Stellantovan Alliance Benz Fordswagen - 28 March 2023

FOLLOW UP: EU REACHES AGREEMENT ON E-FUELS POST 2035After the sudden rejection of the ICE 2035 ban idea, after it was agreed to take it to formal vote, the EU has reached an agreement to amend the proposal to include the allowance of carbon neutral e-fuels to power ICE vehicles after 2035. The details of how this can work are to be established but there is much anger this was allowed. We have several articles to help explain the situation as well as how this was reported during the last few weeks. To read what has been agreed, click this Autocar link here. Automotive News, click the link here, reported this whilst the renegotiations were under way.The outlet Politico reported on the upheaval the sudden stance by Germany and Italy caused. You can read that by clicking this link here. FOLLOW UP: 3G SWITCH OFF RAMIFICATIONSFollowing last week’s request regarding the implications for the 3G switch off in the UK, Ken Tindell did come back. The main impact for vehicles is switching off previous generation emergency call/location services. This has hit a large number of cars in the US, which will be replicated here. Additionally, things like car park ticket machines will stop working and councils are deciding to replace these with apps, but that disadvantages those without smart phones, particularly the elderly, which is unacceptable. Click here to read the StokeOnTrentLive article for an example of this. FOLLOW UP: MERCEDES MUST PAY IF IT USED DEFEAT DEVICESThe European Court of Justice has confirmed that if Mercedes did use defeat devices on their vehicles, which is what is claimed they are when they alter the engine’s emissions at certain ambient temperatures, and the owner has suffered damages, then they are liable for compensation. Mercedes reject such protection to the engine is a defeat device and that even if it is ruled as such owners have suffered no damages. Click here for an Autocar article to learn more. MCLAREN SECURES FURTHER INVESTMENTMcLaren has raised £70 million in investment to allow it to move to an electrified future. This was raised from existing shareholders. Alan adds further context to what seems like constant funding seeking, which makes a lot of sense. Click here to read the Carscoops article on this story. PROPOSAL TO TRIAL 30MPH ON M8 IN GLASGOWA proposal is being put forward to trial and monitor a section of the M8 with a new speed limit of 30mph. The idea is to see what happens to the air quality and if it does improve ask to expand the ULEZ to include the motorway. This is still at a very early stage and not imminent. We also suggest and hope if it does occur there are other factors monitored and logged. To read more, click this link to the Glasgow Evening Times article. LEICESTER EV BUS FLEET GETS A TOP UPFirst Bus has secured even more Government funding that means they will be adding a further 18 electric buses to make the fleet fully electric for Leicester. Wrightbus will manufacture the buses in Northern Ireland. Click this Move Electric article link to find out more. FERRARI HAS CUSTOMER DATA HACKED BUT COMPANY OKFerrari has been hacked and is under a ransomware attack, but the company says their own data is safe, but not its customer’s. We covered how a security researcher found a huge vulnerability in their system perviously, that was only made public in January. Ferrari has stated it will not cave to the ransom demands, which is very brave of them after allowing their own customer’s info to be accessed. To read more, click this Security Week article link here. To read the additional article Andrew mentioned, click this Tripwire link here. TESLA SYSTEM HACKED IN 120 SECONDS At the latest Pwn2Own event in Vancouver one security research firm hacked a Tesla Model 3 in 120 seconds that allowed them to access aspects of the vehicle, including opening the bonnet and doors whilst the car was moving. More can be learned about the story by clicking the DarkReading link 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 NEWS:Ford Explorer - To much fanfare, the new Ford Explorer EV SUV was revealed. Based on the VW MEB platform, there are obvious similarities to the ID.4 but the vehicle is a touch longer and has a Ford interior. Few details have been released yet, but you can learn more about this very important car, by clicking here on the Move Electric link. Nissan Townstar EV - Replacing the hateful e-NV200 is the new Townstar, a Nissan badged Renault Kangoo or Mercedes Citan. There is a WLTP range, for the short wheel base version, of 183 miles. Prices start at £29,945 (without VAT) and running up to £35, 845 (without VAT) for the top of the range long wheel base. This larger version can accommodate two euro pallets too. Click here to read more with this electrive.com article link. LUNCHTIME READ: MICHELIN MANThanks to Hagerty and Anton Ingram, we are recommending this fabulous article taking us through the history of the Michelin Man, such an icon of the roads. You can view the mascot designs from the first iteration up to today’s version, all in the various levels of horrificness. To read this, click here for the link. LIST OF THE WEEK: THE WORST CARS DESIGNED BY PININFARINARestoring our faith in the universe, we bring you a Jalopnik link that shows even the most talented can have off days. Click this link to run through the options for the worst cars ever designed by Pininfarina. Do tell us if you agree with Alan’s choice or what you would pick. AND FINALLY: ROBOTIC PARKING LOTSTom Scott’s latest video is about robotic parking lots in Japan, why they are, how they work and what it is like inside them. Fascinating stuff as he covers bicycles, cars and EVs. Click this YouTube link to see more. Click here to see the other YouTube video of what it is like to drop your car off at such a parking lot, that Alan mentioned.