Tag Archives: inquiry

News

House of Lords to Examine UK’s Plan to Transition to Electric Vehicles

The House of Lords’ Environment and Climate Change Committee has initiated an inquiry to investigate how the UK government intends to achieve its goal of decarbonising cars and vans within the next 12 years.

The inquiry aims to identify the primary barriers to reducing emissions from private transportation, as well as understand the costs and potential benefits associated with the 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles in the UK.

Furthermore, the committee seeks to assess the progress made thus far towards the 2030 and 2035 milestones, in which sales of new hybrid cars will also be prohibited.

Committee chair Baroness Kate Parminter stated, “The time has come for action. We cannot achieve net-zero without individuals making changes to our lives, how we travel, and what we buy. The use of electric vehicles for passenger transport will be part of that, and the government has committed to ending the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030.”

The committee has invited the public to provide evidence regarding the government’s approach to the 2030 and 2035 targets, the electric vehicle market, the experience of purchasing an electric vehicle, the disposal of electric vehicles at the end of their life, infrastructure issues at both national and regional levels, and international perspectives.

The call for evidence includes several questions, such as whether the 2030 and 2035 targets are realistic and achievable, and whether they are incentivising the growth of the electric vehicle market. The complete list of questions can be found here.

These targets have gained significant attention in recent months, with prominent newspapers and business secretary Kemi Badenoch scrutinising the phase-out. Badenoch is reportedly seeking to persuade cabinet ministers to ease the incoming zero emission vehicle mandate, which will require that 22% of all new vehicle sales be electric from 2024 and increase annually thereafter, in order to protect the UK’s declining automotive industry.

The deadline for submitting evidence to the committee is Friday 15 September.

Read more: Government considers easing impact of 2030 ICE ban

Motorsport

New Kia K3 Compact Sedan Revealed, Could Preview Forte Successor

Update: A Kia spokesperson responded to our inquiry about the K3, saying “Kia US has made no official announcement regarding K3 and has no further comment at this time.”

Kia’s small car lineup in the US has been limited to the Forte and Rio models since they were introduced in the mid-2000s. However, Kia has now unveiled a new small sedan called the K3 for the Mexico market. With Kia renaming and refreshing its US lineup, there is speculation that the K3 could potentially replace both the Forte and Rio models.

In terms of size, the K3 sits between the subcompact Rio and the compact Forte. It measures 178.9 inches in length, making it larger than the Rio (172.6 inches) but slightly smaller than the Forte (182.7 inches). The K3 also offers 19.2 cubic feet of cargo space, compared to the Rio sedan’s 13.4 cubic feet and the Forte’s 15.3 cubic feet.

If the new Kia K3 looks familiar, it’s because it shares several design elements with the larger K5 sedan. The headlights framed by Kia’s signature Tiger Nose grille and the full-width taillight bar on the rear are reminiscent of the K5. Additionally, the K3 has a “fastback-style” silhouette similar to the K5 and the EV6 electric vehicle.

The interior of the K3 aligns with the rest of Kia’s lineup. It features a 4.2-inch digital instrument cluster screen and a 10.3-inch touchscreen that are integrated under a single piece of glass extending from the driver’s side to the center console. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also included as standard.

Powering the K3 are two engine options: a 1.6-liter four-cylinder and a more powerful 2.0-liter option. The smaller engine produces 122 horsepower, while the larger 2.0-liter engine, exclusive to the GT-Line trim, delivers 150 horsepower. The 1.6-liter engine is available with either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission, while the 2.0-liter engine is paired with a six-speed manual exclusively.

The K3 was initially unveiled in Mexico, where it will be manufactured. However, it remains unclear whether the small sedan will be officially introduced as a replacement for the Forte in the US. Given that Kia has rebranded the Forte as the K3 in markets outside of the US and has recently renamed the Optima as the K5, it wouldn’t be surprising if the K3 eventually makes its way to the US under the same name. More information is expected to be released by Kia in the coming months.