A UK-built hydrogen-electric truck has driven for 350 miles on a single tank, despite wintry conditions hampering efforts.

Tilbury-based Tevva is currently in the process of developing a 7.5-tonne battery electric vehicle but has also been putting a hydrogen-electric version through its paces during some cold weather testing recently.

Four engineers undertook a ‘range test’ of Tevva’s 7.5-tonne hydrogen-electric model, driving between London and the Scottish border at Berwick-on-Tweed. The return leg saw the truck manage close to 350 miles without a single refuel, with the truck’s hydrogen fuel cell topping up the lithium battery when required.

Charlie Cordell, lead Engineer, Tevva Rex, said: “It was an amazing trip and we were so pleased the truck covered so many miles on the return leg, without the need to stop for a charge.

“The trip was a terrific demonstration of the range you can achieve in a truck that uses a blended system of electric and hydrogen. The freezing conditions were extremely challenging, but helpful too, in allowing us to gather important data about vehicle performance, meaning we could make tweaks here and there and tailor its development.”

The trucks were put through chilly conditions during the test, with temperatures barely climbing above freezing for the majority of the trip. Engineers stopped to refuel at Element 2 in Teeside as well as a site in the Midlands to top up. Only slightly longer than a petrol or diesel vehicle, the truck takes as little as 10 minutes to fully fill with hydrogen.

Motorists who pay for their insurance upfront rather than in monthly instalments could save up to £65 per year, new research has found.

Paying upfront for a whole year’s insurance costs an average of £623, compared with the combined sum of 12 monthly payments which reaches £688, as of December 2022.

Research by comparison site Comparethemarket also found that the cost difference between a monthly and annual payment has increased by £12 year-on-year.

Car insurance premiums have risen ‘across the board’ over the last 12 months, with the average cost of paying annually hiking by £71 year-on-year and the average premium for paying monthly rising by £83. Comparethemarket says that the cost of car insurance claims has risen due to the increased price of second-hand cars and higher vehicle repair costs.

Julie Daniels, motor insurance expert at Comparethemarket.com, said: “As living costs continue to rise, many motorists are feeling financially squeezed. Saving on your car insurance is always attractive, considering that the average cost of car insurance is more than £600.

“Although making smaller monthly payments might seem easier, if you’re in a financial position to be able to pay your car insurance policy annually, it could lead to savings of up to £65.”

Drivers can save up to £374 on their car insurance by switching, says Comparethemarket, while a recent survey conducted by the comparison site found that one in three motorists have struggled to afford the cost of driving recently and four-in-ten believe that they would no longer be able to keep on the road if costs continue to rise.

Speeding on rural roads with a 60mph limit has reached the highest level in six years, a survey suggests.

Nearly half (48%) of respondents to a poll of 3,102 UK drivers commissioned by the RAC for its 2022 Report on Motoring said they had driven faster than the limit on what are Britain’s deadliest roads in the previous 12 months.

That is up from 44% in 2021 and equals the highest figure recorded in the annual survey, in 2016.

In the most recent poll, 8% of drivers said they frequently broke the speed limit on 60mph rural roads, while 40% said they did so occasionally.

The most common reason drivers gave for exceeding the limit on these roads was that they were travelling at the same speed as other motorists (32%).

Department for Transport figures show 514 people were killed in crashes on roads in non built-up areas with a 60mph limit in Britain in 2021.

That was more than all other road types, including motorways.

RAC road safety spokesman Simon Williams said: “The recent increase in the proportion of drivers admitting to speeding on 60mph rural roads is extremely worrying as more people lose their lives every year in collisions on these roads than on any other.

“It’s even more concerning that this figure is now back to the all-time high of 48%.

“While the number of fatalities on our roads is no longer falling, we certainly don’t want to see an increase.

“We think the Government should address the issue of fatalities on 60mph rural roads by advising roads authorities to reduce limits on the most dangerous stretches to more appropriate levels.

“This is something half of drivers (48%) surveyed for the RAC Report on Motoring would like to see, with only a quarter (24%) disagreeing.”

AA Charitable Trust director Edmund King, said: “Drivers have to be aware of the dangers on rural roads – slow moving vehicles, mud on the road, a higher likelihood of cyclists, horse riders and ramblers, sharp bends and blind corners – and adjust their speed accordingly.

“The varied nature of rural roads means it’s very difficult to set one speed limit which is appropriate everywhere, but drivers should be aware that the speed limit is a limit, it is not a sign that 60mph is always a safe speed. Often it is not.”

Duncan Dollimore, head of campaigns at charity Cycling UK, said cyclists are “more at risk” on rural roads than urban ones.

He added: “Tackling the risks on rural roads has to involve a serious discussion about reducing speed limits, particularly the 60mph default speed which is clearly unsuitable, unsafe and a contributor to road deaths on many minor rural roads.”

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “While we have some of the safest roads in the world, we are committed to reducing road collisions by tackling dangerous driving. We will always consider what additional measures can be explored to effectively enhance road safety.

“Breaking the speed limit is illegal and puts lives at risk. Our upcoming THINK! campaign will help tackle dangerous driving on rural roads, and builds on the success of our previous campaigns which influenced attitudes towards speeding among young drivers.”

– The RAC commissioned research agency Online95 to carry out the survey between April 28 and May 13 last year.

The EU Parliament has passed a new measure which will effectively ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2035.

The new legislation brings in revised CO2 emissions performance standards for new cars and vans, setting a ‘path towards zero CO2 emissions for new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles in 2035’.

The law requires manufacturers to reach a 100 per cent reduction in the CO2 emissions from new cars sold in the EU by 2035. The vote passed with 340 votes for and 279 against. There were 21 abstentions.

By 2025, the European Commission will reveal a methodology to fully assess and report data on a car or van’s CO2 emissions throughout its life cycle. Then, in 2026, the Commission will monitor the gap between legally defined emissions limits and real-world fuel and energy consumption figures. These will then be used to adjust a manufacturer’s specific CO2 emissions.

Jan Huitema, member of the EU Parliament, said: “This regulation encourages the production of zero- and low-emission vehicles. It contains an ambitious revision of the targets for 2030 and a zero-emission target for 2035, which is crucial to reach climate neutrality by 2050.

“These targets create clarity for the car industry and stimulate innovation and investments for car manufacturers. Purchasing and driving zero-emission cars will become cheaper for consumers and a second-hand market will emerge more quickly. It makes sustainable driving accessible to everyone.”

Intermediate targets of a 55 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions – and a 50 per cent reduction for vans – compared with 2021 levels were also set for 2030. Low-volume manufacturers – those producing between 1,000 and 10,000 new cars or 1,000 to 22,000 new vans – may also be granted an exemption from the rules until the end of 2035. Carmakers building fewer than 1,000 vehicles a year will continue to be exempt.

Ford has just announced a series of wide-sweeping measures that will see around 1,300 jobs in the UK axed as part of a broader restructuring that’ll see the firm adjust its focus to electric vehicle production.

A number of sites in the UK are set to be affected, but where does Ford have locations and what do they produce? We’re taking a look here.

Dagenham

Ford’s Dagenham site is steeped in history, having produced its first vehicle – the AA truck – back in October 1931. In 70 years of production, close to 11 million cars, trucks and tractors were created at the Dagenham site before it switched to engine creation. It has now produced close to 50 million engines to date and has created diesel powertrains for many of Ford’s cars and vans.

Today, the Dagenham site produces diesel engines for the latest Transit Custom range. The facility is also responsible for transport logistics for Ford components and vehicles across the UK. Ford has stated that the Dagenham site won’t be affected by the recent job cuts.

Daventry

Daventry is home to the Henry Ford Academy. It’s where Ford provides technician and apprentice training. It centres around both car and van education, delivering it with cutting-edge equipment as well as Ford vehicles and diagnostic equipment.

Ford has stated that operations at Daventry will be unaffected by the changes.

Dunton

Dunton is set to bear the brunt of the job cuts, with Ford stating that the bulk of 1,300 cuts will be made at the company’s technical centre. The Essex facility provides research and development facilities and is also home to Ford’s global commercial vehicle Centre of Excellence which helps businesses ‘accelerate productivity and sustainability’ with electric vehicles supported by Ford’s own software.

The Dunton site is also home to Ford of Britain’s marketing, sales and service departments.

Halewood

Ford’s site in Halewood, Merseyside, is a hub for the firm’s transmission production. It currently creates gearboxes for petrol and diesel models, but was recently selected for a nine-figure investment programme as it looks to turn it into an electric vehicle component hub.

By 2026, Ford bosses hope that Halewood will be providing power units to around 70 per cent of the 600,000 EVs that it hopes to sell in Europe. The investment announcement also safeguarded 500 jobs, while Halewood has been left out of Ford’s recent sweep of cuts.

Stratford, East London

Ford has also stated that its site in Stratford, East London, will be affected by the cuts. Opened in 2017, it’s a small dedicated Smart Mobility Innovation office that looks to improve ‘future mobility solutions’ for Europe.

Located in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, the ‘Here East’ innovation hub is said to currently have around 200 staff.

Environmental campaigners are to take a Stormont department to court over alleged air quality failings.

Friends of the Earth has teamed up with The PILS Project for a legal challenge at the High Court in Belfast against the Department for Infrastructure.

They said the case is in relation to a long-running and dangerous air quality failing.

The case is expected to proceed to a full hearing in June.

They contend that hundreds of thousands of diesel cars in Northern Ireland have not received a legally compliant exhaust emissions test at government-controlled MOT vehicle testing centres.

They allege a failure that has “continued for the last 17 years”.

The groups are raising serious air pollution concerns caused by diesel emissions and have issued legal proceedings against the department over its “recurring failure to identify dangerous emissions levels during MOT testing”.

Their legal team will argue that in failing to fully test the emissions of diesel cars in Northern Ireland during MOT testing, the department has breached its duties not only under vehicle testing law but also its duties to protect public health and the health of Northern Ireland’s biodiversity and wildlife habitats.

James Orr, director of Friends of the Earth NI, claimed the department has “consistently failed to comply with the law”, describing the situation as “nothing short of a major scandal”.

“The science is clear, the law is clear – there is a duty to test emissions in order to protect both public health and the health of habitats,” he said.

“We are taking the government to court because we all have a right to breathe clean air.”

PILS director Maria McCloskey said: “This is not just a case about diesel emissions.

“It is about air quality, environmental protections, and about a fundamental failure of our government to fulfil its legal obligations since 2006.

“This case potentially impacts every single person living in Northern Ireland. It is, at its core, a public health issue.

“We at PILS are pleased to be able to offer our support to Friends of the Earth NI in this vitally important legal challenge.”

A spokesperson from the Department for Infrastructure said: “The department is aware legal proceedings have been issued and shall not be commenting further in advance of the High Court hearing.”

Even just a decade ago, Chinese cars were little to rave about. Often just copycat versions of popular cars sold at knock-down prices, it helped to tarnish their reputation.

But the rate of growth in the Chinese automotive industry has been immense in recent years. Already on-par with other established brands in China, these brands are now broadening their horizons and want to enter Europe – some already have.

It’s not just one brand coming to the UK, though. Oh no, there are a multitude of different brands from this corner of Asia looking to grow. Here we take a look at the Chinese car brands set to enter the UK in the coming years, and some which are already here.

BYD

You might expect the largest electric and hybrid car company in the world to be Tesla, right? But no, it’s actually BYD (standing for Build Your Dreams) – a Chinese brand that is a major deal; the firm selling 1.86 million cars in 2022, almost half of which were EVs.

Already available in other parts of Europe, BYD is shortly set to enter the UK market with its Atto 3 – an electric crossover boasting a 261-mile range. The Chinese firm has already partnered with several UK dealer groups ahead of it looking to launch its first showrooms by the end of March 2023.

Chery

Another Chinese car company setting its sights on the UK is Chery, which recently confirmed its hope to start selling cars in the UK from 2024. Chery is another major player, with the firm being China’s largest exporter of cars.

Arriving first in the UK is set to be the Omada 5, a model that will be sold with hybrid powertrains as well as electric, with the latter deemed to be the focus. Thanks to a 64kWh battery, this electric SUV is said to boast a range of up to 280 miles.

GWM Ora

Those with a good memory may remember Great Wall in the UK, as it sold budget pick-ups between 2012 and 2016, when tighter emissions regulations forced the firm to withdraw. But Great Wall Motors (GWM) is now back in the UK with its bold Ora brand.

It launched in the UK last year with its Mini-esque Funky Cat – a retro-styled hatchback offering impressive levels of technology and a range of up to 193 miles. Further models are also in the pipeline.

Xpeng

A very recent new Chinese brand that confirmed its intent to enter the UK is Xpeng, which originates from Shanghai. The brand has recently launched in various Scandinavian markets – including Norway and Sweden – which are well ahead when it comes to electrification, and it could enter the UK in 2025.

One of the key models for Xpeng is its G9 – a flagship SUV that offers something more upmarket than the other Chinese car brands we’ve mentioned so far. The G9 is set to be able to travel up to 354 miles thanks to its large 93kWh battery.

MG

If ever there was proof that the UK is ready for Chinese car brands, and is happy to embrace them, it’s MG. Admittedly, it helps that this company originally had its foundations as a British car firm, but is now run by SAIC Motor, which is owned by the state government in China.

MG is a major deal in the UK too, with the firm now selling more cars than the likes of Skoda and Mini. Renowned by buyers for offering great value and a long warranty, its electric models – such as the ZS EV and MG5 – are also proving very popular.

Nio

Nio is a Chinese car company that’s already operating in other parts of Europe, including Germany and the Netherlands, but the UK is also set to join its portfolio later in 2023. This is an upmarket firm looking to rival Tesla, with models such as the ET7 saloon and EL7 SUV.

Nio has another trick up its sleeve, however, thanks to its battery swapping stations. So, rather than having to wait for a battery to be charged for half an hour or so, you can arrive at a station and have a new, fully-charged battery installed instead, helping to free up time. It’s not clear if this will be offered in the UK.

The next chief executive of Japanese car giant Toyota has introduced a management team that he said will lead an aggressive push on electric vehicles (EVs).

Koji Sato stressed that “electrification” is a key theme for his team and promised to develop a totally new, next-generation electric vehicle by 2026.

That will be a Lexus, while the company will also beef up all its EV model offerings, he said.

“Lexus will lead the move,” he told reporters at a news conference in Tokyo. “I see myself as the captain of the soccer team.”

In a presentation, Mr Sato listed the various executives, each with different responsibilities, such as carbon neutrality, and safety technology, as well as overseeing regions like North America and Asia.

Hiroki Nakajima, who currently oversees mid-size vehicles, was named executive vice president overseeing technology, and Yoichi Miyazaki, who has been overseeing business operations, was named chief financial officer.

The selection of Mr Sato, currently Toyota’s chief branding officer, as the next chief executive was announced last month. The new leadership takes the helm on April 1.

Toyota, which makes the Prius hybrid and Camry sedan, has billed the move as an effort to stay abreast of social changes like electrification. At times it has been seen as lagging its rivals in EVs.

The company’s success with hybrids, which have both a battery and a petrol engine, and hydrogen fuel cells may be partly behind that perception.

Mr Sato reiterated that view, noting that Toyota is intent on reducing emissions with models that are already widespread. Most vehicles on the roads today run on petrol, he noted.

Toyota officials have always said they have BEV technology, which stands for “battery electric vehicles”, or pure EVs. But that market has so far been dominated by the likes of Tesla, Japanese rival Nissan and BYD of China.

“We have been working on developing BEVs, but the perception may not have reflected that as well,” Mr Sato said.

The electric vehicles Toyota offers cannot be just more EVs to keep up with the times, but “must answer the question of what kind of EV Toyota can offer”, he said.

Mr Sato and the other executives said the company’s entire production system must be revamped to make quality EVs.

Toyota is also grappling with the high cost of the batteries, although lowering costs is not a goal in itself. The company prides itself on its “just in time” production system.

It will also make more intelligent cars that are safer and more fun, Mr Sato said, implying they will link to the internet and offer other entertainment features.

With its management reshuffle, Toyota’s chief executive and president Akio Toyoda, who is the grandson of the company’s founder, becomes its chairman. He did not appear at Monday’s announcement.

Mr Sato has also overseen the Lexus luxury division and Toyota motor racing.

The appointments still need shareholders’ approval, scheduled for the company’s next general meeting.

Yorkshire Ambulance Service is replacing its entire fleet of rapid response vehicles with the Skoda Kodiaq.

A total of 106 SUVs are being modified for the service that covers the full county – an area of nearly 6,000 square miles.

The NHS trust has used the Skoda Octavia Scout for the past six years as its rapid response vehicles, sending them to emergencies before a regular ambulance would be able to get there.

The Octavia Scouts have clocked up an average of 90,000 miles each, but some have covered up to 130,000 in more remote areas. Skoda introduced its latest-generation Octavia Scout in 2021, and while the vehicle is only available to emergency services, Yorkshire’s ambulance organisation has elected to use the firm’s flagship Kodiaq SUV instead.

The models are being converted by Pressfab Evo for ‘blue-light’ duties, including 360-degree lighting, livery, bespoke storage and a full range of medical equipment.

Jeff Gott, head of fleet at Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust, said: “The Kodiaq combines 4×4 capability, a smooth drive, reliability and a large interior for our clinical staff and life-saving equipment.

“The new fleet replaces our outgoing Skoda Octavia Scout models, which proved to be an incredible workhorse that could consistently meet the 24/7 demands of being on the road.

“The first consignment of converted Kodiaqs has been delivered and some of the vehicles have been put into service. We’ve had very positive initial feedback from the teams running them.”

Sales of used cars declined by 8.5% in the UK last year, new figures show.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said just 6.9 million vehicles changed hands in 2022, down from 7.5 million during the previous 12 months.

The industry body said a squeeze on the supply of new cars restricted the amount of stock entering the second-hand market.

Used battery electric cars bucked the trend, with a record 71,071 sold in 2022.

That represents a 37.5% year-on-year increase.

Overall transactions increased by 0.8% in December compared with the same month in 2021.

This was the first monthly rise since February 2022, reflecting the recent growth seen in the new car market.

SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: “While the market headlines are negative and reflective of the squeeze on new car supply last year, record electrified vehicle uptake is a bright spot and demonstrates a growing appetite for these models.

“With new car registrations growth expected this year, more of the latest low and zero emission models should become available to second owners.

“Accelerating uptake is key and will be dependent on drivers being assured of a positive ownership experience.

“This means ensuring charging infrastructure keeps pace with demand as more new and used car buyers make the switch to zero-emission motoring than ever before.”

The total of 6.9 million used cars changing hands in 2022 was the second lowest annual amount since 2012.

Just 6.8 million were sold in 2020 amid coronavirus lockdowns.

Ian Plummer, commercial director at online vehicle marketplace Auto Trader, said: “Lingering supply issues held back used car sales against an exceptional 2021 performance, but the market has great momentum and last month we saw a record 80 million visits to our site – nearly 10 million more than a year ago.

“For most motorists, cars are a fundamental need, especially given the current public transport disruption.”

James Baggott, editor of Car Dealer Magazine, said: “Car dealers told us their biggest issue in 2022 was getting hold of used car stock.

“This kept already very high used car prices buoyant throughout the year and that has continued into the start of 2023.”

Alex Buttle, co-founder of used car marketplace Motorway.co.uk, said: “Used electric vehicles were hot property last year.

“Motorists fed up with waiting times for new models turned to the used market to make a quick and affordable leap to electric.”