Day: November 5, 2021

Kia tops UK EV sales for October 2021

2021-11-05 / Robert Vinet

Kia EV6

Kia UK has recorded its best-ever October sales, according to new registrations data released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

Kia registered 7,436 vehicles in October 2021, representing a year-on-year increase of 22.1 percent over October 2020. 22.8 percent of these sales (1,699 units) were fully electric, boosted thanks to the first customer deliveries of the Kia EV6 (349 units). With sales of the e-Niro, Soul EV and EV6 combined, Kia topped the United Kingdom’s monthly EV sales charts in October.

So far this year, Kia has sold 81,532 units in the UK, with battery electric vehicles (BEV) accounting for 14.4 percent of the brand’s total sales this year (11,762 units). Kia UK’s year-to-date sales are 28.9 percent higher than the same period in 2020, and only 5.6 percent off the same period in 2019, the brand’s best-selling year on record.

The Kia Niro family (including Self-Charging Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid and e-Niro models) was the brand’s best-selling model in the UK in October, with 2,479 units sold in total.

Paul Philpott, President and CEO of Kia UK Limited, said »

October has been another strong month for Kia sales volumes, particularly for our growing line-up of battery EVs. With a strong bank of more than 1,600 pre-orders, we were particularly excited to deliver our first EV6 orders to UK customers in October – a milestone which enabled our dealers to boost our EV sales to new heights.

Video » The surprisingly long history of electric vehicles

2021-11-05 / Robert Vinet

If you think EVs are relatively new, you may be surprised to learn they have been around since the 1800’s.

70.1% of all new car registrations in Norway in October were pure Electric Vehicles

2021-11-05 / Robert Vinet

VW ID.4 GTX

In Norway, 8,116 new EVs were registered in October 2921, giving pure electric cars a 70.1 percent share of all new registrations for the month. This represents an increase of 3.1 percent, when compared to the 7,873 BEV registrations in October 2020.

The Volkswagen ID.4, with 913 registrations, was the model with the most new registrations in October.

88,674 new BEVs have been registered so far this year, according to the Norwegian Road Information Agency (OFV). This represents a market share of 63.1 percent from the beginning of January to the end of October. These numbers represent purely battery-electric vehicles (BEV) and not hybrid vehicles.

Ford will sell you the parts needed to turn a classic into a modern day EV

2021-11-05 / Robert Vinet

Ford introduces the Eluminator E-Crate Motor.

Ford F100 Eluminator

The all-electric Ford F-100 Eluminator demonstration truck shown in these photos showcases the benefits of electric propulsion.

Based on a 1978 F-100 pickup, the F-100 Eluminator concept features all-wheel drive via two powerful electric motors shared with the 2021 Mustang Mach-E GT Performance Edition. Two electric traction motors drive the front and rear wheels, packing a powerful 480 horsepower and 634 lb.-ft. of torque.

Plugged in » Ford F100 Eluminator

“Ford owners have personalized, customized and enhanced their vehicles since the beginning – from changing looks to bringing the power,” said Eric Cin, global director, Vehicle Personalization, Accessories and Licensing. “Our F-100 Eluminator concept is a preview of how we’re supporting customers as they go all-electric and embrace zero-tailpipe emissions performance, even for our heritage vehicles.”

Available online or at a local dealer through Ford Performance Parts, the Eluminator electric crate motor from the Mustang Mach-E GT Performance Edition produces 281 horsepower and 317 lb.-ft. of torque.

Under the hood » Ford F100 Eluminator

The all-electric F-100 Eluminator concept presented here, was built in collaboration with MLe Racecars and sits on a custom chassis by the Roadster Shop. It’s painted in Avalanche Gray with Cerakote Copper accents applied by Brand X Customs, while the interior features a billet aluminum dash by JJR Fabrication and avocado-tanned leather upholstery by MDM Upholstery. It’s fitted with custom 19×10-inch billet aluminum three-piece wheels by Forgeline wrapped in Michelin® Latitude Sport 275/45-19 high-performance tires.

Video below.

Future Mazda cars will stop if the driver has a stroke or heart attack

2021-11-05 / Robert Vinet

Mazda Co-Pilot Concept car

Yuri Kageyama / AP »

Cars already know how to park themselves, warn drowsy drivers, steer back into the right lanes and propose map routes to destinations. The cars Mazda has in the works for next year in Japan know when drivers have a stroke or heart attack.

By 2025, the cars will even know when drivers are about to have a sudden health problem and warn them, according to the Japanese automaker.

What’s involved are data from cameras inside the car, without resorting to laser sensors or other more obtrusive technology. And it’s going to be offered in affordable models, not just luxury vehicles. The technology holds promise for one of the most advanced aging societies in the world.

Volkswagen and Toyota are working on similar technology.

More than three-quarters of drivers do not want unnecessary technology in their cars

2021-11-05 / Robert Vinet

Dacia Spring Electric

More than three-quarters – 78 percent – of UK drivers want in-car technology that they deem as being useful in making life easier and more comfortable on the road, instead of high-end features that cause confusion and inevitably increase the cost of their new car.

The research by Dacia, a brand of the Renault Group, has revealed that 76 percent of car users think that too much technology in a vehicle can be distracting, while 61 percent would rather have a more affordable car with just the technology they actually use, instead of paying for pricier extras found on more expensive models that are hardly utilized.

For drivers that have a long list of technological features on their own car, around a third think that there are too many fitted in the first place, while 69 percent think that in-car technology has become too complicated.