UK
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In the UK, the number of charging-station locations now outnumbers the number of gas-station locations. That's not yet the case in the U.S.
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Britain's electric utility backs earlier ban on new cars with engines, in 2030
Norway and The Netherlands started the trend a few years ago, though they're relatively tiny car markets. Then France and the U.K. joined in. China, the world's largest new-car market by far, is doing it—though the country hasn't decided when. All of those countries plan to ban, or work the...
John Voelcker -
Three Dyson electric cars on the drawing board: report
While Dyson may be best known worldwide for high-tech vacuum cleaners, the company has a strong affinity for what the British call "boffins," which roughly translates to "eccentric genius inventors." With a slight resemblance to Doc Brown of "Back to the Future" (as played by Christopher Lloyd)...
John Voelcker -
Scotland power boss: Peak charging could cause grid problems
Vastly greater numbers of electric cars on United Kingdom roads could pose problems for the power supplies used to recharge them—if, that is, they all plug in during the day. Frank Mitchell, head of SP Energy Networks a unit of ScottishPower, said a rush to electric cars in the U.K. could...
Aaron Cole -
Dyson electric car for 2020 draws executives from Aston Martin, Tesla
Dyson, the British appliance company best known for its bagless vacuum cleaners, has cleared up speculation that has persisted for nearly 10 years. Founder and chief engineer James Dyson officially confirmed his company is developing an electric car and is planning for a 2020 launch. Not only has...
Sean Szymkowski -
Ford Transit van with range-extended electric powertrain revealed
As European countries continue to crack down on emissions from road vehicles, automakers are stepping up with solutions to reduce levels of smog-causing nitrogen oxides, especially in city centers. Ford identified the commercial vehicle segment as one it believes is ripe for electrification, and...
Sean Szymkowski -
Although electric cars do not emit exhaust, it's widely recognized that the electricity to charge their batteries often still comes from fossil fuels. This has led to the scrutiny of electric cars to determine whether their overall "wells-to-wheels" carbon footprints exceed those of regular vehicles powered by internal-combustion engines. For most U.S. drivers, electric cars are already better, thanks to more natural gas and renewable energy powering the electricity grid. DON'T MISS: Can we have fully carbon-free electricity by 2100? Predictions vary In the United Kingdom, electric cars now...
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2018 Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid goes on sale in UK
The Kia Niro Hybrid has been on sale in the United States since early 2017, but at its launch, the brand promised a plug-in hybrid version would arrive by the end of this year as well. Ahead of its U.S. launch, the Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid has now arrived in the United Kingdom with a 36-mile rated...
Sean Szymkowski -
UK Royal Mail electric vans now entering service
The United Kingdom's Royal Postal Service has entered a new era as its first electric mail vans enter service. In total, nine electric postal vans from local company Arrival will enter the Royal Post's fleet, along with another 100 electric vans to be added in December from French brand Peugeot...
Sean Szymkowski -
UK to ban diesel, gasoline car sales by 2040; follows France, Norway, Holland bans
The United Kingdom will follow in the footsteps of some European countries as it announced plans to ban the sale of gasoline- and diesel-powered cars by the year 2040. The initiative closely follows a similar announcement from France, which also declared 2040 as the year it will phase out...
Sean Szymkowski -
Combustion engines: high emissions from short commutes a huge challenge
Drivers in the U.S. have longer commutes than those in Europe and Asia, on average. In the U.K., short commutes in vehicles with combustion engines—whether gasoline or diesel—pose particularly tough emission problems. That's because the exhaust aftertreatment systems have to warm up...
John Voelcker -
Ubitricity street lamp socket provides electric-car charging
A German company has brought forth its idea of how to provide convenient, cost-effective electric-car charging and now it has made its way to the United Kingdom. Ubitricity rolled out its streetlight car charging ports two years ago, but the German company has now spread its innovation to the UK...
Sean Szymkowski -
The internet has transformed how many perceive property, allowing the rental of other peoples' personal vehicles, apartments, and other spaces when owners are not using them. Now, the idea is being applied to charging stations across the United Kingdom with the introduction of the Chargie smartphone app. Chargie aims to redefine how electric-car owners plan their travels by allowing access to individual's own charging stations (which the British call "chargepoints"). DON'T MISS: Electric-car charging networks spin out, merge, and go global In the spirit of AirBnB, which rents out apartments...
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The day without coal: Britain's first one since 1882
The Industrial Revolution that started around 1750 in England was powered largely by coal. With Watt's invention of the steam engine and the emergence of railways in the mid-nineteenth century, the carbon-dense fuel was central to the change from an agricultural economy to an industrial one. Last...
John Voelcker -
Shell hedges bets, adds hydrogen fuel to 1st U.K. station
Anticipating a possible decrease in fossil-fuel consumption from the mass deployment of zero-emission vehicles, one of the world's largest oil companies is hedging its bets. Royal Dutch Shell is becoming increasingly involved in hydrogen fueling infrastructure, which will be needed if fuel-cell...
Stephen Edelstein -
Offshore wind energy in U.K. far ahead of lower-cost target
The winds of change are blowing harder in the U.K. The price of energy generated by offshore wind farms has been falling steadily, and ahead of schedule too. Costs have fallen 32 percent since 2012, bringing them below a target of £100 per megawatt-hour previously set by the U.K. government...
Stephen Edelstein -
Ford to test plug-in hybrid Transit Custom van in London
Earlier this month, Ford announced a host of new electrified vehicles, including prototype and production hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and battery-electric models. Before its planned 2019 production launch, one of those vehicles will soon begin testing in London. It's a plug-in hybrid version of the...
Stephen Edelstein -
The past week has not been a particularly pleasant one for advocates of diesel cars. Volkswagen agreed to plead guilty to criminal counts related to its diesel-emissions cheating and pay $4.3 billion in fines, while U.S. prosecutors arrested one of the company's executives and indicted five more. Fiat Chrysler was accused by the EPA of using software in its diesel vehicles that violates the Clean Air Act, and now the Justice Department is reportedly investigating its conduct in the matter. DON'T MISS: Justice Department launches criminal probe of FCA diesels: report But the U.S. government is...
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UK moves ahead on lower-carbon power to end coal use by 2025
Low-carbon energy use in the U.K. is up, and the government hopes to phase out coal by 2025.
Stephen Edelstein -
Ford Mustang is unlikely winner of UK gas-mileage marathon
A Ford Mustang GT took the title of most-improved fuel economy in the 2016 MPG Marathon.
Stephen Edelstein -
Scotland shows path toward boosting renewable energy in a big way
Scotland recently powered itself solely with renewable energy.
Stephen Edelstein -
U.K. businesses slowly moving away from diesel cars: survey
U.K. businesses are leasing fewer diesel cars, a new survey finds.
Stephen Edelstein -
Hybrids lose London privileges two weeks from today: here's why
Sooner or later, it can happen in a romance: the two parties decide they're just not that into one another. The state of California dumped hybrid-electric vehicles on July 1, 2011, when it ended the rule that allowed them to use carpool lanes on freeways even with just one occupant. Now the city of...
John Voelcker