Innovation

EMG's new report on dealing safely with Electric Vehicles is now available. 

This report sets out the challenges in recognizing and dealing safely with electric vehicles.  The transition to electric vehicles is well underway way and they will increasingly be arriving in workshops.  We invite you to distribute it widely in your networks. 

Our thanks HORIBA MIRA UK and to the EMG Technical Group for their work in preparing and finalising this report.  

This is the text of a joint letter from CLEPA, the European Association of Automotive Suppliers, concerning CO2 standards for cars and vans. The text is also attached a PDF for downloading. CO2 standards for cars and vans: Automakers, Auto Parts Industry and Fuel Manufacturers call for Trilogue negotiations to fully implement the outcome of Council General Approach to enable, after 2035, ICE vehicles registered to run exclusively on CO2-neutral fuels [1].

This article is written by John Daniel, MD of Brotherwood Automobility in the UK and is reproduced here with his kind permission. 

The vehicle manufacturing industry has always been driven by new technologies. From the invention of the seatbelt in the mid-1900s, to more recent developments such as anti-lock braking systems in the 1970s and turn of the century innovations including adaptive cruise control, research and development of technology has been at the forefront of car design for over a century.

As discussed in our previous press release, now that cars are increasingly becoming electric vehicles (EVs), mobility for disabled people should follow. But this is proving to be a difficult transition. Users of vehicle adaptations identified the lack of accessible charging as the most pressing problem. Still, even if this requires a massive European effort, there’s a straightforward solution. Simply put, we need more charging points and they need to be accessible. Unfortunately, the electric transition faces other more complicated issues.

Is Europe ready for the Electric Revolution?

Currently, the automobile industry is moving away from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles and pushing towards electric vehicles (EVs). Reuters has calculated that through 2030, global carmakers will spend over 500,000,000,000 USD to develop and build new battery powered vehicles. The European Mobility Group welcomes the electrification of the automotive industry, because we too want to contribute to a healthier planet. But how ready is Europe for this electric revolution?

The theme of the recent ITF Summit in Paris was "Transport for Inclusive Societies".  One aspect of particular interest to EMG was the section on Supporting Motorists with Special Needs, and featured The Disabled Motoring website, a one-stop shop for information on facilities and options for car travellers with a disability in different countries. This unique resource - created by FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) and ITF - was featured at a dedicated Summit event.