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The shortage of microchips and raw material caused a major shortage of new cars being built resulting in demand increasing during 2021 for used cars pushing up prices but there’s a limit that people will pay for a used car. Here’s the report.

UK used car transactions fell by 6.2% to 2,034,342 units last quarter, 134,257 less than in Q3 2020 when the easing of lockdown measures saw the market bounce back strongly, according to new figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

Used car transactions declined in every month across the quarter, with July, August and September all falling, by 4.9%, 5.9% and 7.9% respectively.

Overall, the period is down 2% on 2019 pre-pandemic, making it the weakest quarter three since 2015.

It means the used car market is up 16.4% year-to-date but still 4% down against same period pre-pandemic.

Demand for used battery electric (BEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) vehicles continued to grow in Q3.

Reflecting recent trends in both the new and used markets, transactions rose by 56.4% and 43.3% to 14,182 and 14,990 respectively.

In fact, the number of used BEVs that changed hands during the period was the highest recorded in any quarter. Hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) transactions also increased by 20.3% to 40,157.

The market share for all used plug-in vehicles increased to 1.4%, up from 0.9% the previous year.

Petrol and diesel powertrains continued to dominate, however, comprising 96.4% of all transactions equivalent to 1,959,955 units, although demand for both declined, by 6.9% and 7.6% respectively.

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, “Despite the used car market declining in the third quarter, record sales earlier in the year, particularly in the second quarter, means the market remains up year to date.

“Given the circumstances, with the global pandemic causing a shortage of semiconductors needed to produce new vehicles, undermining the new car market, used transactions were always going to suffer too. This is particularly worrying as fleet renewal – of both new and used – is essential if we are to address air quality and carbon emissions concerns.”

Superminis were the most popular body type, taking a third of the market (33%), followed by lower medium (26%) and dual purpose (13%). All segments saw declines with MPVs falling most, down -13.1% in the third quarter.

Black remained the most popular colour choice with 436,511 transactions, followed by silver and blue. Only two colours saw their sales increase during Q3 with orange rising by 3.6% and brown up 1.1%.

Thanks to record sales earlier in the year, year-to-date the used market is 16.4% up on 2020 to 5,889,601 units, an increase of 829,780 transactions. The overall market, is however, 33.9%, or 241,160 units off the 2019 total for the first nine months of the year.

By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) says that drivers have missed out on £2.3 million of savings by not renewing their photocard driving licence online.

DVLA figures show that between April 2020 and March 2021, around 23% of the two million renewal applications it received were sent in either by post or via the post office. This is despite the online service being quicker and cheaper, it says.

Going online is the cheapest way to renew a photocard driving licence. Renewing a photocard driving licence using Gov.uk costs £14 and the driver will receive their new licence in five days. Posting an application to DVLA costs £17 and will take longer.

Customers who apply online can also track the progress of their licence by visiting the track your driving licence application page on the Gov.uk website.

Drivers are legally required to renew their photocard driving licence every 10 years and will receive a reminder from DVLA before their current licence expires.

Julie Lennard, DVLA chief executive, said: “Our online services are the quickest and easiest way to deal with DVLA and customers usually receive their driving and vehicle documents in just five days.

“Remember to always use Gov.uk when using DVLA’s online services.”

To renew online or find out more about renewing a licence visit Gov.uk. By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

Have you ever noticed a discrepancy between your vehicle’s speedometer and the speed stated by your GPS system? If so, you’re in good company.

But which is correct? Your speedometer or your GPS? In nearly all such cases, the speedometer is incorrect – reporting a higher speed than your car is actually travelling at.

You might imagine that manufacturers ensure their speedometers are as accurate as possible. So why the discrepancy?

A car’s speedometer works by measuring the rotations of the driveshaft, axle or wheel – rather than the speed you actually travel from one point to another. The car takes the recorded rotations, applies a healthy dose of mathematics and spits out a speed.

But the accuracy of a speedometer depends on the wheels remaining the same diameter as they were when they rolled off the production line. If the tyres or wheels are changed, this will change the speedometer reading. A larger diameter will result in a faster recorded speed. Fitting smaller tyres or having under inflated tyres will result in a slower recorded speed.

Even a tiny change in diameter – of say, a few millimetres – will result in an incorrect speed being recorded. This likely error margin is factored in to how car makers calibrate their speedos.

So why is my GPS satnav accurate?

GPS satnav systems calculate your speed by using satellites – and assuming the signal is strong, they should be accurate. Some sat navs installed at manufacture are integrated with the car’s own measurements to provide a more accurate speed reading.

Under UK law – which is based on a European Union standard – speedometers must never underreport a vehicle’s speed, while it must never over report by more than 110% of the actual speed + 6.25mph.

So if you’re going 40mph, your speedometer may read up to 50.25mph – but it can never read less than 40mph. In order to stay within the law, carmakers calibrate their speedomters to slightly overreport their vehicles’ speeds.

This of course means many motorists are travelling slower than they think – which is arguably good news for avoiding accidental speeding tickets and for making our roads safer.

You may well find your sat nav’s GPS is a more accurate determinant of your speed – although you should stick to your car’s speedometer reading to be on the safe side. By Graham Hill thanks to StartRescue.

My Comment: Many customers have asked if they should join the class actions being heavily publicised against Mercedes and others. It is your choice but I have yet to be convinced that any cases taken to court in the UK would succeed because it would require that owners or lessees to demonstrate financial loss, which I can’t see.

 Governments may be able to take manufacturers to court or maybe fine them for using devices to give false emissions readings causing greater harm to the environment but individually I believe we would struggle.

 As is mentioned below few cases succeed against Daimler in Germany, a country that makes it easier to take companies to court for ethical reasons. I believe that this is more of a data mining exercise with the claims companies simply collecting information on claimants which they can use as they feel fit because you will have signed a contract to enable exactly that. On to the latest article.

Mercedes-Benz is facing fresh allegations of using illegal defeat devices to cheat emissions tests, this time affecting its Euro 6 compliant six-cylinder 3.0-litre BlueTec engine.

Deutsche Umwelthilfe (Environmental Action Germany) has published a report identifying eight previously unknown defeat devices in certain Mercedes E-Class E350 diesel models.

In DUH’s view, these defeat devices result in nitrogen oxide emissions on the road being up to 500% above the legally prescribed limit.

Jürgen Resch, DUH’s national director, said: “It shows us for the first time how the company succeeds in complying with the legal limits in the test laboratory, while literally flooding our cities with harmful nitrogen oxides during real road use.

“The manipulation of the exhaust gas purification is not carried out because it is necessary for physical reasons or for the purpose of engine protection. The reason is as simple as it is cynical: it is about maximising profits at the expense of the environment and the health of city residents.”

The DUH tested a 2016 Mercedes E350 CDI Estate and found evidence of multiple ‘defeat devices’. It said the devices activate in driving situations that are common in road use conditions and stated that even under normal driving conditions, at least one defeat device almost always actively prevents the improvement of emissions

Three of the defeat devices identified by the DUH are said to depend on an “ageing factor” that reduces the amount of Adblue used as the vehicle’s milage increases. The report stated: “There is no plausible physical reason for the existence of any of them.”

The German Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) said it sees no evidence of previously unknown defeat devices at Mercedes-Benz in the DUH report.

“In the report, eight defeat devices of the relevant model with the OM 642 diesel engine are named. We are aware of these,” said a KBA spokesman on Friday. They have already been checked and found to be “not inadmissible”.

The KBA had already demanded a software update for the model under investigation in the DUH report. The defeat devices were removed in the updated software and the nitrogen oxide emissions were subsequently also below the legal limit value during road testing.

Mercedes is among a number of car makers facing legal action for emissions misrepresentation.

The DUH report suggests that other Mercedes vehicles with comparable engines and technologies contain comparable illegal defeat devices.

Mercedes-Benz told Car magazine: “The outlined calibrations are known. In our view, these are not to be assessed as illegal defeat devices in the interaction and overall context of the highly complex emission control system.

“The vast majority of rulings in German regional courts and higher regional courts continue to be in Daimler’s favour: In approximately 95%of cases, the courts rule in favour of the company.

“At the regional court level, there are more than 15,500 decisions dismissing lawsuits in favour of the company; in only about 900 cases was the decision against the company.

“There are now around 900 decisions in our favour at the higher regional courts, and only three decisions against us.

“The German Federal Court of Justice (BGH) has also confirmed key points of Daimler AG’s legal opinion in several decisions.”  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

Three-quarters (76%) of drivers think that too much technology in a vehicle can be distracting, according to research conducted by Dacia.

The carmaker found that more than half (61%) of respondents would rather have a more affordable car with just the technology they actually use.

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% think that in-car technology has become too complicated.

The research revealed that on average, drivers only use around 40% of the technological features fitted to their vehicles, with drivers aged between 25 and 34 regularly using the largest number of features in their car.

The features drivers want their cars to be fitted with over anything else are parking sensors, sat-nav and DAB radio.

Luke Broad, brand director for Dacia UK and Ireland, said: “We believe in providing our customers with everything that is essential, all for the best value – it keeps us faithful to our DNA.

“Features and technology on our cars should be in line with our customers’ demands so they pay for only what they need.

“At Dacia, we get the balance right, offering the most advanced features and technology that are essential for the driver’s comfort and pleasure but maintaining the best value.

“This survey shows that our vehicles are perfectly aligned with our customers’ expectations, and we still offer a unique proposition that resonates with the times.”

Across the New Duster range two of the UK’s most commonly used features of DAB radio and Bluetooth are fitted as standard, while one step up the range to Comfort and Prestige models brings a reversing camera and parking sensors, some of the UK’s other favoured technological features, while Media Nav brings satellite navigation – another UK favourite. The New Duster also now features an 8.0-inch infotainment screen.

This is reflected in the Sandero and rugged Sandero Stepway specifications, with all versions featuring DAB and Bluetooth, as well as parking sensors on the Comfort specification.

The same 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system from the New Duster is also available to Sandero customers. By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

Tesla is launching a trial in the Netherlands to allow other electric vehicles (EVs) to use the manufacturer’s Supercharger network.

It plans to open 10 locations in the Netherlands for the pilot programme, with the manufacturer monitoring take-up.

The system will work through a Tesla app and tariffs will be at a premium compared to Tesla car customers.

As it stands, Tesla customers are charged two different rates depending on charging speeds, with the switch point to the higher tariff being above 60kW.

All Tesla Superchargers are capable of 150kW charging, with a new generation of V3 chargers coming online with up to 350kW – a rate higher than any battery electric vehicle (BEV) is capable of receiving, yet.

All Superchargers, regardless of version, are compatible with most CCS-capable BEV models, which has become the non-official standard for most European manufacturers.

Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk, announced via Twitter in the summer that the company was planning to enable cars from other manufacturers to use its Supercharger network later this year.

However, Tesla has not offered any more detail of whether the 20,000 strong global network will also open up to support other vehicles.

Filip Klippel, automotive manager at Here Technologies, says if Tesla opened up its network to other EV drivers it would make great strides in increasing the number of charging stations across Europe, which will directly address an integral infrastructure issue regarding EV charging stations.

“The UK currently leads the way in the number of charging stations in Europe, but there’s still a way to go to build the infrastructure required for the ban on petrol and diesel cars in 2030,” he said.

“With less than nine years remaining, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) estimates that around 2.3 million charge points, with 700 being added every day, will be needed to sufficiently meet this target and deliver the so-called green industrial revolution.

“London is setting an example for the rest of the UK and while it has around 6,000 EV charging stations, many of which feature multiple charge points, the SMMT numbers show that rapid growth is required to be on top of this.”  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

Major UK fleet operators have welcomed the idea of creating a national electric vehicle charging network by opening access to their workplace chargers to other businesses.

The concept, discussed at the October Fleet News at 10, drew interest from all operators who want the consistency of a reliable network which enables them to pre-book. It would greatly reduce their reliance on public chargers, while offering a return on investment by charging their fellow operators for use of the facilities.

Lorna McAtear, National Grid fleet manager, said: “As fleets, you look to minimise your costs so if you find a way to share your costs by, for example, opening up your charge points at the weekend for the public or sharing with other businesses, it makes sense. All solutions are viable, but it’s the details now, making sure the service provision is there so all operators can share when needed.”

Duncan Webb, ISS head of fleet agreed, adding: “You need some assurances and a booking system so you know when you are going to be there.”

Creating a national network of available chargers would influence where companies installed their chargers, according to Matt Hammond, M Group head of fleet.

“We’re rolling out chargers to our depots and something like this would make us consider where we put them – behind a fence in a locked compound round the back or in a more open car park at the front that could be utilised by other people,” he said. “It’s definitely got potential.”

Chris Connors: “We’re a construction company so we have the challenge that we can’t easily do workplace charging at our site locations. If somebody can’t charge at home or at the workplace, that’s an additional challenge.

The two goals for us are, any time we have a vehicle parked it should be able to be charged and any time we have a charger, it should be in use. Our chargers will sit empty overnight so we have deliberately put them in the front cark park on pay as you go if a local resident wants to use them, they are there.”  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) is backing the Transport Select Committee’s call to increase the numbers of emergency refuges on all-lane-running smart motorways.

MPs on the committee have said that the construction of new all-lane running motorways should be paused until safety concerns are addressed.

The new Transport Select Committee report on smart motorways concluded there was not enough safety and economic data to justify continuing with the Government’s plans to roll out an additional 300 miles of all-lane running motorway by 2025.

All-lane running smart motorways use the hard shoulder as a permanent ‘live’ running lane for traffic. These motorways have broken white lines, with the former hard shoulder lane only being closed in an emergency.

Between 2015 and 2019, 39 people died on UK smart motorways where there is no hard shoulder or the hard shoulder can be used as a running lane, according to figures from National Highways.

Rebecca Needham, road safety officer at RoSPA, said: “One of the most hazardous aspects of the UK smart motorway network is the removal of the hard shoulder. This is because it limits the options of a driver that needs to exit live traffic if they get into difficulty.

“Statistics show that on all-lane running motorways, around 40 per cent of breakdowns occur in a live traffic lane.”

On all-lane running motorways the emergency refuges are spaced at up to 1.6 miles apart. This is the standard for all new Smart Motorway schemes from 2013 onwards.

Needham continued: “RoSPA is deeply concerned by the spacing of emergency refuge areas on all lane-running smart motorways.

“Currently, emergency refuges are spaced more than a mile and half apart, meaning that some drivers who break down may be forced to stop in a running lane because they cannot reach the emergency refuge.”

“We support the calls of the Transport Select Committee to retrofit emergency refuge areas to existing all-lane running motorways to make them a maximum of 1,500 metres apart, decreasing to every 1,000 metres where physically possible.” By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

Changes are expected to be made to the Highway Code in early 2022 which will introduce a ‘hierarchy of road users’, with more vulnerable users such as pedestrians and cyclists prioritised.

The move, which is part of a £338 million Government package to further boost active travel across the UK, comes as research carried out by Venson Automotive Solutions reveals a worrying number of people do not know enough of the current Highway Code.

According to the Venson survey, just one in three drivers (27%) know that vehicles are only required to stop at zebra crossings if pedestrians are already on the crossing.

If Parliament approves the proposed Highway Code changes, drivers will have to give pedestrians greater priority by stopping to give way to pedestrians waiting to cross as well as those already on the crossing. Three-quarters of respondents (74%) of Venson survey respondents agree this would be a good change.

Another popular new rule would require cyclists to move into single file to allow vehicles to pass – almost two-thirds (60%) of respondents agreed with this rule.

The least popular proposed new rule would allow cyclists to pass slower moving vehicles on either side, including when approaching junctions – just 26% agreed this rule should be brought in.

“Knowing the Highway Code is essential in making our roads safer places,” said Alison Bell, marketing director at Venson Automotive Solutions. “However, there is clearly confusion about what is and isn’t law.

“Take for example undertaking, there are circumstances where undertaking is necessary, such as a congested road, but only if it’s safe to do so.

“One cause of undertaking is middle-lane hogging, an offence in itself that’s punishable with an on the spot £100 fine and three penalty points.

“One of the new proposed changes in the law next year that’s likely to catch people is out, is using of the horn to invite pedestrians and cyclists to cross the road.”

She continued: “Depending on the severity, and whether or not the rules are legal requirements, breaking the rules of the Highway Code could lead to prosecution, points on your licence, fines or even a custodial sentence.

“Generally, if a rule states something ‘must’ or must not’ be done it is backed up by law and pleading ignorance is no excuse. Learning the existing and incoming rules deserves every driver’s time.

“However, for businesses operating a fleet of vehicles it’s especially the case, as they have a duty of care to ensure company drivers are aware of their responsibilities, and the upcoming changes to the rules – whether they agree with them or not.”

Venson Automotive Solutions Survey results:

Which of the following are true?

79% – It is illegal to overtake on the left of a vehicle on a motorway or dual carriage (FALSE)

45% – It is illegal to have the interior light on in your car whilst driving (FALSE)

35% – You must let bus drivers out at bus stops (FALSE)

29% – It’s okay to break the law to let an emergency vehicle past (FALSE)

53% – It is illegal to splash a pedestrian whilst driving through a puddle at the side of the road (TRUE – Road Traffic Act 1988)

27% – Traffic does not have to give way at a zebra crossing until a pedestrian has moved onto the crossing (TRUE – Highway Code rules 19 and 195)

New changes to the Highway Code are being proposed, including priorities at crossings and junctions and cyclists in relation to vehicles. Please tick all those you agree with.

74% – You should give way to pedestrians waiting to cross a zebra crossing and pedestrians and cyclists waiting to cross a parallel crossing.

60% – Cyclists should ride in single file when drivers wish to overtake and it’s safe to let them do so. When riding in larger groups on narrow lanes, it’s sometimes safer to ride two abreast.

58% – Don’t turn at a junction if it causes a cyclist going straight ahead to stop or swerve.

51% – At a junction, you should give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross a road into which or from which you’re turning.

50% – You should remain behind cyclists and motorcyclists at junctions, even if they’re waiting to turn and are positioned close to the kerb.

47% – Don’t wave or use your horn to invite pedestrians or cyclists to cross; this could be dangerous if another vehicle is approaching.

33% – When traffic lights are red and there is an advanced stop line, cyclists may cross the first stop line to position themselves in front of other traffic but mustn’t cross the final stop line.

26% – Cyclists may pass slower-moving or stationary traffic on the right or left, including at the approach to junctions.

By Graham Hill Thanks To Fleet News

Rapid chargers at supermarkets have more than doubled in less than two years and now number in excess of 450, according to new data from Zap-Map and the RAC.

Analysis shows almost 1,000 new electric vehicle (EV) charge points have been installed at supermarkets in the past 21 months.

It takes the total number of EV charger units on their sites to 2,059, up 85% from 1,112 in January 2020, equating to 8% of all the UK’s 26,000 publicly accessible charge points – up from 6.5% in early 2020.

The total number of stores now offering charging facilities for battery-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles has also more than doubled from 607 in early 2020 to 1,300 in 2021.

Tesco has added more EV chargers than any other supermarket by installing 641 devices, giving it a total of 922 across its 4,008 stores – 676 more than its nearest EV charging rival Asda which has 246 chargers.

This means the supermarket giant now has charging facilities at 514 of its sites – 372 more than at the start of last year. However, due to the size of its portfolio it means only 13% of its stores have the capability to charge an EV.

Morrisons installed chargers at 112 stores over the 21 months studied by Zap-Map and the RAC giving it a total of 201 sites with EV facilities; it means 40% of its estate now offers EV charging, the greatest proportion of any supermarket.

Its nearest rival Lidl has chargers at a quarter (24%) of its stores after adding EV facilities at 141 locations to give it 203 sites in total.

The data shows few supermarkets other than Tesco, Morrisons, Asda and Lidl have, to date, decided to invest heavily in EV chargers for their customers.

RAC director of EVs Sarah Winward-Kotecha said: “While the majority of drivers going electric will be fortunate enough to be able to charge easily on their driveways at home, for the remainder it won’t be so easy so having access to free, or affordable, charging facilities at supermarkets is very important, and could even help accelerate EV take-up in the first place.

“Rapid charge points, in particular, make it possible to run an EV easily without access to a home charger as drivers can get their cars topped up in the time it takes them to do their weekly shop.

“We call on all the supermarket chains to let their customers know what to expect when it comes to EV charging provision and recognise the vital role they play in encouraging many more drivers to opt for electric cars next time they change their vehicles.”

Morrisons has more rapid chargers than any other supermarket

Some 280 more rapid charge points have been installed at supermarkets from the start of 2020 to September 2021, meaning there are now 454 devices.

Morrisons is leading the way with rapid devices at 40% (197 locations) of its 497 stores compared to nearest rival Lidl which has 150 rapid charging locations, representing 17% of its 860 stores.

Tesco currently lags behind Morrisons and Lidl with when it comes to rapids with just 64 – and all but two of those were added since early 2020.

Melanie Shufflebotham, co-founder of Zap-Map, said: “Over the past 12 months there has been more than 130,000 new drivers of 100% electric cars on UK roads and usage of public charging has surged since the lockdown has eased.

“To support the increased demand, more charge points will be needed in the future, so it is encouraging to see the progress made by the supermarkets.

“These facilities will be good both for ‘top-up’ charging and as a replacement for home charging.

“As we move towards 2030, it will be important for supermarkets not only to accelerate this roll-out but also to ensure that the consumer experience is as good as possible by providing ‘open access’ and simple payment options.”

InstaVolt doubles the number of chargers at Banbury hub

InstaVolt has announced an expansion of its Banbury charging hub as part of its continued infrastructure growth plans across the UK. This increase will expand the site to 16 rapid chargers, making it one of the UK’s largest charging hubs serving the motorways.

The new expansion will see eight Alpitronic chargers, capable of charging at speeds up to 150kW, installed by spring 2022 in response to increased popularity of EVs, with queues reported at the site over the summer, and addressing consumer concerns about accessibility to chargers.

The new installation will offer wider bays for easier access, with two extra-long bays featured in the upgraded site. This will allow for electric vans and larger fleet vehicles to use the site as popularity for these vehicles increases.

The site on the M40 which currently features on-site facilities including a Costa Coffee and a Miller and Carter steakhouse, will see a significant upgrade of its overall services, with additional lighting to be included to enhance drivers’ experience while charging, it says.

InstaVolt’s CEO Adrian Keen said: “We have been listening to drivers’ feedback and have responded accordingly, offering more spacious bays, while also providing additional lighting to enhance the customer experience.

“Drivers need to have confidence in convenience, reliability and customer service, which is why InstaVolt prioritises these when installing new chargers.

“The InstaVolt network is growing, and we are constantly reviewing a number of our existing locations for future expansion opportunities.”

By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News