According to the results of simulation studies announced today by a consortium including Ricardo, Jaguar-Land Rover, E.ON and Amberjac Projects, a substantial medium-term rise in the number of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles would have a much lower impact on the UK national power grid than has previously been estimated

The research study has been carried out by the consortium as part of the Range Extended Hybrid Electric Vehicle (REHEV) project, which is led by Jaguar-Land Rover and part-funded by the Technology Strategy Board. The study marks completion of the first stage of the REHEV project and has focused on a range of vehicle charging scenarios and levels of market penetration in order to predict the likely increase in national energy usage. Four vehicle fleet charging scenarios were simulated, comprising uncontrolled domestic charging, uncontrolled off-peak domestic charging, ’smart’ domestic charging and uncontrolled public charging throughout the day – for example, by commuters who recharge their vehicles while at work. Charging was assumed to be single phase AC as this is the most likely near-term solution, but the study also considered fast charging scenarios as for a large number of vehicles the energy demanded over a time period is likely to be the same and distributed evenly.

Assuming a 10 per cent market penetration of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and pure electric vehicles in the UK vehicle parc (a proportion representing approximately 3 million passenger and light goods vehicles) the study showed a daily peak increase in electricity demand of less than 2% (approximately 1GW) for the scenario of uncontrolled domestic charging – the ‘worst case’ in terms of peak power demand. Other scenarios are less challenging: off-peak domestic charging, for example, increases electricity consumption throughout the night but has no impact on the peak daily demand. Since it will be a number of years before a 10 per cent level of market penetration is achieved even with the recently announced UK government incentive plans, grid capacity at a national scale should be adequate for this significant electrification of the vehicle fleet.  While the national impact is shown to be manageable, the research team emphasise that local improvements may nevertheless be necessary – for example, where local network capacity is marginal or where particularly high concentrations of electric or plug-in vehicles occur.

Further work is ongoing to look at the timeline for reduced power station CO2 emissions which is the key enabler for electric and plug-in hybrids to reach true ultra low carbon status. Future reports of the REHEV project will look at fast charging infrastructure which would offer significant consumer benefits in the use of electric and plug-in hybrids.

Commenting on the results presented by the REHEV project, Neville Jackson, Ricardo group technology director (and recently appointed chair of the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership), said:

“The increasing electrification of road vehicles is likely to be a key enabler for future significant reductions in transport related CO2 emissions. While the provision of publicly accessible street level infrastructure in the form of recharging points remains a challenge, the research findings published today by the REHEV project show that existing UK power grid capacity will be sufficient in the medium term to support a significant expansion of plug-in hybrid and electric vehicle use and is therefore not a constraint on implementation.”

Ricardo CEO, Dave Shemmans, added:

“The initial findings of the REHEV project together with the recent UK government policy announcements in support of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles are a further vindication of Ricardo’s strategy of focusing on future clean and low carbon vehicle technologies.  We have already successfully delivered well in excess of 100 hybrid and electric vehicle programmes and I look forward to further success from the REHEV team as it continues with this highly valuable research.”

The REHEV project consortium is now continuing its work, which will see the development of a modular electric and electric/diesel powertrain, suitable for several different vehicle types.  This will initially be tested on a large premium sport utility platform, delivering 120 to 130 g/km and with significant zero emissions potential. Future passenger and commercial variants could have an all electric range of in excess of 20 miles, meaning that the majority of typical vehicle trips could be completed with zero tailpipe emissions. Longer range travel would still be accommodated with the internal combustion engine removing the range anxiety issues often associated with pure electric vehicles.

The Budget confirmed and built on the Chancellor’s measures in Budget 2008 and the Pre-Budget report by:

• Confirming the new rules on capital allowances linked to CO2 emissions
• Confirming and extending the overhaul of Vehicle Excise Duty Rates
• Increasing company car benefit in kind tax in the future for all but the lowest carbon cars
• Confirming future increases in fuel duty
• Introducing a vehicle scrappage scheme
• Confirming the recently announced support for ultra low carbon Cars and infrastructure
• Announcing new investment in de-carbonising electricity generation.

Capital Allowances

The CO2 based allowances announced in last year’s Budget were confirmed.

Vehicle Excise Duty (VED)

Reforms to VED have been confirmed as anticipated and the new 13-band system will come into effect from 1st May 2009. This is intended to provide a greater incentive for drivers to choose a lower-carbon car within the class of vehicle they prefer.

The new fuel economy label which confirms the new VED rates will be available for download from the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) website http://www.vcacarfueldata.org.uk/downloads/.

From April 2010 the new 13 bands will be further separated out to strengthen the environmental message and first-year rates of VED* will be introduced to further persuade new vehicle purchasers to choose lower emitting, more fuel efficient cars.

* From April 2010 anyone buying a new car will pay a different rate of vehicles tax in the first year of registration. From the second year of purchase onwards they will then pay the standard rate. This will send a stronger signal to the buyer about the environmental implications of their car purchase and will only apply to new cars, not second-hand cars.

Company Car Tax

The company car tax thresholds will tighten further with effect from 6th April 2011 by 5g per kilometre in addition to the 5g change announced last year, which takes effect from 6th April 2010.

The following abbreviated table demonstrates the progressive narrowing of the 15% band which serves to increase the taxation charge for the bands which follow.

The net effect is to increase the company car benefit in kind tax year by year on all vehicles except those emitting 120g CO2 per kilometre or less.

2009/10		2010/11		2011/12
Emissions g/km	% P11d value**	Emissions g/km	% P11d value**	Emissions g/km	% P11d value**
120	10	120	10	120	10
121 – 139	15	121- 134	15	121 – 129	15
140 – 144	16	135 – 139	16	130 – 134	16

* +3% for diesel cars

From 2012/13 the scales will be reviewed, while retaining the incentive to purchase the lowest emitting vehicles. The company car tax bands will be extended so that they increase by 1% with every 5g CO2 per kilometre increase in emissions, in a linear manner from the 10% starting point.

Specific rates and thresholds will be announced in future budgets

Other detail changes from 6th April 2011 include:

• Drivers of Euro IV diesel cars registered before the 1st January 2006 are currently taxed at the same percentage rate as drivers of cars fitted with a petrol engine. The taxation of these cars will be subject to the 3% uplift for diesel cars from this date
• Discounts for alternative fuelled cars (e.g. LPG) will be abolished as will those for hybrids emitting 121g CO2 per kilometre or more
• The current £80,000 cap on vehicle P11d value will be removed, increasing the tax paid on the small number of company vehicles above this level
• Electric cars will continue to be subject to the 9% band
• Consideration will be given to abolishing the diesel supplement in company car tax for diesel cars which comply with the future Euro VI emission and air quality standards in advance of their planned introduction in 2014.

Company Car Fuel Benefit

No changes were announced to the fixed figure of £16,900 on which the benefit for ‘free’ fuel is based.

Fuel Duty

• Duty will rise by 2p per litre on 1st September 2009 and by 1p per litre in real terms on 1st April each year from 2010 to 2013
• On April 1st this year the main fuel duty rate increased by 1.84p per litre and the duty of rebated oils (e.g. biodiesel) rose in line with the main fuel duty rate
• The duty differential for compressed natural gas (CNG) was maintained and the duty differential for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) was reduced by 1p per litre.

Vehicle Scrappage Scheme

A scheme was announced following considerable lobbying by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) and other interested parties.

A £2,000 allowance will be available from mid May 2009 until the end of March 2010, or until the money for the scheme runs out. It is a voluntary arrangement which motor dealers must join and match the £1,000 provided by the Government. A number of manufacturers have announced their participation and some are further enhancing the terms of the scheme.

£300 million has been allocated to the scheme and the rules are as follows, the vehicle you are trading in must:

• Be a car or small van weighing up to 3,500kg
• Be first registered in the UK on or before 31st July 1999
• Either be registered or have a SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification) with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) in your name
• Have been registered to you continuously for 12 calendar months before the order date of the new vehicle
• Have a UK address on the registration certificate (V5C)
• Have a current MOT test certificate before date of order for the new vehicle.

The new vehicle you want to buy must be:

• A car or small van weighing up to 3,500kg
• First registered in the UK on or after mid May 2009
• Declared new at first registration in the UK with no former keepers.

There are no emission limits to be adhered to and the scheme is expected to have a neutral or modestly positive environmental effect.

Ultra Low Carbon Cars

Today, less than 0.1% of the UK’s 26 million cars are electric. The Budget confirmed the recently announced proposals to encourage the uptake of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

£20 million has been allocated to build a more comprehensive recharging infrastructure, help develop a network of ‘electric car cities’ throughout the UK and expand an electric and ultra low carbon car demonstration project.

From 2011, £250 million will provide grants of between £2,000 and £5,000 to consumers helping them purchase the next generation of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

The timing of these grants coincide with the planned introduction of cars by major manufacturers which will meet modern safety standards and have a range and top speed sufficient to appeal to a wide audience.

What is a Plug-in hybrid?

Plug-in hybrids are cars which may be driven typically between 10 and 40 miles on battery power (recharged at home or at a charging station) before the engine (often referred to as a range extender) starts to ‘top up’ the battery. The engine on these vehicles may not be directly connected to the wheels at all, which allows a smaller engine to be fitted running at or near an optimum speed, further increasing efficiency and reducing emissions.

This electric only range is adequate for many commuting journeys and even where the engine is required for part of a journey the overall emissions are considerably lower than for a conventionally powered car.

Models anticipated for 2011 include a plug-in Toyota Prius and Vauxhall Ampera.

Greening the Grid

When large numbers of electric vehicles are on the road their overall contribution to reducing carbon emissions will depend to a large degree on the production of ‘clean’ electricity. Additional support was announced in this area, including £525 million to support offshore wind power generation and £60 million to fund carbon capture and storage technologies which could be fitted to future and existing coal fired power stations.

Source: The Energy Saving trust

Honda is taking on the Toyota Prius with the latest version of the Insight, which is a huge advance on the original two-seater launched in 1999. The major selling point of the Insight is its hybrid powerplant, a petrol-electric unit that reduces CO2 emissions and provides a cleaner, greener way of motoring. And unlike the original two-seat Insight, the new version is very much a family car, with five seats and bootspace that is a match for the leading competitors in the segment. The Insight is also competitively priced, starting at £15,490, which undercuts the Prius by nearly £3,000.

Honda Insight lease prices

Honda Insight new and nearly new car prices

Considering the Insight has been designed and built as a family car, and when compared with the rest of Honda’s model range, the ride is surprisingly poor. When faced with potholes and cracked road surfaces, the front suspension is crashy, which is communicated right through the seats to the passengers. The car responds to the challenge of speed humps in much the same way, the rear bucking about uncomfortably. The sooner Honda does something about the Insight’s ride the better, as it will make for a very unsettling driving experience for UK owners. The further bad news is that the handling isn’t a great deal better. The car does respond pretty sharply to small steering inputs, but the downside to this is that the steering itself is pretty numb, with next to no feedback, so you get no real idea of how much grip there is, especially in the corners and sharp bends.

Read the full 2009 Honda Insight road test report

RoadTestReports.co.uk provides road tests reports written by members of the Guild of Motoring Writers. These reports are complemented by car reviews submitted by the members of the public who drive the vehicles day in day out.

We don’t often spend a lot of time thinking about how our other people get to work, but staff from Hove-based Nigel’s Eco Store – an online shop specialising in eco-friendly products – recently took part in a ‘travel challenge’ comparing the efficiency, eco friendliness and ‘enjoyability’ of their different ways of getting to work every morning, testing journeys made by car, by bus and on foot.

Most drivers say the speed and ease of the journey are the main advantages of owning a car, and Mandy May, the company’s book keeper feels the same. Her journey to work takes her just ten minutes, although she does have to pay for parking at the end of it.

Her colleague Naomi Lumsdaine, is the ‘office all-rounder’ at Nigel’s Eco Store. She gets the bus every morning from her home in Brighton and her journey takes her 40 minutes. She said:

“Even though I sometimes get wet walking to the bus stop when it rains, I find that getting the bus is fairly direct. It’s better than a car, I don’t have to pay for parking, or get stressed in traffic, or have to try and find a parking space. It’s cheaper than running a car too!”

Their boss Nigel Berman, founder and director of Nigel’s Eco Store, is able to walk to work every morning from his home in Brighton. His journey takes him just 15 minutes. He said:

“The advantages of walking to work are that it’s quick, easy, free and you get a bit of exercise. I get some fresh air; I can do some shopping on the way. I notice the world around me more and can stop and say hello to people.

“Walking is a good habit to get into. When I had a car and used to drive to work, I got quite lazy, and would drive everywhere. Now I get some exercise and it costs nothing. I think I’ve also got a bit fitter – I’m a fast walker, so it’s not a stroll.”

Calculating the amount of CO2 showed that while the amount of CO2 emitted by Nigel’s journey was negligible, the amount of CO2 emitted by Mandy’s car journey was 0.29 kg per mile, and Naomi’s bus journey emitted just under a third of that at 0.135kg per mile.

Nigel Berman, in line with his business’ environmentally friendly credentials, is all in favour of people leaving the car at home wherever possible. He said:

“Being more eco friendly has become part of my life. I gave up my car a few years ago and haven’t looked back – I walk more, use buses and trains all the time, and I can always hire a car if I need one. I’m fitter; it’s saved me loads of money, and stress. Not to mention the benefits having less eco guilt!

“Sometime it’s hard to see the effect our actions have on the planet, when those effects can’t be seen so clearly at first hand, so it may not seem as urgent, but other people around the world are feeling it and seeing it. If we can all live more sustainably, then we may be able to avert the impending global warming disaster that is being predicted.”

Heather McInroy, NBTN Programme Director said:

“Our network exists so that we can demonstrate – through real examples – how businesses can reduce their employees’ single occupancy car use and bring about financial, social and environmental benefits.

“We hope that by demonstrating the successful initiatives out there that we can encourage and inspire more businesses and their employees to set up travel plans and more sustainable travel.

“As well as strong environmental reasons to reduce commuting and business travel by car, there are substantial cost savings to be realised by organisations too”.

NBTN members include a wide range of organisations, from global corporations and high-street names, such as E.ON, AstraZeneca, BSkyB, BT, Orange and Vodafone, to government bodies and small companies. The NBTN has a strategy for all businesses – small or large, private or public sector.

Government policy is to encourage sustainable travel to reduce the negative social, economic and environmental impacts associated with over reliance on the car. With 37 per cent of car miles driven in relation to commuting and business travel – and 85 per cent of these miles being driven alone (no passengers being carried) – businesses have an important role to play in supporting the sustainability agenda.

Move over Toyota Prius – there’s a new green car leader in town.

During its first month of sales, the Honda Insight has outsold its competitors in the hybrid market. Since going on sale in the UK, 229 Insight models have been sold ahead of its nearest rival the Toyota Prius at 198 units. Indeed Honda can boast some terrific sales success with the Civic Hybrid also selling 79 units during the month meaning total hybrid sales of 308 from the Honda family.

John Kingston, Honda UK’s Environment and Government Affairs Manager, is thrilled with the early success and believes it is mainly down to the fact that the Insight is a cost-effective but green solution for car buyers.

 ”The Insight is proving a hit with cost-savvy consumers looking for a cleaner car that’s more affordable,” he said.

“More and more people want a car that makes sound financial sense, especially in the current economic climate, and the Insight offers numerous running cost savings such as reduced road tax of £15 per year and great fuel economy.”

Honda Insight customers also have the benefit of high residual values of 44 per cent as well as exemption from the London Congestion Charge. Meanwhile company car drivers and businesses can also capitalise on low benefit-in-kind tax and reduced national insurance payments.

Honda hopes to sell around 7,000 Insight models in the UK this year with a global sales target of 200,000 units. The Insight 1.3-litre IMA SE costs £15,490 on-the-road.

How much will the UK’s vehicle scrappage scheme help car buyers? According to one of the UK’s leading hypermarkets, it may not help much at all.

The scheme, which sees motorists buying a new car rewarded with a £2,000 subsidy if they trade in a vehicle over 10 years old that they have owned for at least 12 months is made up of £1,000 from the Government and an equal amount from the manufacturer.

However, car hypermarket Carcraft has examined the needs of car buyers since 1951 and believes the Government has done a disservice to many motorists by not extending the scheme to used cars.

A spokesman for the company highlighted that many of those who drive a car that’s 10 years old or more do so because they can’t afford a new model. The subsidy he suggests does not automatically put a new car within reach and in the current climate many won’t qualify for finance to make up the shortfall.

The company suggests that if the scrappage scheme were extended to benefit used car buyers too it could offer savings of as much as 50 per cent on selected stock and this would still mean newer, greener cars on the road which will benefit the environment as well as boosting driver safety.

The situation is compounded, it suggests, by the fact that the manufacturer is responsible for half the subsidy. This means that dealerships may remove any existing discounts or incentives in an attempt to claw-back their contribution meaning that the buyer will hardly be any better off.

Do you think the scrappage scheme should be extended to used cars? Leave a comment with your thoughts.

With more than a quarter of a million vehicles sold since its launch six years ago, the Porsche Cayenne is one of the few success stories in the modern era. In fact, in the fiscal year from 2007-2008 more than 45,000 models were sold around the world.

Now, Porsche is working on a Cayenne Hybrid which it hopes will lead its emergence in the high performance green car sector.

Porsche has joined forces with Volkswagen to develop a production vehicle with a parallel full hybrid drive that will be introduced to the market in 2010. Its drive power will come from a supercharged 3.0litre V6 that has a direct fuel injection which interacts with a 38kW/52bhp electric motor. This acts as an additional source of power and boosts the output of the petrol engine.

Among its unique features is its ability to smoothly cruise or roll along with the combustion engine switched off. This allows drivers to save fuel at speeds of 86mph.

The electric motor also serves as a booster for extra power. It accelerates from 0-62mph in 6.8 seconds and will consume less than nine litres per 100km in the new European Drive Cycle. This means its emissions are less than 210g/km of CO2 – 20 per cent less than a conventional vehicle comparable to the Cayenne with similar levels of power. Based on a six cylinder engine, the Cayenne S Hybrid combines the output of an eight cylinder with the fuel consumption of a four cylinder.

The Cayenne S Hybrid will reach showrooms in 2010.

One of the latest innovations from apprentices at Mercedes-Benz has linked the past and the future of automobile manufacturing by undertaking a historic journey.

The F-CELL Roadster, a fuel cell powered car, followed the historic route of Bertha Benz starting at Mannheim and finishing at the chemist shop in Wiesloch having passed through Ladenburg and Heidelberg along the way. The chemist’s shop was the place where Benz stopped to refuel during the first long distance journey in automobile history in 1888.

Ironically at the time, Benz was unable to buy the petrol she needed at a filling station, just as the vehicle makers of today are waiting for suitable infrastructure to be in place for the fuels of the future such as electric cars and hydrogen cars.

The F-CELL Roadster itself takes much of its styling from a range of automotive eras including carbon fibre seat bases with hand-stitched leather upholstery; and a striking glass-fibre front reminiscent of Formula 1 racing cars.

The car is steered by drive-by-wire technology – a conventional steering wheel replaced by a joystick. Furthermore, it uses an emission-free fuel cell system and has an output of 1.2kW. It has a top speed of 25km/h and an operating range of 350km.

The Porsche Panamera promises to be one of the most exciting additions to the green car world as a high performance vehicle that can achieve remarkable fuel consumption figures predicted to be in the region of 31mpg. Now its efficiency will be boosted even further as it will be equipped with the Michelin Pilot Sport and Pilot Alpin tyres.

The summer and winter tyres respond to Porsche’s requirements in terms of handling and comfort and help to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. Michelin claims this success is based on its ability to improve different areas of tyre performance. It states that high technologies along with know-how and understanding of materials help to meet the challenge of reducing the vehicle’s environmental impact while still delivering superior handling and safety performance.

The Pilot Sport has undergone 90 minute tests at speeds in excess of 300km/h with 20 minute bursts at 350km/h.

The goal of the Panamera is to be the first car that combines dynamic qualities with the highest levels of driver and passenger comfort. Testing was conducted at different locations around the world and even at temperatures of -25°C in order to test the winter tyre rubber compounds.

The Electric Car Corporation Plc (ECC) today announced the launch of the UK’s first 4 seater, ‘all electric’ production car.

The launch coincides with the Government’s announcement to support and subsidise electric car use and their commitment to make the UK ‘a world leader’ in producing and exporting electric cars.  This is further supported by the London Mayor, Boris Johnson, who has announced his plan to introduce 25,000 ‘juice points’ (charging stations), for electric cars throughout the city.

Called the Citroën C1 ‘ev’ie’, this is the first all electric, 4 seater car, to offer the purchaser the comfort, performance and a full range of standard safety features expected from a petrol car.  With a range of 60-70 miles when fully charged and a top speed of around 60mph, it provides the driver with a pleasant and completely “normal”, yet silent, driving experience, but at a fraction of the running costs.

The C1 ev’ie can be fully charged in 6-7 hours from a domestic 13 amp socket at a cost of around 90p, making it an ideal city car for either professional or domestic use.

The Citroën C1 ev’ie is assembled in the UK from the donor car. Over 50% of the value of the car originates from the UK assembly, creating UK employment and a technology leadership in electric vehicle production.  ECC expects to produce around 500 C1 ev’ies over the next 12 months, rising to between 2,000 and 4,000 units in 2010, dependant upon demand and government support.

Xavier Duchemin, Managing Director of Citroën UK commented, “We are committed to providing greener alternatives for motorists and are delighted to be supplying ECC with C1s for this exciting project.”

David Martell, Chief Executive, ECC plc, added, “We believe this is the first serious alternative to a petrol or diesel car.  It drives just like a petrol car and has excellent capacity for use in any town or city in the UK”…. he continued …”the key to building a successful electric car is an efficient battery management system (BMS).  ECC has developed an advanced and sophisticated system, which when coupled with regenerative breaking, can provide the driver with much greater range and better performance.”

The C1 ev’ie is way ahead of other electric cars having excellent functionality, performance and refinement and is available to buy today. Interest in the C1 ev’ie is expected to be high.

It is priced at £16,850 and is available directly from ECC (www.eccplc.com).