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The latest Government data suggests that more than one in six speeding offences detected by police forces in England and Wales ends up being cancelled.

During 2020-21, some 2,426,950 cases of speeding were recorded by constabularies in the two countries and later reported to the Home Office. However, 404,335 (17%) of these were later cancelled.

Analysis by the RAC Foundation analysis suggests that in 2019-20, there were 330,623 cancellations, 13% of the 2,584,571 speeding offences detected in that year.

The reasons why offences go on to be cancelled is not recorded but could involve faulty or incorrectly calibrated speed cameras, cloned vehicles carrying a false number plate; emergency vehicles lawfully breaking the speed limit whilst driving with blue lights; a delay in issuing notices of intended prosecution; or a lack of resources to bring cases to court.

Of the instances of speeding that didn’t get cancelled almost one million (977,587) – 40% of the 2,426,950 total – were disposed of with a speed awareness course; 762,336 (31%) ended in a fixed penalty notice; and 233,080 (10%) ended in court action.

Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said: “It is correct that drivers caught speeding should face the consequences, but it is also important that the systems of detection and prosecution are robust.

“The hundreds of thousands of ‘cancelled’ offences each year indicate they are not. At the very least it is an administrative burden the police could do without.

“We urge the Home Office to start collecting data from police forces about these cancelled offences so we can understand where the problem lies.”

The highest proportions of speeding cases that ended up being cancelled were seen in Greater Manchester and Warwickshire, both at 39%.

Wiltshire had the lowest proportion of speeding offences cancelled at just 2%. Wiltshire also detected the lowest number of speeding drivers (912), probably because it has no fixed speed cameras.

The 2,426,950 speeding cases detected in 2020-21 – a period which included travel restrictions imposed to combat Covid – was down 6% on the previous year.

However, the annual fall in traffic volume was greater, down 26% across Great Britain (259 billion vehicle miles driven in 2020-21 compared with 352 billion vehicle miles in 2019-20).

The vast majority (96%) of speeding offences were detected by cameras.

There also continues to be large disparities between forces in the number of speeding offences detected.

The top five forces for speeding offence detection in 2020-21 were:

Metropolitan Police Service and City of London – 262,280 (up 22% compared with 2019-20)

West Yorkshire – 180,432 (+2%)

Greater Manchester – 178,123 (+13%)

Lincolnshire – 123,533 (+90%) – however, news reports suggest at least 19,000 drivers were wrongly identified as committing an offence because of a camera error

Thames Valley – 100,622 (-19%)

The constabulary-level variations in detection rates are likely to be for a variety of reasons, including: length of the road network, road type, traffic volume and makeup, local priorities dictated by police and crime commissioners, financial and human resources, and the availability of detection technology.

Dr Adam Snow, a lecturer at the Law School of Liverpool John Moores University, who worked on the report, said: “Police forces and local authorities are seeing number plate cloning as a growing problem.

“With the increasing reliance on camera enforcement for clean air zones and moving traffic violations there is some evidence to suggest more motorists are seeing this as an acceptable response even though it is fraud.”  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

Wales’ first high-powered electric vehicle (EV) charging hub has opened in Swansea as part of Gridserve and Moto’s UK-wide roll out of charging infrastructure.

The Electric Hub, part of the Gridserve Electric Highway has six 350kW high-power EV charge points, with the ability to add a further six charge points when required.

Toddington Harper, CEO of Gridserve, said: “This is a landmark project for Gridserve and Moto and the first high-power charging facility of its kind for Wales.

“We’re really excited to be demonstrating that all parts of the UK should be able to embrace the EV revolution.”

The launch comes in the wake of a proposal from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), for a new regulator called Ofcharge to govern targets and ensure every part of the country has accessible, available and affordable charging for their EV.

Part of a new seven-point plan, published yesterday (Wednesday, February 15) by the SMMT, the automotive trade body says that, while most current plug-in car drivers charge at home, public charge points remain critical to consumer confidence and are still relied upon by many fleets, as well as the third of British households that do not have designated off-street parking.

Harper said: “We cannot let a lack of infrastructure prevent drivers from realising the myriad of benefits that come with driving an electric vehicle.

“This project will help deliver the confidence for more people to make the switch to EVs, as well as support the growing number of people who already have.”

Lack of public charging infrastructure is a known barrier to EV adoption and has historically led to regional disparities in EV registrations.

Currently, Wales has one of the lowest numbers of EV charge points per head of population in the UK and Southwest Wales – where Gridserve’s Electric Hub is located – has just half the average proportion of EVs when compared to the rest of the UK.

Harper continued: “Thanks to partners like Moto, we are rapidly upgrading Britain’s motorway charging network and are prioritising areas of the UK that currently lack adequate charging infrastructure, by deploying more high-power Electric Hubs and Electric Forecourts.

“The Electric Hub at Moto Swansea is the first of many projects that we are aiming to deliver across Wales.”

Located at junction 47 on the M4 at Moto Swansea, All of the chargers at the new Swansea charging hub will be supplied with 100% net zero carbon energy from Gridserve’s solar farms, accept contactless payment and have the ability to deliver 100-miles of range in less than 10 minutes.

The Welsh government’s Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy for Wales commits to delivering 4,000 rapid chargers across the country over the next decade – of which just 3% are already installed.

Gridserve says it is looking at further sites in Wales for the development of future Electric Hubs and Electric Forecourts to help boost charging in the country and give people the confidence to make the switch to electric vehicles.

Ken McMeikan, CEO of Moto, said: “We are accelerating our ambition to open Ultra Rapid Charging Hubs at all of our Motorway Service Areas over the coming 12 months and are delighted with the progress that our partnership with Gridserve is making.

“We launched our first EV Hub with 24 Ultra Rapid chargers at Moto Rugby last year and EV drivers have loved it, we are super confident we’ll see the same level of success here at Moto Swansea.”

More than 20 Electric Hubs – each consisting of 6-12 x 350kW ultra high-power chargers – are due to open at motorway services across the UK by the end of Q2 2022, with large numbers of additional Electric Hub sites being lined up to follow, says Gridserve.

Since its acquisition of Ecotricity’s Electric Highway in June of last year, the company says it has already invested tens of millions of pounds in upgrading the network.

In addition to opening the first Electric Hub at Moto Rugby, the company has replaced more than 300 historical Ecotricity DC rapid chargers and has installed 130 additional AC chargers, ensuring that the charging needs for all types of electric vehicles are catered for.

Gridserve is also progressing plans to deliver more than 100 Electric Forecourts across the UK, with sites at Gatwick Airport and Norwich already in construction, and more sites in development.

Gridserve opened the UK’s first Electric Forecourt® close to Braintree, Essex in December 2020.  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

The Treasury is being urged to cut VAT on electricity to 5% for public charge points to match the rates that homeowners with their own charging posts benefit from.

The AA says that more should be done to help electric vehicle (EV) drivers without access to off-street parking who cannot benefit from home charging at preferential rates.

It is estimated that about 40% of households do not have access to off-street parking or are in rental accommodation so are not able to charge their EV at home. 

Edmund King, AA president and an EV driver, is concerned that a two-tier system could emerge where the 40% of households without dedicated off-street parking pay considerably more to charge than those with a driveway, garage or parking space.

“More on-street residential charging options are essential as drivers won’t always want to travel to a rapid charging station,” he said.

“Cutting VAT on public charging to 5% in residential and urban areas so it mirrors tax rates on domestic energy would be a good start and make EV ownership more affordable for those without off-street parking.”

The AA’s call for a cut in VAT for electricity from public charge echoes that of FairCharge, which launched earlier this month.

FairCharge says EV owners who are not able to charge at home pay four times more tax for their electricity from public on-street networks.

Currently, VAT on domestic electricity is charged at 5% whereas those using public charge points have to pay 20% VAT.  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

The rollout of rapid and ultra-rapid chargers is failing to keep pace with the installation of less powerful public electric vehicle (EV) charge points, new data suggests. 

Less than a fifth (17%) of new installations last year were either rapid or ultra-rapid devices, according to RAC analysis of Government statistics.

The number of public EV chargers increased by 7,600 – a rise of 37% – in 2021, and by a further 604 in January 2022, taking the total in the UK to 28,979.

As of the start of this month, 5,279 – or 18% – of all public chargers were rapid or ultra-rapid devices, leaving motorists in most cases having to rely on the 23,700 non-rapid chargers when away from home.

What’s more, the number of faster chargers as a proportion of all the chargers installed reduced by 1% year-on-year.

While 6,324 non-rapid chargers were installed during 2021, nearly double the number than the year before (96% more), just 1,276 new rapid or ultra-rapid chargers were put in over the same period – which is only 21% more than were installed in 2020.

The RAC believes that as well as helping drivers for whom home charging isn’t possible make the switch to electric, having sufficient rapid and ultra-rapid chargers – ideally as part of charging hubs across the country – is also important in making it easier for electric car drivers to make longer trips.

RAC director of EVs, Sarah Winward-Kotecha, welcomed the increase in new public chargers for electric cars. Between October and December alone, nearly 2,500 were installed, which is the highest ever number fitted in any three-month period.

“Having enough public chargers is vital to encouraging the mass take-up of electric cars, but that’s only one part of the jigsaw – the speed of these chargers is also extremely important,” she said.

“The greater the number of truly rapid chargers, the easier charging becomes on longer trips and the more often charging spaces can be turned over and used by other drivers.”

The RAC analysis comes after a call from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) for a new regulator called Ofcharge to govern targets and ensure every part of the country has accessible, available and affordable charging for their EV.

Part of a new seven-point plan, published on Wednesday (February 15), the automotive trade body says that, while most current plug-in car drivers charge at home, public charge points remain critical to consumer confidence and are still relied upon by many fleets, as well as the third of British households that do not have designated off-street parking.

Winward-Kotecha said: “From a convenience perspective, having the fastest possible public chargers available to drivers really is a win-win charging experience – providing they are priced fairly.

“These latest figures show we still have a long way to go. The number of public chargers isn’t keeping pace with the volume of new electric cars coming onto the road, and only a minority of devices being installed are rapid or ultra-rapid.

“This creates a real problem for motorists who rely on the public network because they can’t charge at home. And while slow chargers are fine for somebody who leaves their car at an office while they’re at work, they’re a lot less helpful in other places like supermarkets where a driver’s vehicle will be parked for a shorter period.

“What we don’t want to see are queues for charge points becoming a common sight as the electric revolution gathers pace.”

In order to speed up the switch to electric cars by removing many of the barriers currently facing drivers, the RAC has helped found the FairCharge campaign.

FairCharge aims to ensure the environmental, economic and social benefits of the electric car revolution are properly harnessed by pushing key EV issues to the forefront of the political agenda such as the cost, availability and speed of charging as well as battery range and the affordability of switching to an electric car.

By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

The experience of using public electric vehicle (EV) charge points has been slammed, with complicated payment methods and poor reliability major issues, new research suggests.

Three of the five most significant barriers to people choosing an electric car relate to anxiety about charging, with a third (33%) citing a lack of charge points on long journeys and more than one-in-four (29%) respondents to the Which? survey concerned about a lack of charge points close to their home.

Launching a policy paper on improving EV infrastructure across the UK, Which? says that there is an urgent need to improve the consumer experience of using public charge points, which is often “frustrating and inconvenient”.

It is calling for a major upgrade to the UK’s electric car public charging system infrastructure, with the Competition and Market Authority (CMA) estimating there will be eight million drivers across the UK who will not have the ability to charge an EV from home.

Currently, the Which? research reveals that only 13% of electric and plug-in hybrid car charging currently happens via public chargers.

However, as the UK approaches the ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars in 2030 and drivers switch to electric, the number of people who will be completely reliant on public charging will rise starkly.

This is why it is vital that access to the public charging network is improved, as well as the experience of using it, it says.

Sue Davies, Which? head of consumer protection policy, explained: “Our research shows that few electric vehicle owners currently rely on the public charging network, but this will have to change if millions of people are going to switch from petrol and diesel vehicles in the next decade.

“Improving the UK’s flawed charging infrastructure will support more motorists to make the switch to a zero-emission vehicle.

“The current confusing and complex system needs to be quickly overhauled if the network is “going to be ready for the ban on new fossil fuel cars in 2030.

Charging must be easy, accessible and affordable if people are going to make the move to an electric car.’

“To that end, we are today publishing our first electric vehicle charging policy paper that sets out our recommendations for the future of public charging infrastructure across the UK nations.”

The Which? research and policy paper comes in the wake of a proposal from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), for a new regulator called Ofcharge to govern targets and ensure every part of the country has accessible, available and affordable charging for their EV.

Part of a new seven-point plan, published yesterday (Wednesday, February 15) by the SMMT, the automotive trade body says that, while most current plug-in car drivers charge at home, public charge points remain critical to consumer confidence and are still relied upon by many fleets, as well as the third of British households that do not have designated off-street parking.

Tanya Sinclair, policy director for the UK and Ireland at ChargePoint, agreed that EV charging points are vital for the UK to achieve widespread EV uptake, and it is necessary to get this infrastructure in place to remove key logistical barriers to consumer adoption.

However, she said: “It is important that this is done in the right way – it’s not just about needing a large concentration of charging stations but the speed, location, ease of use and incentives need to be carefully considered.

“Governments and councils should be actively enabling and facilitating EV charging infrastructure. The DfT must come through on its commitment to standardise the driver’s experience of charging by mandating roaming and enforcing minimum uptime for charging stations, which we hope to see in the much overdue EV Infrastructure Strategy.”  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

Report by Jonathon Eaves, managing director SVT and traffic services at Teletrac Navman

The car crime rates in the automotive industry continue to be a concern for Manufacturers and vehicle owners alike. Data from the last 10 years demonstrates car crime has not significantly decreased despite the technological innovations seen in the sector.

Looking at the latest statistics across the UK, in 2010 the number of stolen vehicles in England and Wales totalled 93,000, and ten years later – despite the innovations we’ve seen in technology – the figure sits at a similar level of 95,000.

The statistics highlight the demand, opportunity, and tactics to steal vehicles is still prevalent – despite some manufacturers giving the impression modern cars are almost impossible to steal.

Furthermore, it demonstrates why original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) need to continually look at methods to prevent car crime.

This delay of new cars has meant vehicles themselves have become an increasingly valuable asset.

The market price is at record levels, with the average used car price during December 2021 rising to £17,816, which is 30.5% higher than the same month in 2020.

And as the value of cars goes up, so does the risk of car crime.

We know there is high demand, but do thieves continue to have the same opportunity and use the same tactics to steal cars with the new, modern systems we find in vehicles today?

Vehicles are predominantly produced using the modern key fobs and the more traditional remote key – and thieves’ tactics to combat the new technology has developed in tandem.

Currently, the most common method of vehicle theft is a relay attack with the new, modern key fob.

Criminals use hardware to clone the signal from your keyless entry fob and ‘trick’ your vehicle into thinking that the key is nearby, allowing the holder of the cloned signal access to your car and the ability to start and drive it away.

This leads to one of the big questions around the future vehicle security: what can be done to reduce the risk of car crime and keep insurance rates down?

Vehicles remain expensive, desirable and in demand. And with this comes an increased risk of car crime and insurance rates reflect this.

So, car owners need to stay vigilant and keep any personal belongings out of sight to reduce risk.

But when it comes to a relay attack, investing in a faraday pouch would be recommended, as it protects against it by blocking any signals entering or leaving the pouch.

But no car is guaranteed to be safe from theft, and to keep insurance costs low, vehicle tracking systems are an essential tool in car crime.

Many new cars now have built in security features such as e-call, b-call and stolen vehicle tracking, all of which can locate a vehicle.

However, unlike these systems, ours work remotely from the vehicle and across various countries.

One OEM to recently introduce such a measure is Ford, using stolen vehicle services (SVS) in upcoming models such as the new Ford Focus and Mustang Mach-e.

Charles Nolan, retail connectivity solutions director at Ford Europe, said: “We know that thefts have been on the rise and want to give our customers greater peace of mind when they are away from their vehicles.

“Ford has worked hard to develop a robust security offering that provides 24-hour support using our connected car technology, initially available soon for our latest Ford Focus & Mustang Mach-E GT owners but also for other models in the future.

“SVS allows customers to have that added layer of protection for their vehicles, where should the worst happen, the authorities and SVS team can work together to recover a vehicle, minimising stress and effort for the customer.”

Looking at the automotive sector today, it is evident vehicles continue to be at risk of theft.

There is clear value in more OEMs and vehicle owners putting in place methods to stay ahead, utilising the technology available to reduce theft opportunities and maximise the chance of recovery.

Vigilant behaviour and vehicle tracking are vital to increasing the likelihood of recovering your vehicle in the shortest time and intact. By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

A new regulator called Ofcharge is being proposed to govern targets and ensure every part of the country has accessible, available and affordable charging for their electric vehicle (EV).

Part of a new seven-point plan, published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) today (Wednesday, February 15), the automotive trade body says that, while most current plug-in car drivers charge at home, public charge points remain critical to consumer confidence and are still relied upon by many fleets, as well as the third of British households that do not have designated off-street parking.

The plan, designed to drive collaboration between Government, industry and all other stakeholders, calls for mandated targets for infrastructure rollout, backed by an independent regulator to keep consumers at the heart of planning.

“Range anxiety has been replaced by charging anxiety,” Mike Hawes, SMMT

The new regulatory body, ‘Ofcharge’ (the Office of Charging), would monitor the market, including charging price levels and affordability, and to enforce regulated minimum standards.

The SMMT says that this would keep the consumer at the heart of infrastructure planning and rollout to ensure every region of the UK is in readiness for the end of sale of new petrol and diesel cars in 2030, with a unified approach bringing together drivers, charge point operators, energy companies and local authorities. 

Mike Hawes, chief executive of the SMMT, explained: “Our plan puts the consumer at the heart of this transition, assuring them of the best possible experience backed by an independent regulator.

“With clear, equivalent targets and support for operators and local authorities that match consumer needs, Government can ensure the UK has a charge point network that makes electric mobility a reality for all, cutting emissions, driving growth and supporting consumers across the UK.”

Drivers face a growing regional divide in charge point availability. At the end of 2020, the ratio of electric cars to standard public chargers was 1:37 in the north of England, compared with 1:26 in the south – and in 2021, the ratio deteriorated significantly in the North to 1:52, compared with 1:30 in the south.

The SMMT is proposing a nationally coordinated and locally delivered infrastructure plan that puts the needs of consumers first, while also giving charge point operators and local authorities certainty to install the right number of the right chargers in the right places ahead of need, across every part of the UK.

Since 2011, Government, local authorities and the charging infrastructure sector have successfully delivered a 3,000% increase in the number of standard public charge points, and the UK’s provision of one rapid charger per 32 battery electric vehicles is the best in the Western world, behind only China (1:11), South Korea (1:12) and Japan (1:17), says the SMMT. 

However, as demand for EVs has surged – accounting for more than one in six new cars in 2021 – standard public charging infrastructure has struggled to keep pace.

Plug-in cars on the road grew by 280.3% between 2019 and 2021, but standard charge points increased by just 69.8% over the same period.

Meanwhile, the SMMT says that battery electric cars in the parc rose by 586.8%, whereas rapid/ultra-rapid charger stock grew by only 82.3%.

Hawes said: “The automotive industry is up for the challenge of a zero-emission new car and van market by 2035.

“Delivering this ambition – an ambition that would put the UK ahead of every major market in the world – needs more than automotive investment. It needs the commensurate commitment of all other stakeholders, especially the charging industry as surveys show that range anxiety has been replaced by charging anxiety.”

Investments are being made in public charging with the Government’s Rapid Charging Fund allocating £950 million to rapid and ultra-rapid charge points, £620m for zero-emission vehicle grants and infrastructure announced in the Net Zero Strategy, and a commitment that all new build homes will include an electric vehicle charging point.

Chris Pateman-Jones, CEO of Connected Kerb, says that regional disparities in public electric vehicle charging rollouts must not prevent drivers from realising the huge benefits of driving electric.

“Only by overcoming these disparities can we achieve a fair and equal transition to cleaner transport,” he said.

“We welcome the SMMT’s call for new standards that would guarantee social equity in provision of charge points and ensure no one is left behind in the UK’s electric vehicle transition.

“Councils and developers can often be put off installing electric vehicle charge points due to the perceived high up-front costs of installation and a lack of transparency over network performance and driver tariffs.

“Any new regulator should seek to cut through this confusion and encourage the use of large scale, long term contracts that measure operator performance, not only against economic, but also social and environmental targets.

“For the UK to deliver a full societal transition to EV, access to convenient, reliable and affordable charging infrastructure must be removed as a barrier to adoption, no matter where in the UK you happen to live.”

Fleet Evolution founder and managing director, Andrew Leech supports the SMMT’s seven-point plan. He said: “While manufacturers have made great strides with new electric models, with more than 50 set to be launched this year alone, there has been precious little co-ordinated activity on chargepoints to meet the growing demand.

“At a time when many companies right across the country are looking to go electric, they are being held back by a lack of investment in public chargepoints and especially in our largest northern cities.

“A major concern is kerbside and lamp post charging as this is a significant problem area for the 40% of us who can’t charge at home.”

A recent EV attitude survey that Fleet Evolution carried out in conjunction with Aston University revealed that the factors that made people hesitate in making the transition to EVs, were 36% cost, 28% range anxiety and 25% lack of public charging.

Charging infrastructure was an area where lack of detailed knowledge was clearly apparent, with some 67% of those surveyed saying they did not live within five minutes of a public chargepoint.

by Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

The Department for Transport (DfT) has said it is considering new vehicle technologies, including intelligent speed assist (ISA), to aid road safety.

In response to an enquiry made on behalf of the National Body Repair Association (NBRA), the DfT confirmed the new EU legislation regarding ISA is scheduled to apply to new vehicle types in the EU from July 2022 and all new registrations from 2024.

In the EU, a speed warning system will be compulsory in all new cars, vans, goods vehicles, buses, and electric vehicles (EVs). Motorcycles and mopeds will remain exempt from this.

ISA intends to encourage drivers to observe the speed limit. The system will not limit speed and can also be deactivated by the driver but will reactivate each time the vehicle is restarted.

Chris Weeks, NBRA director said: “Consumer safety is paramount and welcomed by NBRA, however, we are concerned about the impact this will have on the repair industry.

“We will not oppose any measures that increase consumer safety, but we will be watching the impact this technology has on claim frequency in the EU in order to understand the knock-on effect it may have in the UK.”

There are currently no mandates on speed warning systems such as ISA on new vehicles in Great Britain. However, many vehicles are fitted with this technology to earn higher ratings on the EuroNCAP (European New Car Assessment Protocol), said the NBRA.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is being urged to adopt EU vehicle safety measures that are due to come into effect in July.

The package of 15 integrated measures includes better direct vision in HGVs, automated emergency braking that detects pedestrians and cyclists, and ISA.

Last year, FleetCheck urged fleet decision-makers to prepare drivers now for vehicles being fitted with ISA technology.

New road technologies are currently under consideration whether it should be compulsory in new vehicles sold in the UK and which vehicle’ categories they should apply to once a new ‘GB type approval scheme’ is in place.

The DfT mentioned that this would be ready by mid-2022. By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

Hyundai is introducing a new 77.5kWh battery for its retro-styled Ioniq 5, replacing the existing 73kWh unit.

The updated car will be available to order from April, although deliveries won’t take place until 2023.

A new battery conditioning function is also being introduced, which, combined with the extra capacity, could see a range of more than 300 miles from the new variant.

Hyundai will continue to offer the Ioniq 5 with a 58kWh battery, alongside the newcomer.

“Ioniq 5 has proved to be highly successful in the 12 months since its launch, both in terms of sales and brand building,” said Andreas-Christoph Hofmann, vice president marketing and product at Hyundai Motor Europe. “The segment is growing increasingly competitive, and we will be offering enhanced features to defend our position as technology leader in the automotive industry.”

For the first time, the updated Ioniq 5 will be available with video-based digital interior and exterior mirrors. The Digital Centre Mirror (DCM) uses a camera installed below IONIQ 5’s rear spoiler to provide an unobstructed, panoramic rear-facing view of the car.

Digital side mirrors will also be available, using cameras mounted on the side of the car.

The new battery conditioning feature will enable the car to automatically adapt its battery temperature while travelling to ensure optimal charging conditions when reaching a charging point. Hyundai says this will improve real-life charging performance in hot or cold ambient conditions.

Smart Frequency Dampers (SFD) will improve the response of the rear axle suspension to increase ride comfort as well as improving both body control and handling.

Prices and specifications for the new Ioniq 5 will be released when order books open in the spring.  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

Over a year ago I announced that work was taking place on a portable charger that would be more affordable than the current charger available costing around £8,000.

ZipCharge has now announced that its portable electric vehicle (EV) charger – the ZipCharge Go – is expected to be available in 2023.

The portable charger is now advancing to validation prototype (VP) stage with designs released for manufacture and hardware testing well underway.

The Go, says ZipCharge, removes a common barrier to EV ownership – by bringing the possibility of home charging to anyone who can not currently plug-in at their house.

ZipCharge co-founder Richie Sibal said: “Achieving this key milestone in the development of the portable EV charger is a major achievement by our small and dedicated team of expert automotive engineers.

“Drawing on the team’s 170 years of experience in designing automotive electronic systems, including EV control systems, battery modules, power electronics, electrical architectures, functional safety and wiring systems, combined with significant expertise in CAD modelling and design has enabled us to progress from the drawing board to design release in under nine months.”

In the UK alone, 8.5 million or 40% of car-owning households are without designated or off-street parking, says ZipCharge.

Elsewhere, this figure reaches 60% for example in Italy, Spain, Hong Kong, Singapore and South Korea and in major cities in the USA, China and India.

ZipCharge co-founder Jonathan Carrier said: “We’re already in advanced discussions with a number of large corporate fleets and listening to their requirements, along with product suggestions from our enthusiastic prospective customer base.

“This feedback is invaluable as part of ongoing development of our hardware and software, such as novel operating controls, safety features, and auxiliary power generation.”

The company’s engineers are currently at advanced stages of lab testing the portable EV charger’s key system components, including the NMC lithium-ion battery cells and the ZipCharge-designed bi-directional AC-DC converter. This is to evaluate thermal behaviour, charging performance, safety, durability and full functionality to ensure a seamless and safe ownership experience for everyday charging.

The bespoke compact and lightweight bi-directional AC-DC converter utilises the latest high efficiency Silicon Carbide (SiC) semiconductors found in modern EVs.

When coupled with ZipCharge’s innovative software it will enable the Go to be charged at home, using a standard single phase supply in just over one hour. It can then be connected to an EV wherever it is parked and deliver 20 to 40 miles of range in around 30-60 minutes, depending on the capacity of the Go charger.

In the future, ZipCharge’s portable EV powerbanks will create an intelligent energy management platform that provides flexibility and resilience for the national power grid.

In tandem with hardware testing, the ZipCharge engineering team is also developing control software and a dedicated mobile application that will allow users to optimise the operation of the portable EV powerbank.

This incorporates a suite of security features, including user authentication and the ability to remotely monitor, track and disable the Go charger from their mobile phone, anywhere, thanks to built in 2G/4G connectivity.

The diverse needs of personal customers and fleet users are also being considered, to schedule charging, track usage and cost to charge, regardless if they have access to one Go charger or several hundred.

Cost Benefits

The amount of control will generate significant operational and cost benefits for fleet managers who will be able to equip their fleets of electric cars and light commercial vehicles (LCVs) with portable chargers, enabling them to charge wherever they park, says ZipCharge.

The company is developing software tools that provide the user with intelligent control of charging and energy management, efficiently and at the lowest cost.

This includes dedicated data dashboards for fleets to manage a suite of Go chargers, optimise deployment, monitor charging history while using the power of data to make intelligent recommendations that reduce operating costs and improve the total cost of ownership equation.

ZipCharge is also building in machine learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI) into its software stack, to learn user charging patterns, to make schedule recommendations and optimise charging to save money and reduce the load on the grid.

Carrier said: “We are committed to launching a truly ground-breaking product in the Go, one that meets the needs of a range of customer groups, and how they would like to use the Go.

“This includes private individuals, fleets and end-destinations, such as hotels, retail complexes, supermarkets and leisure activities – all locations where the ZipCharge Go can provide flexible, convenient and low-cost charging for everyone, anywhere they park.”

He added: “We expect to confirm final pricing later this year in Q4 2022 as part of the pre-order process. Our mission is to democratise EV charging, which means the  ZipCharge Go will be competitively priced and comparable to the purchase and full installation cost of a fixed home charger.”  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News.