Long grass and political footballs!
The recent budget from the UK government was full of many green issues and the subject of electric cars was one which cropped up and grabbed the headlines. However, do you actually know what the government is planning and what is in it for UK motorist?
The UK strategy on electric cars
Gordon Brown used the 2009 budget to confirm his government’s confidence in the electric car market and eco-friendly technology. In typical political fashion there was a vague suggestion of a £5000 discount for UK motorists who acquired an electric or hybrid car. However, while the government tried to make much mileage of this particular development there are no details available as to how you would qualify for such a discount but more importantly there are no cars currently available which fit the criteria!
In a rather bizarre quirk of fate many people may not be aware that while Gordon Brown is telling us which cars we need to drive and which technologies we need to use, the man himself is not able to drive. Yes, the man ultimately in charge of the UK government’s green strategy and electric car program cannot even drive himself.
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Will the Toyota Auris hybrid be built in the UK?
Even though the UK government has recently announced a multi-million pound programme which will see electric cars trialled throughout the UK there is a feeling amongst many observers that this is only a piecemeal approach to the sector. This is an area of the automotive industry which needs significant investment, significant backing and to be pushed to the masses. However, the announcement that Toyota is considering building a hybrid version of its bestselling Auris hatchback model in the UK has opened up a potentially interesting option for the authorities.
The UK economy
It is no secret that the UK economy, together with many other economies around the world, has suffered dramatic falls in output in the aftermath of the credit crunch. Unemployment in the UK is forecast to hit 3 million before falling back as and when the UK economy starts to improve. However, the problems with GM Europe and the issue of Vauxhall related jobs in the UK together with the demise of LDV have literally crippled the UK automotive industry.
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What is happening in the electric car sector?
After a period of relative calm, the electric car market has sprung to life over the last couple of years with a number of cars hitting the market and numerous concept cars on the verge of hitting the production trail. So what exactly is going on in the electric car market and what can we expect in the future?
The ATNMBL electric vehicle
The ATNMBL is one of the more bizarre electric concept vehicles under consideration although when you find out it is from the team who created the Google G1 phone then perhaps it is something we should take note of. While at first glance this particular vehicle looks bizarre to say the least, when you consider it is a concept vehicle for the market in 2040 then perhaps we can take a more long-term and futuristic approach.
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Do silent cars pose a threat to safety?
As the onset of the electric car market continues the evolution of the
electric vehicle is throwing up a number of substantial challenges, both in the field of technology and practical everyday use, which need to be addressed. As crazy as it may sound, one of the factors which has caught the attention of the Japanese government is the noise which electric cars do not emit!
Is your electric car a silent assassin?
As you might expect, because of the fact that many moving parts have been removed from electric cars they tend to travel in silence. Whilst for many people the ability to travel from A to B with reduced emissions and reduce noise levels is something of a godsend, it has proven to be a potentially fatal problem in the wider marketplace.
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Is pay per mile taxation inevitable?
As we covered in one of our earlier posts there is significant concern within political circles as to how countries such as the UK, and Holland, which depend heavily upon taxation from fuel sales will be able to replace this as and when electric vehicles become more popular. While it would be wrong to suggest that any official decision has been taken there is no doubt that contingency plans are in place as and when the electric vehicle market really takes off.
Is taxation by the mile really inevitable for electric car users?
While many people around the world may not be aware of the potential impact which electric car users will have in countries such as the UK and Holland for example, we will inevitably see a future revamp of the UK road taxation and fuel taxation system. One system which is very much at the forefront of many people’s minds is taxation by the mile for the opportunity to drive on UK roads. But is this really inevitable?
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Is the Koenigsegg Quant the car of the future?
When Swedish sports car manufacturer Koenigsegg revealed an electric powered concept car in March 2008 many people believed this was nothing but a publicity stunt and a vehicle which would never reach the main market. While there has been no official notification about commercialisation of the Koenigsegg Quant it is rumoured that the vehicle is set to be unleashed on the commercial market albeit in a limited edition capacity.
Who are Koenigsegg?
Koenigsegg Automotive AB is unlikely to be a vehicle manufacturer which is well known outside of Sweden. However, this is a company which specialises in high-performance sports cars and has recently expressed an interest in acquiring Saab Automobile from General Motors. The fact that the company is even considering an acquisition of this nature highlights the potential for the future and the fact that the company plans to be around for many years to come.
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The electric car is coming your way!
There are many rumours, counter rumours and blatant inaccuracies reported with regards to the electric car which appear to have reduced the attractions of this particular vehicle to many people around the world. There are many possible reasons why the electric car has not taken off as yet but there are even more reasons why it will at some stage become the standard mode of transport around the world.
We will cover a number of factors to consider as the electric car moves closer and closer to becoming an integral part of the worldwide transport system.
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From the land of the Rising Sun
While this week has been a momentous time for the car industry with General Motors filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in US, taking many of the headlines with it, in a small industrial estate 90 miles south west of Shanghai there have been developments in the electric car sector which could literally change the electric car industry forever. A company by the name of New Power has made the first inroads into an electric car which can compete on speed, distance and comfort with the traditional oil-based fuel cars of today. So what exactly is going on?
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