All The Hard Words - 3 August 2021

SECURITY VULNERABILITY FOUND IN SMART CHARGERSPenTestPartners has investigated smart EV chargers available to those buying for themselves as well as public chargers, finding many security vulnerabilities. For those interested, click here for PenTestPartners’s own report. However, one concern is the operating system used by some firms. Where Raspberry Pi is used there are more issues, because that is not a suitable OS for a connected device due to a lack of security layers inherent in the system. For more info click here for Ken Munro’s tweet, commending the quick reaction by one firm to the information. Click here for another tweet from Ken Munro expressing his dismay at another company’s reaction. Click here for Cybergibbon’s tweet explaining why Rasberry Pi is not suitable. FORMER FRENCH MINISTER UNDER INVESTIGATIONRachida Dati, a former French Minister, has been placed under formal investigation for payments made by the Dutch based Renault-Nissan joint-venture, during Carlos Ghosn’s time as CEO. Dati has previously been cleared over payments and her lawyer stated these were all reported and legal. To read more, click the Automotive News article here. CLIMATE SPOKESPERSON CAUSES ONLINE KERFUFFLEAllegra Stratton, the Prime Minister’s climate spokesperson, stated that for her a third-hand diesel Golf is better than an EV, due to the lengthy journeys she travels to visit relatives. One aspect is that she seems to have no understanding of the current state of EV and the charging network. Also, however, there were many Twitter conversations, where some journalists and those who should know better, demonstrated their lack of understanding of the current situation. To read more, click The Guardian article here. GOVERNMENT FUNDING FOR ZERO-EMISSION TRUCKS The Government is putting forward £20 million for initiatives aimed at helping improve the viability of electric and hydrogen lorries. To read more, click the Motoring Research article here. IMPORTANT CHANGES TO HIGHWAY CODE A new hierarchy of road users will be implemented with proposed changes to the Highway Code, meaning pedestrians and cyclists will be given priority over others. The idea is that those who have the potential to cause the most problems and danger have to take the most care to prevent that. Only snag the chaps can see in that idea is those who really need to know the changes will be oblivious unless there is a huge communication campaign. To read more, click here for the YesAuto article. FORMER TOYOTA EUROPE BOSS PASSES AWAYJohan van Zyl, the former head of Toyota Europe, has passed away after a short illness at the age of 63. He was instrumental in securing investment in the Burnaston site in Derbyshire, as well as over seeing the change of ‘no more boring cars’ from the company. Thoughts are with his family and friends. To read more, click the Autocar article here. ——————————————————————————-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 NEWSHonda HR-V The order books have now opened for the next generation HR-V, from Honda. Prices start at £26,960, rising to £31,660 for the Advance Style model. To read more, click here for the Autocar article. Lamborghini Huracan STOIf you wish to know what the track focused YouTube star will be trying to get their mitts on and wrap, have a look at the Huracan STO, which Lamborghini have stripped a lot of weight from. Costing only £268,000 this 1339kg (dry weight) version has got both the chaps quite interested in. To find out more, including how they’ve got it in Motoring Podcast colours, click the Autocar link here. LUNCHTIME READ: FESTIVAL OF THE UNEXCEPTIONALAlan went to the Festival of the Unexceptional. So did many of our friends from Car Twitter. You can find out what happened by clicking Hagerty’s own article link here. LIST OF THE WEEK: LITTLE CAR DETAILS YOU CARE ABOUTJalopnik asked their readers what are the little details that can make or break a car for them. Click here for the slideshow and no prizes for guessing which one the chaps highlighted. Don’t forget to say which detail is the one for you and letting the podcast know. AND FINALLY: NEW MULSANNE LIMOS FOR SALEBentley has found five Grand Limousines that are now for sale, after the model finished production last year. These are unregistered and undriven examples of the stretched Mulsanne, so be quick to get in touch with your nearest dealer! To find out more, click here for the Autocar article