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THE UK REGIONS LEAST SUITABLE FOR EV DRIVERS
12 Aug 2024 13:21:16
In a new study conducted by Howden Insurance, Welsh County, Powys has been identified as the least accessible local authority in the UK to own an electric car. Utilising data from GOV.UK, the study evaluates the accessibility of electric vehicle ownership across UK local authorities. By examining the density of 50kW charging devices per 100 miles of road, it identifies the least accommodating areas. Without access to rapid chargers, many drivers may be deterred from switching to an eco-friendly electric vehicle, as they're concerned about the logistics of doing so. At the bottom of the list is Welsh county Powys, offering just 15 rapid chargers over 3321.4 miles of road, resulting in a small density of 0.45 50kW rapid charging points per 100 miles. Another Welsh spot finds itself at the bottom of the list as Conwy ranks just before Powys at 201, with an average of 0.49 rapid chargers per 100 miles of road. Scottish council area, Aberdeenshire ranks third to last, with an average of 0.57 50kW chargers per 100 miles of road. Coming in as the fourth region that is least likely to switch to an EV are the Scottish Borders, where there are just 0.69 rapid chargers per 100 miles of road. In fifth to last spot is the Shetland Islands, where on average, there are 0.78 rapid EV chargers per 100 miles of road. On the other end of the ranking is Hammersmith and Fulham, taking the lead with an average of 53 rapid chargers across 136.6 miles of road, resulting in a density of 38.80 rapid chargers per 100 miles. Westminster ranks as the second most convenient spot to charge an electric vehicle, averaging at 36.43 50kW charging devices per 100 miles of road. Slough ranks as the third most time-sensitive location for charging electric cars, offering an average of 27.8 50kW chargers within a 100-mile radius. The fourth spot for charging an electric car in the timeliest manner is Greenwich, with an average of 18.02 rapid chargers per 100 miles of road. This is more than 20 fewer available rapid chargers than Hammersmith and Fulham's infrastructure. Taking fifth spot is Islington, at 17.69 50kW chargers per 100 miles, just over two times fewer than seen in Westminster. As well as identifying the areas with the least availability of rapid chargers, the study also considers where has the least chargers generally per 100 miles of road, regardless of speed. The Powys authority still ranks at the bottom for both 50-kW charger availability and overall electric vehicle charging infrastructure, with an average of 3.34 charging points across all speeds within a 100-mile radius. The County of Herefordshire secures the second to last position in the ranking, with an average of 4 electric vehicle charging points per 100 miles. In Neath Port Talbot, there is an average of 4.03 charging points per 100 miles of road, finding itself in third to last position when all speeds are considered. In fourth place for least general chargers available is also the Scottish Borders, with an average of 4.05 electric car chargers per 100 miles. The Wirral is in fifth to last spot with an average of 4.10 charging points within a 100-mile radius. Similarly to the rapid charging points statistics, Hammersmith and Fulham claims the top spot for charging points across all speeds, with an average of 1841.87 chargers per 100 miles of road.
NEW SPEED CAMERAS SET TO CATCH THOUSAND OF DISTRACTED DRIVERS
12 Aug 2024 13:14:56
Drivers have been warned that thousands face convictions for illegal mobile phone use as the latest high-tech speed cameras continue to be rolled out nationwide. A new government study analysed by Road Angel has revealed that as many as 400,000 Brits could be caught and punished as authorities adopt the new tech. The new 'spot' cameras capable of detecting mobile phone use while driving are currently being installed on 25 routes in the north of England following successful trials in Greater Manchester Devon, Cornwall and Wales. With transport chiefs promising a national rollout, it looks likely that these new high-tech cameras will become standard all over Britain catching thousands of unsuspecting drivers. Of all vehicle drivers, the study shows that 0.3% were observed using a mobile phone while driving, rising to 0.8% in the evenings with similar proportions in England and Scotland. This estimates that 150,000 to 400,000 of the 50 million British drivers are still using handheld devices illegally while behind the wheel. Compared with the latest MoJ figures, only 13,332 people were caught and punished for using a handheld device in 2023. This represents a 90% increase from the previous year as the new cameras started to be trialled in parts of the country, catching more motorists. However, the number of drivers caught is set to skyrocket as the speed cameras capable of seeing inside vehicles are rolled out across Britain. Transport Scotland has already signed a deal worth almost half a million pounds for installation across Glasgow and Edinburgh with the rest of the UK set to follow. Doubling as a red light camera, the VECTOR-SR can also snap motorists who aren't wearing a seatbelt. The new cameras have been highly effective in catching speeding motorists across multiple lanes in both directions. Early trials in Devon last year saw four of the new cameras snare 3,280 drivers for speeding in just two weeks as motorists unfamiliar with the new cameras, see them for the first time. Lacking the traditional box-like structure of older speed cameras they are harder to spot and don't require road markings or a flash to record motorists breaking the law. Drivers caught holding and using a handheld device behind the wheel can get 6 penalty points and a £200 fine, rising to £1000 and a driving ban if taken to court.
KEYLESS TECHNOLOGY IS MAKING CARS VULNERABLE TO THEFT ACCORDING TO NEW RESEARCH
12 Aug 2024 13:00:51
Cars equipped with advanced technology, such as keyless entry systems, are presenting new opportunities for criminals, according to new research from The Green Insurer, which is focused on helping drivers reduce carbon emissions and drive in a more environmentally friendly way. The findings reveal ”keyless technology”, where a physical key is not required to turn the ignition and start the car, is thought by 70% of motorists to make cars more vulnerable to being stolen via criminal activities such as key cloning. Keyless technology and its potential to be exploited by criminals who are able to unlock and start vehicles without needing physical access to a key, was described by more than a third of respondents (34%) as making cars equipped with this innovation “much more vulnerable” to being stolen; a further 35% said they thought the technology makes cars “slightly more vulnerable” to theft. Only 10% believe that keyless car models were less vulnerable to theft. The research highlights that four in five (80%) motorists believe that car manufacturers need to do more to make their cars more difficult to steal, with only 6% saying they did not believe car manufacturers had more work to do to make their cars less vulnerable to theft. The over 55s are more likely (85% of respondents in this age group) to believe that the responsibility of addressing car theft lies with the manufacturers, compared with 66% of under 25s who share this view. The rise in car crime appears to be impacting people's purchasing decisions, with one in eight (13%) saying that they have in the past avoided buying a particular model of car because they fear it is attractive to thieves. A further 33% of people stated that they will consider not buying a particular model of car in the future if they fear it is desirable to thieves, and therefore at higher risk of theft. Just over one in two people (54%) said that they didn't take the vulnerability of a car brand or model being stolen into consideration when making a car purchase.
CITROEN REVEALS BEST BEACHES FOR EV DRIVERS IN THE UK
12 Aug 2024 12:58:33
The UK's highest-rated beaches to visit in an electric car this summer have been revealed in a new study by Citroën UK, with Brighton Beach on the south coast named the most EV-friendly location for UK drivers looking for a coastal getaway. To rank the top 10 beaches in the UK for electric vehicle drivers, Citroën compared how close the highest-rated beaches on TripAdvisor were to the 10 most populated cities across the nation. Points were awarded to those within the 260-mile (WLTP) electric range of the Citroën ë-C4. Locations were also ranked according to the number of rapid and fast charge points, and the overall total public chargers within a five-mile radius of a fixed centre point on the beach using data from ZapMap. Coming out on top, Brighton Beach can be reached from 10 of the UK's most populous cities on a single charge of Citroën's ë-C4. It also boasts an impressive 99 charge points within five miles that offer a rapid charge and a further 61 charge points available that offer a fast charge. In second place is Bournemouth Beach in Dorset. Bournemouth Beach had the most rapid chargers in its vicinity of all the best-ranked beaches, with 62 accessible within five miles. It had an equally impressive 98 fast chargers available within five miles of the coast and was within 260 miles of nine of the most populated cities. Taking the third spot is the award-winning Sandbanks Beach in Poole, Dorset. Sandbanks also offers an impressive charging service for EV drivers, with 88 fast chargers and 41 rapid chargers installed within five miles. This picturesque spot is also within the 260-mile range of nine major cities using a Citroën ë-C4.
JEEP REVEALS 15 'OFF THE BEATEN TRACK' SPOTS TO TAKE KIDS THIS SUMMER
12 Aug 2024 12:57:15
The top 15 free 'off the beaten track' locations to explore with the kids this summer have been revealed by Jeep. According to a survey of 1,000 parents commissioned by Jeep in collaboration with Ordnance Survey, 44% of parents end up taking their children to the same places every summer holiday. The top reasons for doing so include familiarity/comfort (53%), children wanting to go to the same places (48%), a lack of inspiration on new places (32%), not being able to afford to visit other locations (29%) and not having time to research new places to visit (28%). In addition, 56% of parents said they want to avoid tourist hotspots, suggesting crowded and popular places are not what parents are looking for. Families spend an average of £425 on their kids' summer holiday activities, but 61% say the cost-of-living crisis is affecting their summer holiday plans with their children. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), there are 8.2 million families in the UK with dependent children, meaning a collective sum of £3.49 billion is spent on kids' activities each summer holiday. Therefore, 42% of parents said they won't travel abroad this summer, with a limited budget being the biggest challenge to keeping kids entertained (50%). 48% of those said it is easier to travel within the UK with children and 44% will do so to save time by staying in the country. The national spread of 'off the beaten track' locations in England, Scotland and Wales are all free to visit. They have also been selected based on analysis of walking route data in the popular OS Maps app, obtaining expert tips from the network of Ordnance Survey outdoor ambassadors and online reviews. An easy-to-explore map created by Jeep on https://www.jeep.co.uk/get-lost-map contains a total of 100 'off the beaten track locations' to help parents plan their kids' summer holidays and keep them entertained. Kris Cholmondeley, Managing Director at Jeep UK said: “Summer holidays with the kids can be challenging, requiring a lot of energy, planning and resources, so we want to help inspire parents with some fresh ideas for adventure. We've focused our top 15 'off the beaten track' outdoor locations on places that are free to visit, as keeping costs down is a top priority for parents. These locations showcase the very best of the Great British outdoors, yet those that are lesser known to the wider public.”
ROAD TRIPPING WITH AN ELECTRIC CAR IS NOW EASIER THAN EVER
12 Aug 2024 12:56:09
As families across the country increasingly flock to beauty spots like the Yorkshire Dales, the Peak District and the Lake District, data from Zapmap and BMW UK shows it's now easier than ever to travel there by electric vehicle (EV). Across the UK last year, more than 16,600 EV charge points were added, says Zapmap, a year-on-year increase of 45 per cent. There are now over 64,000 charge points available across more than 33,000 locations. EVs produce no driving emissions and less noise pollution, making them ideal holiday companions to help support the serenity of the green and pleasant countryside many of us will retreat to this summer. To further support tourists and locals in rural areas BMW has partnered with UK National Parks to install a total of 135 new EV charge points across all 15 of the UK's National Parks. To date, 78 new charge points have been installed across seven National Parks. Graham Biggs, Corporate Communications Director at BMW UK, said: “While the ever-growing number of EV charge points in the UK is encouraging, it's vital that the momentum is accelerated and that rural areas are not left behind in the EV transition. A spread of chargers across the UK and into the countryside ensures that people can visit natural beauty spots this summer in the quietest cars and without tailpipe emissions - helping protect these precious places from noise and pollution. We believe that nature should be protected and accessible for everyone and that's why we're so proud of the work we are doing with UK National Parks through The Recharge in Nature partnership.” Currently, 93 per cent of those visiting the National Parks travel there in their own car and while more public transport infrastructure is needed, Zapmap data shows popular routes to the National Parks are now well equipped with enroute EV charge points helping open up the Parks to staycationers travelling to the Parks, as well as those who live and work in them, in the quietest vehicles, that produce zero emissions while driving. • For example, looking at the number of high-powered charge points (ideal for enroute charging) within two miles of the main roads, between London and Yorkshire Dales National Park (261 miles) there are 91 charging locations, many of them with multiple charge points available. From Glasgow to Peak District (277 miles) there are 144, whilst between Bristol and the Lake District National Park (241 miles) there are over 180.