In April, a white Tesla Model S was caught on camera emitting smoke, before catching fire.@ShanghaiJayin / Twitter A catastrophic fire in a Tesla Model S last April was caused by a single battery module inside the vehicle, according to the automaker, which has revised its settings for better protection.On April 21, a Tesla parked in an underground garage in Shanghai spontaneously burst into flames. The incident was captured by security cameras and later shared on Twitter.According to Automotive News, Tesla posted on its Weibo social media channel in China that its investigative team conducted a probe and analysis of the battery, software, manufacturing data and vehicle history. The investigation concluded that there was no system defect, and the fire was caused by a single battery module located at the front of the vehicle. A module is made up of several battery cells joined together. Panasonic supplies Teslas cells but not its modules.The automaker said it sent over-the-air software updates to Model S and Model X vehicles to revise the charging and thermal management settings to help further protect the battery and improve battery longevity.NIO, a Chinese electric-car manufacturer competing with Tesla, has had three vehicle fires in China. One of them occurred at a NIO repair facility not long after the Tesla incident. Earlier this week, NIO posted on Weibo that it may have issues with some of its battery modules, and will recall 4,803
Origin: Tesla updates its cars in wake of Shanghai battery fire
New Ford scrappage scheme offers £2000 for old cars
Ford has launched a new scrappage scheme that gives UK car buyers a £2000 discount on new vehicles when they trade in an older car. The discount applies to most of Ford’s mainstream passenger and commercial vehicles, when customers trade in any make or model of older machine. The objective of the scheme, Ford says, is to “take older, less fuel-efficient vehicles off UK roads, replacing them with cleaner and more fuel-efficient new Ford models”. The company says its previous scrappage scheme (2017-2018) took 25,500 older vehicles off the road. Traded-in vehicles will be scrapped at a government-certified disposal facility. To qualify for the discount, customers must order their new Ford model before 30 September, and register it before 31 March 2020. Any passenger or commercial vehicle registered before December 31 2012 can be traded in against a new Ford, regardless of make or model. It must have been registered to the new car buyer for more than 90 days prior to swapping. Passenger models not eligible for the discount include the Ka+ supermini, Mustang, Zetec models and the full range of ST performance cars like the Focus ST and Fiesta ST. The Ranger Raptor pick-up and Transit Connect small van are also exempt. The discount cannot be applied to any vehicle purchased before 1 July. Ford’s UK boss, Andy Barratt, said: “To help reduce the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the use of our vehicles, we are committed to making more efficient, lower-impact vehicles and technologies accessible at scale.” The first scrappage scheme was government-backed, and ran from 2009-2010. Since then, a number of manufacturers have run their own schemes as a means of attracting new customers and contributing to an industry-wide assault on emissions. Mitsubishi, for example, was recently offering £4000 in trade-in value against its Outlander plug-in hybrid, which, when added to the UK government’s now axed subsidy for hybrids, meant customers could save £6500 on the electrified SUV. In December 2018, a new £23 million commercial vehicle scrappage scheme was introduced by the UK government, to help small businesses meet the requirements of London’s new ultra-low emission
Origin: New Ford scrappage scheme offers £2000 for old cars
Silverstone boss uncertain circuit will host 2020 British GP
The future of the British Grand Prix remains in serious doubt despite talks continuing to sign a new deal to keep Formula 1 at Silverstone beyond this year’s race on 14 July. Last year, the circuit chose to trigger a break clause in its 17-year contract signed back in 2009, citing the financial terms of running the race as “unsustainable”. It means the 2019 grand prix will be its last unless a new agreement can be negotiated. Despite widespread speculation that a new agreement is close, Silverstone’s managing director Stuart Pringle said there are no guarantees because the wrong deal would mean “paralysis” for the business. “I’m surprised and disappointed this isn’t sorted already,” he told Autocar. “I don’t want 130,000 people to turn up for the 2019 British GP and not know whether there will be another one.” The circuit has just been resurfaced for a second consecutive year following its disastrous MotoGP round last September, when heavy rain forced the race to be cancelled because of drainage problems that made the track un-rideable. But despite that blow, a new deal to keep motorcycle racing’s premier series at Silverstone until 2021 has been agreed as part of a range of projects designed to make the track less reliant on income from F1. “We can survive without F1, we absolutely could,” said Pringle. “To use a well-worn phrase, genuinely no deal is better than a bad deal because we know the consequences of a bad deal. It is paralysis to our business.” Cautious optimism remains for new deal But Pringle added that he remains hopeful a new deal can be reached, despite F1 openly admitting that it also wishes to pursue a London Grand Prix in parallel to a race at Silverstone. “I have always believed that we will retain it and even though we are in this extraordinary position I still believe the fundamental values that Silverstone adds to F1 will count,” said Pringle. The sticking point remains the multi-million-pound fee Silverstone must pay to host the grand prix, which increases each year because of an escalator clause, even though Pringle admits the amount – currently believed to be in the region of £20 million – is less than other circuits around the world must pay. “I fully accept that we don’t pay as much as ‘Timbuctoo’ or the latest place F1 has signed up,” he said in reference to the pursuit of new additions to the calendar, such as Vietnam which is confirmed for 2020. “But Timbuctoo doesn’t have a fanbase that year on year, come rain or shine, come British champion or not, turn up and pay their money.” Fanbase is Britain’s strength “Silverstone is in effect a tax collector for F1,” he added. “The fans pay their ticket, they money washes through our company and we hand it across to F1. If everything adds up, we break even or make a small black number. If it doesn’t it’s a red number, we cover the difference and call it ‘brand value’ or something.” He also rejected the old argument that the UK government should come to the financial aid of the circuit. “Suggestions that government support should be there in Britain is nonsense because we’ve seen it with Turkey, India, Malaysia and they are no longer on the calendar,” he said. “There’s a reason why we’ve had a grand prix every year in this country since 1950 and that is the fee is paid by the enormous fanbase – and that is a strength, not a weakness. “Silverstone is owned by the British Racing Drivers’ Club, and there are 800 racing drivers and those who made their success possible, and they passionately want to keep their sport at the circuit. So my brief is to retain it, but don’t break the company while doing so. “I will be very disappointed if we are not able to announce something before or at this year’s event, but if we can’t it is because there is a monumental difference between us.” F1 still worth it Pringle said he still believes investment in F1 is worth it, despite the hurdles that must be negotiated to complete a deal. “I still believe in the inherent value of F1,” he said. “The red team (Ferrari) isn’t going anywhere and as long as they stay that’s fine. Lewis Hamilton will sign another two or three-year contract after this one comes to an end, and we’ve got Lando Norris, George Russell and half of (London-born Thai) Alex Albon coming up, all of whom the British fans can get behind. “What we want to do with the venue, our mission statement, is to become a nationally recognised family focused leisure destination with motorsport at its heart. We have to be broader, but we need our motorsport profile and F1 is probably the best marketing money we could spend.” Silverstone Hotel and Experience coming soon Other revenue streams look set to “transform” the Silverstone business in the next year. A hotel is currently under construction on the start/finish straight opposite the Wing pit complex, while a heritage centre based in the giant ex-aircraft hanger next to the main entrance should open before the end of
Origin: Silverstone boss uncertain circuit will host 2020 British GP
JLR set to invest in UK plant to build electric models
JLR set to invest in UK plant to build electric models Jaguar Land Rover will be able to build EVs at Castle Bromwich Jaguar Land Rover is expected to announce on Friday that it is investing millions in its Castle Bromwich plant to allow the manufacturing group to build electric models in the UK. According to reports in the Financial Times, a scheduled six-week shutdown will provide the opportunity to alter tooling on the lines, enabling the production of EVs. The expected news is a boost to the company’s workers in the country, as recent losses have seen Jaguar Land Rover announce job cuts as part of plans to restructure the company. A crucial element of that refocusing is an increased electric car offering. Currently, Jaguar has the all-electric I-Pace available, and Land Rover has the Range Rover & Range Rover Sport PHEVs on their books. The recently axed XJ large executive saloon is expected to be replaced by an all-electric model to rival the likes of Tesla’s Model S and the forthcoming Porsche Taycan. Other models in the Jaguar and Land Rover ranges will be offered as pure-electric or plug-in hybrid models in the next few years. The I-Pace is currently produced in Austria, and the only electric model produced in the UK is Nissan’s Leaf at the company’s Sunderland plant. A EV battery manufacturing site is set to be opened by Williams Advanced Engineering and Unipart, which could help with JLR’s EV plans, and is already confirmed to supply Aston Martin at its St Athans site. Jaguar has been boosted by the success of the I-Pace, which currently holds both the World Car of the Year and European Car of the Year titles, and is looking to build on those foundations with new electric models with future launches. JLR has recently announced plans to work with the BMW Group to develop next-generation electric powertrains going forward.
Origin: JLR set to invest in UK plant to build electric models
Audi accused of using four defeat devices in V6 diesel
The German transport ministry has identified up to four different emission defeat devices in software code used by Audi’s V6 diesel engine, according to separate reports published by Germany’s Bayerischen Rundfunk and Handelsblatt. The various defeat devices are claimed to have been developed by Audi to provide models fitted with its turbocharged 3.0-litre engine with lower emission readings during government mandated tests on rolling roads under controlled conditions than actual results on public roads. The various defeat devices are said to have been used in vehicles produced up to the beginning of 2018, more than two years after US authorities made public findings that Audi parent company, Volkswagen, had used similar illegal software functions in various diesel models. The German transport ministry issued Audi with a forced recall of various models fitted with the V6 diesel engine in January 2019, confirming up to 200,000 vehicles in Germany were suspected of using an illegal software function the German car maker labelled as a “Motoraufwärmfunktion” or engine warm-up function. This so-called Motoraufwärmfunktion is, in fact, a secret defeat device used to manipulate emission results, say representatives of the German transport ministry. Models from Volkswagen and Porsche were also affected. Information in an addendum to the German transport ministry report obtained by Bayerischen Rundfunk and Handelsblatt identifies a further three defeat devices. Three additional defeat devices were not deemed illegal despite the report suggesting they facilitated functions leading to emission manipulation. In the report, the various defeat devices are listed as A, B, C and D, according to Bayerischen Rundfunk and Handelsblatt. However, the German transport ministry states only one can be identified as being illegal, suggesting Audi was free to voluntarily remove the other three functions from its software code as part of the recall announced earlier this year. Both Bayerischen Rundfunk and Handelsblatt report it is apparent from the report that the German transport ministry did not undertake testing leading to the discovery of the defeat devices but relied upon information provided by
Origin: Audi accused of using four defeat devices in V6 diesel
All electric cars to have pedestrian warning noise
New rules coming into force today (1 July) dictate that all new fully electric vehicles must be fitted with an audible warning device to aid safety. In response to concerns that EVs pose a risk to pedestrians at low speed, the new ‘Regulation on the Sound Level of Motor Vehicles’ calls for silent vehicles to emit a sound when travelling at speeds under 12mph, or reversing. An acoustic vehicle alert system (AVAS) will generate a noise similar to that made by conventional combustion engines, and can be deactivated when judged necessary by the driver. The devices will be fitted to all new EVs with at least four wheels sold in the UK henceforth, and hybrid vehicles from July 2021 onwards. Roads minister Michael Ellis said: “The government wants the benefits of green transport to be felt by everyone, and understands the concerns of the visually impaired about the possible hazards posed by quiet electric vehicles. “This new requirement will give pedestrians added confidence when crossing the road.” A number of manufacturers, including Mitsubishi, Nissan and Toyota, already have some sort of AVAS fitted to their electric vehicles. Jaguar has equipped the I-Pace electric SUV with a system specifically tuned for the visually impaired, developed in conjunction with UK charity Guide Dogs for the Blind. The new law comes as part of a government drive to facilitate the mass roll-out of zero-emissions vehicles. The sale of new combustion-engined vehicles is set to be banned in the UK from 2040 onwards, although government advisors recently called for this to be brought forward to
Origin: All electric cars to have pedestrian warning noise
Audi used four defeat devices in V6 diesel
The German transport ministry has identified up to four different emission defeat devices in software code used by Audi’s V6 diesel engine, according to separate reports published by Germany’s Bayerischen Rundfunk and Handelsblatt. The various defeat devices are claimed to have been developed by Audi to provide models fitted with its turbocharged 3.0-litre engine with lower emission readings during government mandated tests on rolling roads under controlled conditions than actual results on public roads. The various defeat devices are said to have been used in vehicles produced up to the beginning of 2018, over two years after US authorities made public findings that Audi parent company, Volkswagen, had used similar illegal software functions in various diesel models. The German transport ministry issued Audi with a forced recall of various models fitted with the V6 diesel engine in January 2019, confirming up to 200,000 vehicles in Germany were suspected of using an illegal software function the German car maker labelled as a “Motoraufwärmfunktion” or engine warm-up function. This so-called Motoraufwärmfunktion is, in fact, a secret defeat device used to manipulate emission results, say representatives of the German transport ministry. Models from Volkswagen and Porsche were also affected. Information in an addendum to the German transport ministry report obtained by Bayerischen Rundfunk and Handelsblatt identifies a further three defeat devices. Three additional defeat devices were not deemed illegal despite the report suggesting they facilitated functions leading to emission manipulation. In the report, the various defeat devices are listed as A, B, C and D, according to Bayerischen Rundfunk and Handelsblatt. However, the German transport ministry states only one can be identified as being illegal, suggesting Audi was free to voluntarily remove the other three functions from its software code as part of the recall announced earlier this year. Both Bayerischen Rundfunk and Handelsblatt report it is apparent from the report that the German transport ministry did not undertake testing leading to the discovery of the defeat devices but relied upon information provided by
Origin: Audi used four defeat devices in V6 diesel
Used car buying guide: Peugeot 207 GTI
In Dirty Harry, Clint Eastwood may as well have handed the keys of a used Peugeot 207 GTi to the criminal lying before him on the ground as suggest he weigh up the possibility of him having a sixth bullet in his Magnum. Do all the pre-purchase checks you like but, ultimately, whether the Peugeot’s timing chain is about to slip, taking the engine with it, is simply a matter of luck. It’s all to do with the hydraulic chain tensioner fitted to the model’s Prince engine. You hear it first as a rattle from cold. As the oil heats up and circulates, it fades away, leaving you to think it wasn’t anything serious until one day… crunch: you and your bargain 207 GTi are friends no more. And it is a bargain. Just £800 is all you need for a weary 2007-reg 207 GTi, and £2500 should be enough for something clean and straightforward with a good service history. The most expensive ones are around £3000 but we did come across a 2009-reg Octane special edition with 67,000 miles and described as being in mint condition for a bullish £4750. The last ones were registered in 2009, so given that the model was launched in 2007, you’ve only three years’ worth of used 207 GTis to pick over, although those built from 2008 have, according to mechanics who work on them, better chain tensioners. They have better cylinder heads, too. Worryingly, earlier ones were prone to shedding alloy flakes into the engine. Otherwise, the Prince engine is a gamey lump. It may have only 1.6 litres, but thanks to its twin-scroll turbocharger, it produces 175bhp. Not only that but it also generates a handy 180lb ft torque that can be over-boosted to 195lb ft. Either way, the turbocharger starts working from as low as 1000rpm. All that muscle and the gearbox still has only five gears but they’re well chosen and, in any case, the engine thrives on revs. Your £800, or £4750, buys a restrained bodykit complemented by smoked glass, 17in alloy wheels and twin tailpipes. Inside the car, you should find a pair of deep leather and Alcantara bucket seats (expect the side bolsters to be mushy by now) and an alloy gear knob and pedals. Incidentally, if the gearlever has a long, loose-limbed throw, don’t worry. It’s what sales people would call a ‘characteristic of the car’. Put simply, they all do it and from day one, too. The ride should be on the uncomfortable side of firm. If it’s not, suspect the condition of the suspension bushes. Grip levels should be high, unless it’s running worn or cheap rubber. The 207 GTi isn’t a five-star hot hatch and, in truth, it’s probably not a four, either. But the beauty of cheap old motors like it is that such ratings are nothing compared with the simple pleasure of enjoying some thrills on the cheap – and cheap thrills are exactly what a Peugeot 207 GTi offers. How to get one in your garage An expert’s view Greg Erskin, general manager, Ecosse: “I wouldn’t have a 207 GTI, certainly not one built before 2008, if you gave it to me. The timing chain tensioner is the big issue. It sticks or becomes weak, allowing the chain to slacken off, and then you’re in serious trouble. The other problem area is the cylinder head. Those on early cars were poorly machined and you’d get bits of metal dropping into the engine. Otherwise, things like the gearbox and suspension just suffer the usual wear and tear issues. The engine can be remapped for around £375 while a dump valve is a popular aftermarket add-on.” Buyer beware ■ Timing chain tensioner: A weak spot on early cars. Listen for chain slap and other noises when the engine is cold and idling. Fresh oil is critical to tensioner life so check oil services have been performed on time (yearly or every 6000 miles). ■ Carbon build-up: Listen for misfiring possibly caused by carbon build-up on the backs of the inlet valves. Premium unleaded fuel can help reduce accumulations. ■ Turbocharger: Inspect the exhaust manifold, turbo housing and twin-scroll divide for hairline cracks. Check the compressor outlet pipe and, by removing the downpipe, the turbo housing for oil contamination, both indicating a worn turbo. ■ Cooling system: Look for coolant leaks from the plastic thermostat housing. Fluid can pool on the top of the transmission. ■ Gearbox: Feel for worn synchros on second and third and feel for the clutch slipping. ■ Brakes, suspension and steering: The ABS pump is another weak spot so ensure the warning light isn’t on. Check pad and disc life and the MOT for advisories relating to droplinks, wishbones, gaiters and excessive steering play. ■ Bodywork: Expect dings and scrapes but be wary of uneven panel gaps. Blocked windscreen drains divert water to the fuse box, so check these are clear. ■ Interior: Check all controls work and warning lights go out after engine start-up. Also worth knowing Given a GTi is no five-star hot hatch and likely to have been driven hard, you might be wise also to check out the 148bhp GT version. Doing so will boost the
Origin: Used car buying guide: Peugeot 207 GTI
Under the skin: Why solid-state batteries are a big positive
Enthusiasm for BEVs (battery-electric cars) is growing, which is a good thing. That said, no amount of EV enthusiasts telling consumers they don’t actually need the range they think they do will convince them to pay more for something that does less. Manufacturers know this, which is why there’s so much talk surrounding the latest wonder-tech looming over the horizon: the solid-state battery. So what are these miraculous things that it’s claimed will banish any quibbling about range forever? The main components in any battery are electrodes (anode and a cathode) immersed in electrolyte. A conventional 12V lead-acid car battery contains a solution of sulphuric acid as electrolyte, which is fine as long as it stays in the battery. A lithium ion car battery has an inflammable electrolyte composed of lithium salts in a solvent. Lithium ion batteries have a further important component, too – the separator that keeps the electrodes apart. If lithium ion batteries are not carefully controlled when in use, then heat build-up can cause ‘thermal runaway’ resulting in a nasty chemical fire that is impossible to put out. Because of that they need complex electronic battery management systems and equally fiddly cooling circuits to keep them safe, making manufacturing harder and piling on weight and cost. The upside is that lithium ion batteries are more powerful and store more energy than any other battery type. But they could be better still. Solid-state batteries should overcome all those problems by switching to a non-flammable solid electrolyte, hence the name. Heat in a solid-state battery is easier to control so cooling is simpler, cheaper and less bulky, there’s no need for separators and a heavy, protective outer casing is unnecessary because the technology is intrinsically safe. The real barrier to getting them to work in the past was the poor conductivity of the solid electrolyte such as a ceramic material, but the latest materials are said by battery developers to be highly conductive. The biggest bonus, though, is the energy density – the amount of energy a battery can store relative to its weight and volume. Claims for batteries capable of storing more than twice the energy of a conventional lithium ion battery are being made, along with reduced manufacturing costs. This simply means a solid-state battery will last longer and give an EV a greater range than a conventional battery of the same volume and weight. It’s that virtuous circle again. The lighter the battery, the lighter the car, the less energy it needs to achieve the same range, so the battery can be even smaller. Car makers are talking about the technology being in production by 2025 and some sooner than that. When and if it happens, it would radically change the automotive landscape. Radically increased range would reduce the need for charging on the move, easing the pressure on infrastructure, because one overnight charge (for those with such access) could make the need to charge during a longer journey less necessary than it is today. Inside a lithium ion battery When the battery is connected to the device it is powering, like a motor, phone or whatever, ions are released from the negative anode to the positive cathode. When the battery is connected to the charger, the opposite happens and the battery is
Origin: Under the skin: Why solid-state batteries are a big positive
No-deal Brexit would cost UK car makers billions in emission fines
A no-deal Brexit could cost the UK automotive industry at least £3 billion in CO2-related fines, Autocar has learned. The costs represent the fines that would be racked up by the 40-plus manufacturers operating in the UK and who would fall foul of the 95g/km fleet average CO2 figure, which the government has pledged to implement unilaterally if the UK goes-it-alone in October. A spokesman for the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said: “The European CO2 Directive allows manufacturers flexibility to balance their emissions performance across all relevant European markets. A no deal Brexit would, however, remove this flexibility, which may make reduction targets far harder for some manufacturers, given the UK model mix may differ from a European average. “If this meant additional fines were to be levied on UK companies, the effects could be hugely damaging, reducing consumer choice, undermining competitiveness and restricting future RD spend. This is yet more evidence of the severe consequences for the British automotive industry from a disorderly Brexit – no deal must be ruled out immediately.” Although the concept of the UK adopting the 95g/km CO2 average has been well-flagged – it was a key element in government No Deal Brexit planning documents – the impact on individual car-makers and the industry as a whole is only just starting to emerge. The significant issue is that the UK fleet average figure would be based purely on UK sales, making it less likely for sales of heavier cars with larger engines, especially the growing mix of SUVs models, to be balanced out by cheaper, lower polluting city cars and superminis. One mass-market manufacturer that Autocar spoke to has carried out an internal audit of its annual new car sales and calculated its fleet mix of petrol, diesel, hybrid and electrified models would rack up around £100m in fines. The fines could be reduced by altering the mix of powertrains in favour of more electrified models, but factory capacity for such a dramatic short-term change in output is limited, largely because CO2-planning is being organised on an EU-wide basis and production plans for 2020/2021 have already been committed. More diesels would help cut CO2 figures – but the government is actively shutting down that route by demonising diesel with threatened policy initiatives that have cut consumer demand. Across Europe, brands have been planning their CO2 fleet averages with sales of larger cars in northern Europe balanced out by smaller cars in southern Europe. The UK’s Brexit plan cuts the UK industry off from this product planning mix, exposing UK car companies to huge fines. The manufacturer that Autocar spoke to has ‘gamed’ several potential scenarios, the most severe of which would require a 20 per cent cut in sales in 2021 and a significant drop in profitability. Although that would reduce fines to a more reasonable £5m to £10m, the effect on its business would be
Origin: No-deal Brexit would cost UK car makers billions in emission fines
All about car 