The A40 will remain shut between Llandovery and Llanwrda over the weekend at least. It’s emergency closure follows the opening of a sink-hole in the carriageway on Wednesday evening and the diversions have caused chaos in surrounding villages struggling with HGVs on narrow sections. Plans to scrap the proposed electric rail line between Cardiff and Swansea have been defended by UK Transport … [Read more...]
Newslines 19 February
Renault is to open its first European concept store – the Renault Electric Vehicle Experience Center – in Stockholm where visitors will be able to discover the benefits of electric mobility and find answers to their questions. This ground-breaking shop window for Renault electric vehicles will be located in Täby Centrum, Stockholm and a prime spot to promote the advantages of electric motoring … [Read more...]
Monkeys used in diesel engine emissions tests
Monkeys were used in test labs to measure tolerance to diesel emissions, says the New York Times. It reported a Mexican laboratory had been using the animals to support research by a European body looking at health in the transport sector on behalf of some German car makers, but the companies have distanced themselves from the lab tests using monkeys and said they would not condone such tests … [Read more...]
New car sales dropped in 2017
British new car sales last year recorded their biggest drop since the 2009 recession. They slipped over 5% due to uncertainty over potential new diesel charges and weakening consumer confidence since Brexit and the SMMT expect a steeper slide this year of about 7%. Registrations ended 2017 at around 2.54 million vehicles, while demand for diesel cars fell 17% as consumers were put off by … [Read more...]
Well to wheel costs of diesel outlined
A new analysis attacks the “whole life” costs of diesel cars. Transport and Environment has been looking at the well to wheel impact of diesel versus petrol and concludes it is far more polluting than many realise, apart from the exhaust emissions now in the headlines. While used diesel cars are collapsing in value and manufacturers are racing to replace diesel with more petrol models in … [Read more...]
Diesel emissions’ mounting concern in Europe
A leaked letter shows the EU industry commissioner has issued a stark warning to transport ministers that the consequences of the Dieselgate scandal, and the failure to clean up dirty diesel cars still on our roads, are contributing to a city air pollution crisis. The leaked letter, seen by Transport & Environment (T&E), stresses the need for carmakers to “rapidly reduce” NOx emissions … [Read more...]
British authorities re-test emissions on some Jeep models
Britain will selectively retest Jeep Grand Cherokee models following US accusations carmaker Fiat Chrysler Automobiles mislead regulators on diesel car emissions. "We have instructed our Market Surveillance Unit to undertake testing on one of these vehicles at the earliest opportunity," said a spokesman at the Department for Transport. FCA Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne has angrily … [Read more...]
Dangers remain from illegal polluting cars
At least 20 million of Europe's 26 million illegally polluting diesel cars remain unfixed by national regulators in Europe more than a year after the Dieselgate scandal broke, according to new evidence . Documents obtained by sustainable transport group Transport & Environment reveal that governments are blocking any independent on-road checks of cars and oversight of national testing … [Read more...]
Diesel to be demonised?
The RAC’s worried that diesel drivers could be charged to enter more city centres following the High Court ruling that the Government failed to meet European emission standards. Some predict the Government will have to take drastic action or face penalties and that could mean insisting cities and towns implement congestion charging to discourage diesels in particular. RAC roads policy … [Read more...]
VW dealers to get compensation for fraud, but only in US
Volkswagen AG executives in the United States have promised restitution within a month for American franchise dealers damaged by the carmaker's diesel emissions violations, The Wall Street Journal reports. A senior American executive from Volkswagen made the pledge at a meeting with over 150 dealers from the northeast at a hotel in New Jersey, the paper said citing dealers. The meeting was … [Read more...]