Ford has accelerated its electric vehicle plans for Europe, launching seven new models, announcing a battery gigafactory in Turkey, doubling investment in Germany and the phasing out of emissions from vans by 2035.
The US manufacturer had previously pledged to make all cars in Europe electric by 2030 but had not set an end date for commercial vehicles. The move casts further doubt on the future of Ford’s Dagenham plant in the UK, which makes diesel engines for Transit vans.
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Battery pioneer Britishvolt is partnering with Aston Martin to develop bespoke high performance battery cell technology, as the ultra-luxury carmaker moves another step forward in its electrification journey.
Formalised in a Memorandum of Understanding, the collaboration further supports the ultra-luxury manufacturer’s plans to launch its first battery electric vehicle in 2025, with Aston Martin targeting new standards of repeatable on-track performance, charging time and range, as it brings its renown for engineering mastery, beautiful design and extreme personalisation to all-electric driving.
The collaboration with Britishvolt brings together two innovative leaders in UK engineering to create the next generation of cell and battery technology designed specifically for high performance cars.
A joint research and development team from Aston Martin and Britishvolt will design, develop, and industrialise battery packs, including bespoke modules and a battery management system. The two organisations will work together to maximise the capability of special cylindrical high performance cells being developed by Britishvolt for use in high performance Aston Martin electric vehicles.
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UK van market falls -6.0% but market remains above pre-pandemic levels
- New light commercial vehicle (LCV) registrations fall -6.0% in February to 16,165 units.
- Registrations of large vans decline by -9.9%, but demand for medium-sized vans, the second biggest segment by volume, grows 36.9%.
- Market holds 14.6% above pre-pandemic levels.
https://www.smmt.co.uk/2022/03/uk-van-market-falls-6-0-but-market-remains-above-pre-pandemic-levels/