda Enyaq Coupe iV vRS arrives in the UK

By

John Redfern

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January 23, 2023

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The flagship Skoda Enyaq Coupe iV vRS has landed in UK showrooms, having initially gone on sale in 2022.

The new Enyaq is the first electric Skoda vRS model. The lineage of the vRS badge stretches back more than two decades.

Prices for the sporty Enyaq Coupe iV vRS start from £54,370 on the road, with introductory finance offers available from Skoda.

New electro star

The Enyaq Coupe iV vRS uses twin electric motors, delivering a combined output of 299hp. This makes it the most powerful Skoda vRS model to date. Helped by all-wheel drive, it can accelerate from 0-62mph in 6.5 seconds and reach 111mph.

Upgraded sports suspension is fitted as standard, lowering the Enyaq Coupe iV vRS by up to 15mm. Dynamic steering is included, too.

A 77kWh battery pack supplies the power, along with an official range of 323 miles. The Enyaq can use 135kW rapid chargers, replenishing its battery to 80 percent in just 36 minutes.

Using a standard 7.2kWh home wallbox will recharge the battery in around 13 hours.

Bright colours encouraged

Compared to the regular Enyaq SUV, the Coupe version has a curvier roofline and improved aerodynamic efficiency. Performance vRS models benefit from bespoke front and rear bumpers, gloss black exterior trim and black 20-inch alloy wheels.

On the inside, there are heated sports seats with integrated headrests, which are trimmed in perforated black leather. A leather vRS sports steering wheel, carbon-effect interior trim and a full-length glass sunroof also form part of the standard spec.

Paint choices include bold Phoenix Orange (seen here) and Hyper Green, both of which are exclusive to the Enyaq Coupe iV vRS.

Ready to drive

Before options, the Skoda Enyaq Coupe iV vRS costs from £54,370, while the Solutions Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) finance option offers monthly payments from £580.60.

For this deal, customers require a deposit of £10,874. It’s based upon an agreement of 10,000 miles per annum for 48 months. The final ‘balloon’ payment stands at £26,991.

With the Enyaq Coupe iV vRS now in showrooms, test drives can now be booked through the Skoda website.

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Top Gear’s Chris Harris is selling his Porsche 911 GT3 Touring

By

John Redfern

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January 20, 2023

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A 2022 Porsche 911 GT3 Touring owned by Top Gear presenter Chris Harris is currently up for auction.

Listed on the Harris-endorsed Collecting Cars website, the 992-generation GT3 Touring was purchased by the TV star and respected journalist last year.

The GT3 became part of Harris’ extensive car collection, taking its place alongside his beloved yellow 991.2-generation 911 GT3 Touring. Other fast cars Harris has owned include a Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 and classic Ferrari 512 TR.

The subtle supercar

The 911 GT3 Touring up for auction was built to Harris’ exact specification, featuring a bespoke paint-to-sample exterior colour. Compared to his yellow Touring, the Dark Sea Blue finish is very subtle.

On the inside, the car was originally delivered with carbon fibre bucket seats in red leather. Harris later had the inserts trimmed in blue tartan upholstery by Porsche specialist, Justin Placek.

A front axle lift system, climate control air-con and LED headlights are all included, too.

Pop-up spoiler alert

A less visually extroverted version of the 911 GT3, the Touring option sees the usual gigantic rear wing ditched for a pop-up spoiler.

However, the car still produces the same 510hp from a naturally aspirated 4.0-litre flat-six engine, sending its power to the rear wheels only. Buyers had a choice of transmissions for the GT3, but Chris Harris specified the six-speed manual.

This means a 0-62mph time of 3.9 seconds, along with a 198mph top speed.

One careful owner

During his ownership, Harris has added 6,468 miles to the GT3 Touring, and made good use of its abilities.

However, in a recent Instagram video, he explained that he did not have the space “financially or emotionally” for two versions of the same car.

It means the bespoke blue 911 GT3 Touring is now up for sale. The auction on Collecting Cars is scheduled to run until Wednesday 25 January 2023. Bidding has already been intense, reflecting the desirability of this rare Porsche and its celebrity owner.

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