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The Ioniq 5 family hatchback represents a real shift forward in Hyundai’s ability to chase down premium electric rivals, helping to persuade EV buyers who are motivated by stylish design, great on-board tech and practical range and charging speeds, to invest in the Korean brand.

With stunning looks and a sense of cool that sets it apart from the pack, the manufacturer has added to the Ioniq 5’s strong kerb appeal with competitive pricing, generous standard kit and advanced active safety systems. We named it our Car of the Year for 2021, so if you’re thinking of a new purchase and you have the means, then the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is one of the best cars you can buy.

We have the car on special offer this week.

About the Hyundai Ioniq 5

Over recent years, Hyundai, along with its subsidiary brand Kia, has been at the forefront of producing well-built, practical electrified family cars. Mild- or plug-in hybrid tech is offered on models such as the Ioniq and Kona, as well as the bigger Santa Fe SUV, while the former two cars are also available with the benefits of zero-emission, all-electric drive.

But, pioneering and innovative auto makers must continue to push things forward, or risk falling into EV obscurity, and that is exactly what Hyundai has done with its latest Ioniq 5 hatchback/crossover. In a move away from the architecture used so far across its electric, hybrid and combustion-engined models, the Ioniq 5 is Hyundai’s first car to use its new Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) and, as a foundation for the company’s next-level EV tech, it’s mightily impressive.

Two battery choices are available across the range, along with three individual power outputs: a 58kWh battery and a single 168bhp motor driving the rear wheels provides the entry point to Ioniq 5 ownership, while the next step up includes a 73kWh version paired with a 214bhp rear-mounted motor.

The top-spec option comprises the same 73kWh battery, but uses a second motor at the front giving a total of 301bhp and a meaty 605Nm of torque.

Buyers thinking of investing in a capable family EV now have top quality options to consider. The Volkswagen ID.3 hatchback might suit smaller households, although the ID.4 is a more direct rival to the 4.6-metre long Ioniq 5 and offers more space and day-to-day practicality than its compact sibling. Meanwhile, Ford has come up with its own brilliant all-electric model, the Mustang Mach-e, which provides the typical blue oval USP of a great driving experience, as well as being easy to live with.

Hyundai provides three trim levels for the Ioniq 5: SE Connect, Premium and Ultimate. Entry-level kit is good with 19-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, rear parking sensors, climate control and smart cruise control all included, while inside the cabin there’s a wireless smartphone charging pad and two 12.3-inch displays – one covering the infotainment and the other a digital instrument cluster providing key info for the driver.

The Ioniq 5 range starts from just under £37,000 and rises to around £48,000. An Ultimate-spec car, particularly when paired with the most powerful 301bhp dual-motor setup, brings the Ioniq 5 firmly into Tesla territory, and will also provide food for thought for those considering an Audi Q4 e-tron in a top Edition 1 or more expensive Vorsprung trim. See our special offer above. By Graham Hill thanks to Auto Express.

Volvo is developing new battery technology that will enable it to offer cars with a real-world range of 621 miles and cut re-charge times in half.

The car maker is working with Swedish battery company Northvolt to  produce the units, which are expected to be ready by 2025.

“We want to constantly increase the customer benefits of driving a pure electric Volvo car,” said Henrik Green, chief technology officer at Volvo Cars. “By simplifying the design and integration of our battery cells, we can reduce weight and maximise space, allowing for considerable improvements in battery capacity, range and charging times.”

The next-generation Volvo XC90 will be the first car to feature the new battery technology, it is expected to be revealed next year.

As Volvo introduces its third generation of electric cars, it plans to integrate the battery pack into the floor of the car, using the cell structure for overall vehicle stiffness and improving efficiency.

Battery cells from Volvo Cars’ planned collaboration with Northvolt aim to be produced using 100 per cent renewable energy, while it is working with other battery suppliers to do the same by 2025.

Customer data to lead safety improvements

Volvo is looking towards processing data from customer cars in real time, if customers choose to share data, to help it make its cars safer.

By allowing customers to choose and be a part of improving safety levels and traffic safety in this way, Volvo says it can make “continuous and much faster” improvements to its cars.

Customer data would enable Volvo engineers to validate and verify autonomous driving features more quickly and then roll out updates over-the-air.  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

A new course to help drivers get to grips with electric vehicles (EVs) has boosted the real-world range of a fleet’s plug-in cars by up to 20%.

TTC is giving companies and drivers the opportunity to get the most from their EVs via its new Electric Aware course.

Construction company Willmott Dixon has put its drivers through the course and says it has seen some drivers improving their EV range by 20%.

The course forms part of Willmott Dixon’s support to transition more people into EVs. It launched a new vehicle scheme in January, encouraging staff to consider EVs and it has seen ‘several hundred applications’.

More recently, it announced it was rolling out EV charge points across all its sites and offices at more than 100 locations.

“During the course we drove on a variety of roads including open country lanes, motorways and in-town traffic,” said Gary Ketch, group principal health, safety and environmental inspector at Willmott Dixon. 

“The session was adaptive with the instructor explaining how I could improve my driving and range with adjustments to my car’s settings and driving habits.”

By driving with an instructor, Ketch had the benefits of regenerative braking explained in detail and this learning came together to improve his mpkWh average energy consumption by 20% in just a few hours, says TTC.

The course is offered either as a virtual half-day classroom where drivers are educated about their vehicles, the latest EV technology and the wider electric car eco system, or via a half day or full day in-car practical driving session with an instructor.

The course ensures drivers approach their new EVs with a fresh mindset which will enable them to get the most from their new EVs, says TTC.

The Electric Aware course also provides information on the UK’s charging infrastructure, battery life and tax and grant information all with the aim of educating and dispelling fears that still exist around EV ownership.

Instructor sessions include an individual driving style assessment and recommendation on which settings to use on their EV.

Martin Starkey, product manager development and implementation at TTC, said: “This is the biggest revolution in the automotive industry for over 100 years.

“EVs require a whole new mindset towards driving and our course helps change driver habits and adapt their approach to driving which has immediate benefits on key elements like range. Hopefully, we can reduce the levels of range anxiety among EV drivers.”

A half day on-road course costs £295 and a full day £445. A half day virtual workshop costs £345.  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

Following on the heels of VW who are installing chargers into 400 Tesco car parks for all EV drivers to use irrespective of make of car.

Tesla will enable cars from other manufacturers to use its Supercharger network later this year, according to Elon Musk.

The company’s CEO made the announcement on Twitter, but no further details of the arrangement have been outlined.

His tweet said: “we’re making our Supercharger network open to other EVs later this year.”

Currently the Tesla Supercharger Network is available exclusively to Tesla drivers, meaning units in the UK do not have to meet the Government’s requirements for ad-hoc access to public charging.

The Supercharger points provide up to 250kW of charging power, but would require users of non-Tesla vehicles to use a socket adapter for compatibility. There are currently 600 charge points in the network.

Telsa’s Supercharger network was found to be the nation’s favourite in a recent poll by What Car?.

Users rated it very highly for reliability, charging speed, ease of payment and value for money, giving it an overall score of 89.8%.

Drivers of other electric vehicles told What Car? that the Instavolt network was their preferred public charger. It achieved an overall score of 81.2% and was the top scoring network for reliability with 92.6%.

Gridserve’s Electric Highway gained the highest score of 74.9% for location, the motorway network was rated worst for reliability, scoring just 23.7%. This network was previously operated by Ecotricity and has only recently been taken over by Gridserve, which has promised to revamp every location by the end of this year.  

Steve Huntingford, editor, What Car?, said: “Our investigation highlights the significant differences between electric car public charging networks. Those that offer the fastest charging speeds are not necessarily the best to use, and some of the most affordable can also be the most inaccessible. As more people switch to EVs the demand for public chargers will increase, and EV owners really do need to shop around to find the best charging solutions.”

When it comes to charging speed, Tesla took the lead and scored 95.5%, followed closely by Ionity with 95.3% – both providers offer charging speeds of above 200kW.

Tesla’s flat charging fee of 28p per kWh helped it gain the best score for value for money, too, whereas Ionity’s 69p per kWh charge earned it a rating of just 19.5%, the worst in What Car?’s data. 

The easiest networks to use were those that allowed drivers to tap and pay and didn’t require them to register, while those with glitchy apps, lengthy sign-up processes or a requirement to use a physical charging card to activate a charge point were rated down in this area. Worst of all was Charge Place Scotland, which has a complex registration process and took 10 days to send out a charging card, without which you can’t access the network.

However, it was Charge Your Car that came last overall because its charge points were deemed unreliable and in What Car?’s experience were frequently blocked by other vehicles because they were at the roadside with no dedicated electric car bays. It scored just 26.6% for reliability and 34.4% for location, and managed only 43.5% overall.

What Car? charge point survey results:

Company	Reliability	Location	Charging speed	Value for money	Ease of payment	Overall score
1 Tesla	83.7%	74.3%	95.5%	95.5%	100%	89.8%
2 Instavolt	92.6%	63.5%	79.0%	71.0%	100%	81.2%
3 Osprey	80.6%	71.3%	61.7%	69.8%	100%	76.7%
4 Shell Recharge	75.0%	53.5%	91.7%	57.5%	100%	75.5%
5 Pod Point	70.3%	69.9%	54.7%	93.0%	70.0%	71.6%
6 Gridserve Electric Highway	23.7%	74.9%	84.6%	67.6%	100%	70.2%
7 BP Pulse	36.9%	45.0%	87.2%	52.0%	100%	64.2%
8 Ionity	60.6%	61.4%	95.3%	19.5%	70.0%	61.4%
9 Engie	53.8%	54.5%	59.5%	91.9%	40.0%	59.9%
10 Charge Place Scotland	55.0%	63.7%	60.5%	90.9%	20.0%	58.0%
11 GeniePoint	58.5%	34.6%	55.0%	70.8%	70.0%	57.8%
12 Charge Your Car	26.6%	34.4%	49.2%	67.2%	40.0%	43.5%

By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News & What Car?

All drivers and especially fleet operators are being advised to proactively protect their vehicles and drivers, following a crash for cash report from the Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB).

SmartDrive Systems, a provider of in-vehicle camera systems, says the report must act as an urgent wake up call to any operators not using camera footage as part of their accident management process.

The IFB report identifies more than 170,000 insurance claims potentially linked to cash for crash gangs, out of 2.7m claims made between October 2019 and December 2020.

“A number of our fleet customers, particularly those operating vans on last mile delivery, have found themselves particular targets of this criminal behaviour,” said Penny Brooks, managing director of SmartDrive Systems.

“The term ‘fraud’ doesn’t begin to capture the nature of crash for cash offence,” she added. “These people are weaponising vehicles and attacking commercial vehicle drivers. This is physically dangerous; it is highly stressful and it can shatter a driver’s confidence. Not to mention the cost to the fleet operator. “

Crash for cash scams can range from paper-based fabrications, or vehicles being damaged behind closed doors, through to those where collisions are being caused by fraudsters.

IFB investigations have found single gangs can be behind thousands of orchestrated collisions in some areas, with the combined value of their fraudulent claims running into the millions.

The Midlands, North West and London were highlighted as particular problem areas by the IFB, with Birmingham named the most dangerous city in the UK for collision scams.

A proactive video solution can provide protection against these scams. The SmartDrive system captures 10 seconds of footage before and after a collision, giving an unarguable narrative. The driver can also manually activate the cameras for recording events or self-protection.

Footage is offloaded via the cellular network in near real time, preserving the data and speeding First Notification of Loss (FNOL), claim process and claim dismissal.

Brooks said: “We have helped our customers dismiss literally thousands of fraudulent cash for crash claims this way and save hundreds of thousands of pounds.

“If all commercial vehicles had a suitable camera system, we could drive these criminals off the road, for good. Our drivers are a precious resource and we should do all we can to protect them.”  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

The first BP Pulse rapid charging hub for fleet vehicles has been switched on in Park Lane, London, with Uber among its first customers.

The new multi-charger hub can provide rapid charging for 10 vehicles simultaneously and BP Pulse plans to more than double its capacity in the coming months.

The company says it intends to open hundreds of similar hubs across London and other UK and European cities by 2030, supporting the transition of fleets to electric vehicles.

Richard Bartlett, BP’s senior vice president, future mobility and solutions, said: “London anticipates that by 2025 taxis and private hire vehicles will account for 80% of all public charging demand in the city.

“Fast, reliable charging infrastructure in convenient locations is essential to give business and fleet customers the confidence to make the switch to electric. That’s why we’re opening our new hubs at the heart of major cities across the UK and Europe, aiming to keep fleets charged and ready for business – whilst producing zero emissions.”

BP’s ambition is to become a net zero company by 2050 or sooner and, with electrification at at the heart of its ‘convenience and mobility strategy’, it aims to grow its network of public EV charging points to more than 70,000 worldwide by 2030.

Uber’s vision is to electrify all cars on its app in London by 2025. As part of its strategic relationship with BP, Uber is BP’s first fleet customer to get access to the new hubs, with dedicated charge points for Uber partner-drivers.

BP’s EV customers already have access to around 8,700 rapid and ultra-fast charging points, including a fast-growing network at BP retail sites in the UK. These new hubs will expand BP’s offering to fleet customers by providing rapid charging in major cities.

Jamie Heywood, Uber regional general manager, northern and eastern Europe, said: “At Uber, we have been doing everything we can to encourage drivers to switch to electric vehicles, including launching Uber Green to make zero-emissions transport a reality.

“We know that one of the greatest barriers to electrification is the lack of rapid charging points in the right places that are convenient for drivers – BP Pulse’s fantastic new hub is a great step forward in making sure their needs will be met.”

The new rapid charging hubs will deliver charging in locations where fleet and operational vehicles need it most – and importantly at scale, with a target of at least 10 chargers per site, says BP Pulse.

Wherever possible, additional facilities will be provided at each location, including toilets, WiFi and refreshments.

The Park Lane hub has 10 rapid 50kW chargers, with a further 12 chargers being added in the coming months. A second site is already under construction in the Westminster area.

In an interview with Fleet News, CEO Matteo de Renzi reveals how BP Pulse aims to have UK’s biggest network of ultra-fast chargers. By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

Coventry City Council is leading a new project to investigate the implementation of dynamic wireless charging solutions for electric vehicles, including HGVs.

The system would allow compatible vehicles to charge up as they drive along a specific section of road.

The study, which is funded through the Ofgem Network Innovation Allowance (NIA) mechanism, will consist of research and data modelling to assess feasibility for implementing the system in the UK and the potential for the first real-world demonstrator.

Environmental consultancy Ricardo will be supporting the project, working alongside electricity distribution network operator, Western Power Distribution (WPD).

Denis Naberezhnykh, technical director at Ricardo, said: “This technology allows electric vehicles to charge their batteries or be powered directly, while being driven, and would allow vehicles with demanding duty cycles to switch from petrol or diesel to being electric.

This could be a game-changer as the automotive industry looks for ways to reduce its dependency on fossil fuels and indicates just how important this project is.”

Ricardo will undertake the project management and technical review of the project activities and outputs on behalf of WPD, utilising its experience in the field and providing an additional level of technical expertise and quality assurance.

Other partners involved in the 11-month study includine: Cenex; Coventry University; Hubject; Midlands Connect; National Express; Transport for West Midlands; and Electreon.

Steven Pinkerton-Clark, WPD’s innovation & low carbon network engineer, added: “This project will assess the technology’s potential to support decarbonisation of transport and meeting UK Net Zero targets.

“The study will look at developing an understanding of how this technology can be connected to the electricity network and aims to minimise network reinforcement costs, while enabling the connection of low carbon technologies to benefit our customers.”

The results will assess the electrical impact and requirements of the technology on the distribution network, look at the feasibility of dynamic wireless charging and help forecast the uptake in Coventry and throughout the UK.

The study will also look at specific opportunities for a future demonstrator to be implemented in Coventry to demonstrate the real-world operation of the technology and how to address potential challenges.  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

New research has highlighted how temperature and state of charge (SoC) impacts the degradation of lithium-ion (li-ion) batteries used in electric vehicles (EVs).

The research by Altelium, an EV battery warranty provider, investigated calendar degradation of li-ion batteries – which is caused by chemical deterioration of batteries when they are not in use, especially when parked.

The data found the ideal conditions for improving overall battery life is charging the battery once it hits the 10% level and recharge to 80%, instead of allowing the battery to drain to empty or zero and recharging to 100%.

The research also highlighted that high-level SoC between 70-80% as the ‘worst’ position in which a car should be left parked at, as it could cause greater calendar ageing.

EV batteries stored at 70-80% could lose up to four to eight per cent of capacity to hold charge at the end of one year, when compared to the ‘best condition’ observed – when the battery is completely discharged, the research found.

Dr. Alana Zülke, lead research author and member of the battery research team at Altelium, said: “What happens if you are a very conservative driver, who prefers to daily top up your car battery, so it stands at an 80% overnight, always ensuring that you always have maximum energy reserve ready to use?

“Although four to eight per cent may not sound that much, you have to remember that current li-ion batteries on the market used in EVs are deemed to need replacing when their ability to hold charge drops by as little as twenty or thirty per cent. In this scenario, 8% becomes a pivotal margin.

“When batteries reduce their capacity by 20 or 30%, they can be repurposed to second-life applications such as battery energy storage system (BESS).

“The previous history of these batteries, including calendar ageing, will impact their second-life performance.”

The research also found that reducing the temperature experienced by the battery from 40 to 25 degrees celsius can almost double the overall lifetime of the battery.

Alteium said the research provides EV drivers the information to help them make ‘more informed’ choices on what vehicle add-ons to opt for, such as ensuring the use of a thermal management system, and which strategies could impact the value of their car battery.

Zülke said: “Calendar ageing dominates electric vehicle battery degradation when parked– in the UK, a car will spend on average more than 95% of its time parked. To improve the lifecycle of batteries, it is vital to define the optimal conditions to reduce such degradation.

“Our research is another important step in quantifying the impact of working and environmental conditions on battery state-of-health. By doing so, we can predict battery life cycles and develop strategies to prolong their usefulness more accurately.

“Ultimately this data will not only inform EV battery and Battery Management Systems (BMS) design, but also has further applications for the industry.

“Information about battery degradation will inform risk calculations for EV battery-related insurance and warranty products and further still, help to consider the value of second-hand cars and second-life batteries.”

Alteium said the team conducted a series of experiments using commercial high-energy 21700 lithium-ion battery cells (NCA|Gr-Si) under eight state of charge levels (0%, 20%, 40%,60%, 70%, 80%, 90% and 100% state of charge) and three temperature values (25°C, 40°C and 50°C) to measure the effects of degradation. By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

The Government is launching a national advertising campaign this month ahead of the rollout of E10 petrol.

Aimed at raising awareness of the greener fuel, the campaign will be seen on fuel pump labels and in targeted digital, radio and social media advertising.

As well as promoting the benefits of E10 – which is petrol blended with up to 10% renewable ethanol – the campaign will encourage motorists to check their vehicle is compatible with the fuel.

E10 petrol will be available in UK petrol stations in Great Britain from September. Transport minister, Rachel Maclean, said the rollout of E10 is the latest in a “string of measures” the Government is taking to cut road emissions.

“This campaign will not only make drivers aware of the changes we’re making, but will also show millions of motorists how E10 introduction plays a part in helping reduce carbon emissions and build back greener with every tank of petrol,” she added.

The introduction of E10 will see renewable ethanol in petrol double from the current petrol blend E5, which contains no more than 5% ethanol.

A small number of older vehicles, including classic cars and some from the early 2000s, will continue to need E5 fuel, which is why supplies of E5 petrol will be maintained in the super petrol grade.

The Government is advising motorists to use the new E10 compatibility checker to see if their vehicle is compatible.  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

Toyota is offering new and used customers a service-activated warranty called Relax, which can be applied until the vehicle reaches 10 years or has covered 100,000 miles. 

All Toyota and Lexus models qualify as long the age and mileage criteria are met, including passenger cars and light commercial vans and pick-ups.

They do not have to have been purchased from a Toyota or Lexus centre – second, third and even fourth-hand vehicles traded privately or from other outlets are eligible, potentially enhancing the residual value (RV) of vehicles when defleeted.

There is no requirement for a vehicle to have a history of servicing at an official centre in order to qualify for the warranty; it will be applied from the date the vehicle is serviced at a Toyota or Lexus centre.

Rob Giles, Toyota (GB) customer services director, said: “This is a game-changing proposition that redefines the manufacturer warranty, giving our customers the reassurance and value of cover for up to a decade of motoring.

“There are compelling business benefits to be gained as well, with Relax connecting us with more owners, building loyalty and giving our network partners the opportunity to maximise value chain opportunities in both sales and after sales activities.”

The new warranty applies to every type of powertrain and Toyota says that there are no complex clauses, exclusions or caveats.

All new Toyota vehicles will be sold with a three-year/60,000-mile manufacturer’s warranty as standard, while at the same time Toyota Relax will be made available to all Toyota owners when they have their vehicle serviced at an official Toyota centre.

For Lexus, the existing three-year/60,000-mile new vehicle warranty remains in place.

The Relax warranty is automatically activated on the completion of a scheduled full or interim vehicle service at an official Toyota or Lexus centre.

Customers can extend their Relax warranty by an extra 12 months/10,000 miles, year after year, until the 10-year/100,000-mile limit is reached.

On vehicles that have service intervals every two years, the cover is for 24 months/20,000 miles.

Ewan Shepherd, director of Lexus in the UK, said: “The foundation for this exceptional level of protection is the essential quality, durability and reliability of our vehicles and our commitment to delivering customer-first service.

“As well as rewarding existing Toyota and Lexus owners, our Relax programme will also strengthen the appeal of our vehicles to new customers, equally whether they are considering a new car or a used model.”

The Relax warranty covers the same parts and labour as the three-year manufacturer’s warranty provided on new Toyota and Lexus vehicles and the one-year manufacturer warranty that’s standard with approved used vehicles.

It does not include wear and tear items, bodywork, paint, interior trims and maintenance parts.

A vehicle health check is part of the service package, which includes all mechanical and electronic parts, which helps potential problems to be detected at an early stage. Any existing defects present at the time of service are excluded from the warranty.

If owners are concerned about potentially having to pay for significant repairs when bringing their vehicle to a centre for service for the first time, Toyota’s Drive Now, Pay Later scheme is available to spread costs over a suitable period of time, it says. By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News.