Motors in Kenilworth

Britain's electric car infrastructure is failing to grow at the same rate as sales of new EVs, according to new analysis by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The trade organisation has revealed that the ratio of vehicle chargepoints to plug-in cars deteriorated by -31% during 2020.

The research shows that at the end of 2019, 11 plug-in vehicles potentially shared a standard public chargepoint capable of charging both battery electric (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs). In contrast, at the end of 2020, the ratio had fallen to one charger for every 16 plug-ins.

A British firm led by a former a Ferrari and McLaren F1 engineer has developed a new electric off-roader designed for use in the world's most challenging environments.

The Fering Pioneer is the brainchild of Ben Scott-Geddes, who has repurposed supercar and racing technology to provide environmental responsibility and unrivalled off-grid capabilities for extreme adventures.

Mercedes has flirted with electric cars before, but its efforts have always been limited to putting a battery and motor in a body which was designed for a petrol or diesel. That's not good enough for the flagship of the range though. Buyers spending six figures don't expect compromises.

So for the first time Mercedes is using a platform specially developed to be pure electric.

The UK government has unveiled its new design for electric vehicle charge points, which it hopes could become as iconic as the British post box, London bus or black cab.

The result of a £200,000 competition to find the best design, the charger was revealed in the UK Pavilion at COP26 in Glasgow.

Tesla has opened its Supercharger network to non-Tesla drivers living in four more countries as the brand expands its trial.

Selected sites in France, Germany and Norway have been opened up all to electric car owners following a successful trial in The Netherlands last year.

Big-value brands are big news. Just as Aldi, Lidl and Primark are thriving, so too is car maker Dacia. It's models cost thousands less than the equivalents from the big-selling brands.

Now its attention has been turned to the electric car market, with the Spring. This isn't a boring hatchback or tiny city car; instead it's a modern looking baby SUV.

Performance car fans know that the Octavia vRS is a car you shouldn't underestimate. For years, it's offered VW Golf GTI performance in a more practical body shape - with a lower price tag. But now the vRS has shifted up a gear with this plug-in hybrid version.

The iV version of the vRS uses a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine mated to a 113bhp electric motor and a 13kWh battery. The power is sent to the front wheels through a six-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, and in the Skoda total power is a pretty pokey 242bhp.

Drivers are soon set to be allowed to take their hands off the wheel and eyes off the road on motorways in the UK, the government has just announced. It's the long awaited first move to autonomous driving that all the major car firms have been working on for years.

The ground-breaking plans will allow hands free driving in cars fitted with lane keeping technology on traffic-filled motorways at speeds up to 37 mph.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has finally confirmed rumours that the prized Supercharger network will be available for all electric car drivers within a few months.

In a Tweet replying to a customer, he said; "...we're making our Supercharger network open to other EVs later this year."

Nissan has revealed its replacement for the pioneering e-NV200 electric van. Called the Townstar, it will be available with both petrol and electric powertrains but there won't be a diesel - a real milestone for a commercial vehicle.

The van is based on the Renault Kangoo, with an electric variant which Nissan is really throwing its weight behind. Using a 90kW electric motor linked to a 44kWh battery, the firm says that the electric Townstar is capable of travelling for up to 177 miles between charges, with a 0-80 per cent top-up taking 42 minutes via rapid CCS charging. This is a significant improvement over the 124 miles of the eNV. Load space is fractionally larger too, ans 4.3 cubic metres.