Split the ions - 29 August 2023

FOLLOW UP: BATH CAZ MAKES A DIFFERENCE

Following the introduction of a Clean Ari Zone (CAZ) to a portion of Bath, NOx levels have dropped by 26% and only 1% of vehicles entering the zone are non compliant. Bath took the approach of targeting taxis, vans, buses, coaches and lorries only. You can find out more, by clicking this BBC News article link here.

DAMAGE FROM POTHOLES ROCKETS IN JULY

July, in the UK, was incredibly wet which has help to make conditions that have led to a sharp increase in vehicle damage due to potholes. Drivers have not been able to establish if a puddle is shallow or to a depth comparable to Lock Ness. To learn more, including how to make a claim from the local council if you are unfortunate enough to damage your car, click this CAR link here.

DEVON ASKS FOR MORE MOTORING OFFENCES POWER

Devon County Council has started a public consultation on approval from residents to extend their powers to include prosecuting drivers for contravening some motoring offences. We are curious how some of the claims the council are making can actually occur by fining someone for going past a no entry sign. Click this link to a BBC News article to read more and also find the link to the consultation.

GLASGOW HYDROGEN PROJECT CANCELLED

Glasgow Council has cancelled their hydrogen refuse lorry project. Details are unclear as to why the decision was made. Alan and Andrew try to work it out with availability of suitable vehicles and the increase in the cost of hydrogen being likely suspects. They will now channel that money into electrifying their fleet. If you would like to read more, click this article link from FuleCellsWorks.

LEGAL TESLA CHARGER OPENS IN UK

Tesla has opened their first V4 chargers, in the UK. The significant improvements include a longer charging cable, meaning it should be easier to reach charging ports. But most importantly, is that they will finally be compliant with UK regulations and allow for contactless payment. Click this Top Gear article to read more.

If you like what we do, on this show, and think it is worth a £1.00, please consider supporting us via Patreon. Here is the link to that CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST NEW NEW CAR NEWS - Kia EV5

Kia have revealed their EV5, which is a smaller version of the seven seat EV9, with very similar external boxy styling. Whilst no details have been released regarding price, it is expected to be around £50,000, similar to the Skoda Enyaqi, Ford Explorer and Fisker Ocean. Click this link to an Autocar article to see the clean and minimal design both inside and out, as well as some very clever storage solutions.

Hyundai i20

Hyundai have given the very good i20 a refresh. Prices start at £20,770, with added safety tech, three new colours and the ability for over the air updates. To read more about this news,

FOLLOW UP: BATH CAZ MAKES A DIFFERENCE

Following the introduction of a Clean Ari Zone (CAZ) to a portion of Bath, NOx levels have dropped by 26% and only 1% of vehicles entering the zone are non compliant. Bath took the approach of targeting taxis, vans, buses, coaches and lorries only. You can find out more, by clicking this BBC News article link here.

DAMAGE FROM POTHOLES ROCKETS IN JULY

July, in the UK, was incredibly wet which has help to make conditions that have led to a sharp increase in vehicle damage due to potholes. Drivers have not been able to establish if a puddle is shallow or to a depth comparable to Lock Ness. To learn more, including how to make a claim from the local council if you are unfortunate enough to damage your car, click this CAR link here.

DEVON ASKS FOR MORE MOTORING OFFENCES POWER

Devon County Council has started a public consultation on approval from residents to extend their powers to include prosecuting drivers for contravening some motoring offences. We are curious how some of the claims the council are making can actually occur by fining someone for going past a no entry sign. Click this link to a BBC News article to read more and also find the link to the consultation.

GLASGOW HYDROGEN PROJECT CANCELLED

Glasgow Council has cancelled their hydrogen refuse lorry project. Details are unclear as to why the decision was made. Alan and Andrew try to work it out with availability of suitable vehicles and the increase in the cost of hydrogen being likely suspects. They will now channel that money into electrifying their fleet. If you would like to read more, click this article link from FuleCellsWorks.

LEGAL TESLA CHARGER OPENS IN UK

Tesla has opened their first V4 chargers, in the UK. The significant improvements include a longer charging cable, meaning it should be easier to reach charging ports. But most importantly, is that they will finally be compliant with UK regulations and allow for contactless payment. Click this Top Gear article to read more.

If you like what we do, on this show, and think it is worth a £1.00, please consider supporting us via Patreon. Here is the link to that CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST NEW NEW CAR NEWS - Kia EV5

Kia have revealed their EV5, which is a smaller version of the seven seat EV9, with very similar external boxy styling. Whilst no details have been released regarding price, it is expected to be around £50,000, similar to the Skoda Enyaqi, Ford Explorer and Fisker Ocean. Click this link to an Autocar article to see the clean and minimal design both inside and out, as well as some very clever storage solutions.

Hyundai i20

Hyundai have given the very good i20 a refresh. Prices start at £20,770, with added safety tech, three new colours and the ability for over the air updates. To read more about this news, click here to an Autocar article link.

Mercedes-AMG GT

Mercedes has shown us a 911 for those who think the engine should be in the front. There is a striking similarity to the silhouette, but that is not us complaining as the car looks stunning. Details on performance are no less impressive. If you plump for poverty spec, at launch, you only get the GT 55, with a V8 that has a paltry 469bhp, 516lb ft of the torques meaning the car eventually drags itself from 0-62mph in a pedestrian 3.9 seconds. However, if you go for the GT 63, the V8 produces a more respectable 576bhp and 590lb ft of the torques, meaning 62mph is hit in a more satisfying 3.2 seconds. You can read more by clicking this CAR link here.

BAC Mono

BAC have decided to play a game of spot the difference with their new Mono. However, there are a number of changes, including using panels from the Mono R, as well as cabin updates and other areas that we will not see. Click this CAR article link to read more about the evolution of the Mono.

Porsche 914 restomod

Porsche restomods typically come from sunny California, well not this time, as Bakewell in Derbyshire is the location of Fifteen Eleven who has eschewed 911s and produced a fabulous 914 restomod. Click this link to read more, from Hagerty. To see more pictures and the philosophy behind their work, click this link to the Fifteen Eleven site, and check out the 914 page.

China approves Xiaomi’s EV plans

Xiaomi is only the fourth manufacturer to receive approval from the Chinese state planner to make electric vehicles, since 2017. This is worth noting as China is making big strides into the European and UK markets. You can read more, by clicking this Electrive article link here.

LUNCHTIME READ: A MORGAN THREE WHEELER ROAD TRIP KICK STARTED MY MENTAL HEALTH JOURNEY

Friend of the show, Alex Goy, has written a new version up of his trip in a Morgan to Lisbon, with a Polaroid camera, now including the importance of it to his mental health journey. This is a fabulous read for a number of reasons, do click this link to the Jalopnik article here.

LIST OF THE WEEK: THE CARS FAST VANISHING FROM OUR ROADS

Autocar and another friend of the show, James Ruppert, provide our list of choices. Do you agree with the selections made by Andrew and Alan? Don’t forget to tell them. Click this link to see what they could’ve picked.

AND FINALLY: WANTED - THE ESCAPE OF CARLOS GHOSN

Apple TV now has a new documentary about Carlos Ghosn and his remarkable escape from Japan and house arrest. As we’ve covered this story from the start we thought you might be interested and want to watch it.