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News

Tesla cuts Supercharger membership price for different EVs

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Tesla has lowered the price of its membership scheme that offers drivers of different electrical automobiles discounted entry to the Supercharger network.

Under the membership programme, drivers of non-Tesla electric cars pays a month-to-month price that permits them to cost their car utilizing the Supercharger community on the identical discounted price that Tesla house owners obtain.

The scheme beforehand price £10.99 per 30 days, however Tesla has now lowered that to £8.99 whereas additionally introducing a £90 annual membership possibility. The membership programme is run by means of the Tesla app, which can also be required to entry the agency’s V3 chargers. The newer V4 chargers additionally settle for contactless funds.

Tesla makes use of a variable-rate pricing technique, so the price of charging for each Tesla house owners/members and non-members varies by the situation and the time of day – however typically members will save round 10p per kWh.

For instance, between 8.00am and midnight, charging on the Tottenham Hale Supercharger web site in London presently prices 47p per kWh for Tesla house owners and members, and 63p per kWh for non-members.

Tesla presently operates 140 Supercharger websites, with a complete of greater than 1400 chargers, within the UK and Ireland. At current, 42 of these websites are open to non-Tesla EVs, with 477 chargers that settle for CCS connections.

The membership scheme additionally works throughout Europe, so subscribers will be capable to get discounted charging at suitable Supercharger areas on the continent.

News

Triumph Trident 660 Special Edition Is A Tricolor Tribute To Slippery Sam

If you like the concept of the Triumph Trident 660, however you’ve got been wishing for a paint scheme with just a little extra verve and heritage-focused tribute, you then’ll need to see the 2025 Trident 660 Special Edition.

Also known as the Trident Triple Tribute, it is meant to concurrently pay homage to 2 issues close to and pricey to Triumph’s heart. One is, fairly naturally its proud historical past of triple engines. The different factor is t, the five-time Isle of Man TT-winning Trident from 1971 to 1975. 

The particular white, blue, and pink paint scheme, together with the quantity 67 graphic, all come collectively to create one visually cohesive bundle that accentuates the fashionable Trident 660’s ties to the corporate’s wonderful racing heritage. It’s a distinct time, and a distinct period, however styling that takes its cues from the previous is sort of Triumph’s inventory in commerce, as you’ve got in all probability observed.

There’s extra to the 2025 Trident 660 Special Edition than simply paint and graphics, although. You’ll additionally discover a color-matched fly display screen fitted as customary gear on this variant, in addition to a stomach pan and Triumph Shift Assist. 

What’s Under The Paint?

2025 Triumph Trident 660 Special Edition - Engine Closeup

2025 Triumph Trident 660 Special Edition – Engine Closeup

Sitting squarely on the coronary heart of the 2025 Triumph Trident 660 Special Edition is that 660cc triple, providing a claimed 80 horsepower at 10,250 rpm and 47 pound-feet of torque at 6,250 rpm. It’s mated to a six-speed gearbox, and with the assistance of Triumph Shift Assist, can do clutchless gear adjustments. There’s additionally an autoblipper to assist in clean downshift transitions.

Showa the other way up entrance fork (nonadjustable) and a preload-adjustable Showa monoshock unit with linkage deal with suspension duties, and two-pot Nissin calipers deal with the braking duties. The Trident 660 Special Edition wears a set of Michelin Road 5 tires on its 17-inch solid aluminum wheels.

Other options embrace customary ABS, two driving modes (Road and Rain), a coloration TFT sprint, switchable traction management, and a built-in engine immobilizer in the important thing.

Pricing and Availability

2025 Triumph Trident 660 Special Edition - Rear Left Angle View

2025 Triumph Trident 660 Special Edition – Rear Left Angle View

Triumph sells its bikes in a number of worldwide markets, with pricing and availability various by area. In the US and Canada, the 2025 Trident 660 Special Edition ought to arrive in dealerships starting in April 2024. 

Pricing within the US will begin at $8,595, whereas in Canada it begins at $10,195. For comparability, the US pricing is precisely the identical for the Special Edition as it’s for the common Trident 660. In Canada, the Special Edition is simply $30 greater than the beginning worth of the current-gen Trident 660.

What do you consider the Trident 660 Special Edition? Is it a worthy addition to the household, or do you want it was totally different? Let us know within the feedback!


2025 Triumph Trident 660 Special Edition - Right Side 6

30 Photos

Motorsport

Audi Is Finally Ditching Its Confusing Naming Scheme

Audi confused us all in 2017 when it launched a double-digit naming scheme throughout the lineup. The terminology relies on output, from “30” for automobiles which have 109-128 horsepower as much as “70” for automobiles with a minimum of 536 hp. The two-numeral mixture seems alongside the standard badges similar to TFSI, TDI, and Quattro. After solely seven years, the corporate has determined to maneuver away from these obscure designations.  

Leading the best way is the Q6 E-Tron revealed this week, though the swap technically began with the Q8 E-Tron. You will not discover the numbers on the bigger electrical SUV’s tailgate both. However, Audi nonetheless makes use of the complicated naming technique within the official documentation for the Q8 E-Tron. Florian Hauser, Audi’s Head of Sales & Product Marketing for Battery Electric Vehicles, advised Auto Express the corporate does not have to put numbers anymore.

2025 Audi SQ6 E-Tron

The Four Rings wish to simplify a mannequin’s choices, pointing towards the brand new electrical crossover. The common Q6 with all-wheel drive is called Q6 E-Tron Quattro whereas the recent one is SQ6 E-Tron. A future rear-wheel-drive variant will go by the identify of Q6 E-Tron. However, Audi may need so as to add a suffix similar to “Performance” to make clear the lineup of a mannequin supplied with a number of battery dimension selections.

It’s not simply EVs that may undertake the streamlined naming scheme since gasoline and diesel automobiles are sure to observe go well with. Well, type of. Audi advised the British journal the two-digit mixture will likely be faraway from the trunk lids and tailgates of ICE-powered automobiles. However, the Ingolstadt-based marque hasn’t determined whether or not the earlier nomenclature will likely be dropped fully by taking it off configurators, advertising and marketing supplies, and so on.

There are extra name-related modifications on the best way. A 12 months in the past, former Audi CEO Markus Duesmann confirmed the A4 would become the A5 for its subsequent era, very similar to the A6 will transition to the A7 moniker. Consequently, prepare for an A5/S5/RS5 Avant and an A7/S7/RS7 Avant, as bizarre as these could sound. It stays to be seen whether or not there will likely be a sedan successor to the outgoing A4 since all spy pictures have proven the five-door Sportback. It can be an uncommon transfer from Audi to cease providing a rival for the BMW 3 Series Sedan and Mercedes C-Class Sedan.

Leveling up the gasoline/diesel A4 and A6 is a part of the corporate’s plan to make use of odd numbers for automobiles outfitted with combustion engines and even numbers for EVs. Renaming the 2 mannequin lineups will create room within the portfolio for battery-powered A4 and A6 fashions.

2025 Audi SQ6 E-Tron

Elsewhere, Audi intends to drop the A1 supermini and Q2 subcompact crossover after the current-generation fashions run their course. The TT was axed in November 2023 and manufacturing of the R8 will finish this month.

Meanwhile, it is cooking up a full-size Q9 SUV with a spacious third row as a belated reply to the Mercedes GLS and BMW X7. The Q9 will likely be among the many final new fashions with ICE energy since Audi intends to launch solely EVs from 2026. It plans to finish manufacturing of gasoline automobiles by 2033 to turn into an electric-only model.

News

BT converts kerbside sign cupboard into EV charger

A brand new pilot scheme from the BT Group has begun work to transform streetside sign bins into electric car chargers.

Run by subsidiary Etc, the programme will quickly set up its first charger at a cupboard in East Lothian, Scotland.

The first part of the pilot scheme, which can comprise a small (however unconfirmed) variety of transformed bins, might be used to assist BT perceive tips on how to scale an EV charging enterprise.

It believes that it may convert round 60,000 of its 90,000 cupboards throughout the UK into chargers.

This would deliver a big enchancment within the abundance of public chargers. According to charger-mapping service Zap-Map, there have been 53,029 public chargers throughout the UK on the finish of November 2023.

Of these, 42,941 supplied charging charges of between 3kW and 22kW – typical of kerbside chargers, reminiscent of these built-in into lamp-posts.

Etc senior product supervisor Vishal Kaduthodil defined: “The cupboards at the moment present broadband to every particular person family, however they’re utilizing previous know-how. They’re gonna be decommissioned as we progress full fibre [broadband] throughout the nation.

“As they’re already linked to an influence supply, this reduces the necessity to set up a brand new energy connection, growing deployment velocity.

“We retrofit a tool to separate the prevailing energy, permitting us to proceed utilizing the prevailing broadband while now additionally supporting a brand new cost level.”

Once an space has been upgraded to fibreoptic connectivity and surplus broadband cabling is eliminated, the cupboards may host a number of cost connectors.

That the sign cupboards are already linked to {the electrical} grid is a big benefit, in contrast with constructing a bespoke charger.

Charger operators have repeatedly raised issues in regards to the gradual tempo of getting new gadgets linked to the grid.

Gridserve boss Toddington Harper told Autocar last April that “almost every issue of speed of implementation is down to the speed of grid connections”.

He added that grid connections may typically delay the activation of a charger by “months or more”.

News

£70 million for brand new fast chargers at UK motorway providers

The authorities has introduced a £70 million scheme to stimulate the set up of ultra-rapid electric vehicle chargers at motorway service stations however it’s nonetheless set to overlook its goal of getting six such units at every web site in England by the top of the yr. 

As a part of the Department for Transport’s vision for the rapid charging network in England (printed in May 2020), the federal government deliberate for there to be not less than six high-power-capable, open-access (150-350kW) cost factors at every service station in England by 2023.

Research published by the RAC in May 2023 discovered that the federal government was unlikely to succeed in this goal by the yr’s finish. Data from charger mapping service Zap-Map then confirmed that six areas didn’t have these units: Barton Park on the A1(M), Carlisle Northbound on the M6, Leicester Forest on either side of the M1, Strensham Southbound on the M5 and Tebay South on the M6.

According to Zap-Map, a number of websites nonetheless would not have ultra-rapid chargers, together with Carlisle Southwaite North and Carlisle Southwaite South, Strensham Northbound, and Tebay North.

Each of those websites, nevertheless, does have not less than a 50kW provision. 

The funding introduced at the moment on the COP28 local weather convention might be used to organize {the electrical} community at 5 to 10 service stations for the set up of extra 100kW-plus cost factors.

The authorities has not specified precisely how the £70m, which comes from the £950m Rapid Charging Fund, might be allotted.

Vauxhall Corsa-E charging at Gridserve charger – rear quarter

However, it lately highlighted the provision of grid connections as a key barrier to the ramp-up of charger installations. In the 30-point plan for drivers, printed in October, the federal government mentioned it should “review grid connections process for EV charge points, with [the] aim to accelerate it”.

The public charging trade has additionally repeatedly mentioned the restricted availability of grid connections is a significant impediment to bettering cost level provision. Toddington Harper, CEO of Gridserve, told Autocar in April: “Almost each subject of pace of implementation is right down to the pace of grid connections. I’m not kicking the grid right here: it was designed for a totally totally different objective and adapting it to what we’d like, whereas conserving the lights on, is a big activity.

Featured

FAME Subsidy For EVs Should Be Extended For Another 5 Years: FICCI

The commerce affiliation states that the scheme will assist in attaining the goal of 30 % EV penetration in India

  • The FAME-II scheme was launched in April 2019 and is efficient as much as March 2024.

  • FICCI suggests together with non-public EV patrons within the new FAME-III scheme.

  • Penetration of EVs within the Indian market stands at 5 % at present.

  • Also suggests contemplating hybrid automobiles as a part of the scheme.

The reputation of electric vehicles (EVs) has been on a pointy rise in our market over the previous couple of years, which can also be right down to many manufacturers having launched totally different fashions. Before this surge, the central authorities had rolled out a pan-India incentive scheme known as the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric automobiles (FAME). An up to date model, FAME-II, was rolled out in 2019 with a goal to maintain the momentum of mass adoption of EVs. However, with the FAME-II scheme ending in March 2024, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) has put forth a proposal suggesting that the Indian authorities carry ahead the FAME scheme for one more 5 years.

What Has FICCI Suggested?

FICCI says sudden withdrawal or discontinuation of the incentives will result in as much as 25 % value enhance of EVs, dissuading potential patrons and even affecting funding within the discipline. As per the organisation, EV penetration within the Indian market at present stands at solely 5 %.

Electric cars

If the inducement schemes proceed for the subsequent 5 years, roughly 30.5 million electrical automobiles could possibly be adopted throughout segments, serving to electrify 30 % of India’s transportation as focused. FICCI said that the subsidies could possibly be lowered and finally discontinued as soon as the value hole between EVs and combustion engines develop into negligible. This shall be achieved because the battery prices proceed happening and costs of EV elements lower over the subsequent 3-5 years.

Other Recommendations By FICCI

Besides the above solutions, FICCI has additionally shared a couple of different inputs:

  1. It has talked about that every one sorts of hybrid automobiles (together with strong- and plug-in hybrids) and hydrogen-powered automobiles have to be included below the FAME-III scheme.
  2. FAME-III ought to deal with extending the advantages to non-public patrons selecting an electrical automotive as nicely.
  3. It additionally highlighted that the calculation of the subsidy ought to proceed to be primarily based on the battery dimension (per kWh) as at present talked about within the FAME-II scheme.

Sulajja Firodia Motwani, chairperson, FICCI EV committee, mentioned, “Favourable insurance policies and particularly the FAME-II scheme of the Government of India has performed a key position in spurring demand by serving to to scale back the upfront costs of EVs. This has helped create a optimistic momentum and encourage EV adoption within the nation. However, whereas we have now nicely begun, we’re nowhere near being half performed. Let us not overlook that the present value premium of EV vis-à-vis ICE with none subsidy continues to be substantial, starting from 40 % to as excessive as 130 % for numerous segments. Given this actuality, the continuation of demand incentive or subsidy is crucial and important to assist scale back this value hole. Fame-III is required to spur continued curiosity from prospects in EVs and enhance penetration over the subsequent few years.

Also Read: All The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Buying A New Car At The End Of A Calendar Year

A Recap Of FAME-II Scheme

The FAME-II scheme was launched in April 2019 and was initially supposed to finish by March 2022 however the Indian authorities pushed again the deadline by two years (on account of COVID-19) to March 31, 2024. It covers hybrids and electrical automobiles, however largely tilted to favour the latter.

Tata Tiago EV

It had a funds of Rs 10,000 crore to subsidise the price of shopping for an electrical automobile. This would cowl subsidising 55,000 electrical 4-wheelers having Li-ion batteries, 10 lakh electrical 2-wheelers, 5 lakh 3-wheelers and seven,000 buses had been additionally eligible for the inducement over a interval of three years. In the case of 4-wheelers, incentives have majorly been supplied to business automobiles and people used for public transportation.

While these are solely a number of the solutions made by FICCI, it stays to be seen which of those shall be considered by the Indian authorities whereas formulating the FAME-III scheme. Which of those do you suppose must be included within the last incentive scheme? Drop your solutions within the feedback.

Car review

Polestar 3 prototype review

Polestar’s naming scheme is very straightforward: the Polestar 3 is the third model since the brand was separated from Volvo as an independent car maker.

However, this alone doesn’t provide much information about its positioning, especially given that the Polestar 4, Polestar 5, and Polestar 6 have already been unveiled. To clarify, the Polestar 3 is a large electric SUV aiming to compete with the Audi Q8 E-tron, BMW iX, and Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV. The 4 is a smaller and sleeker SUV, the 5 is comparable to the Porsche Taycan, and the 6 is a roadster (all electric vehicles).

As a result, Polestar is rapidly expanding its range from a single car to a diverse line-up. In the spotlight today is the Polestar 3, as we’ve had the opportunity to drive an early prototype. Set to be the first to launch in the second quarter of 2024, it is also the first model to be exclusively designed as a Polestar, unlike the Polestar 1 coupé and Polestar 2 hatchback, which were originally intended to be Volvos.

Nevertheless, this does not signify that Polestar has severed connections with Volvo; in fact, the Geely-owned Swedish brands are becoming more integrated, and the Polestar 3 is essentially a sibling car of the Volvo EX90, Volvo’s upcoming large, three-row SUV.

Both vehicles share the same all-new SPA platform, mammoth 111kWh battery pack, 2985mm wheelbase, 250kW maximum charging speed, and dual motors in some versions. The interior design feels distinctively Volvo-esque, with similarities in the steering wheel, column stalks, and large infotainment touchscreen. Similarly, the centre console bears a strong resemblance to that of the EX90.

News

2024 Triumph Modern Classics Lineup Introduces 12 New Two-Tone Color Options

Triumph Motorcycles has unveiled new color schemes for its 2024 Modern Classics lineup in July 2023. Following the previous announcement of color updates for models such as Rocket 3, Tiger, Trident, and Speed Triple, Triumph now introduces twelve new two-tone color options for the Modern Classics range.

The Modern Classics lineup consists of various models including Speed Twin 900, Speed Twin 1200, Scrambler 900, Scrambler 1200 XE and XC, Bonneville T100, Bonneville T120, Bonneville T120 Black, Bonneville Speedmaster, and Thruxton RS.

These new colorways will be available alongside the existing single-color options for the Modern Classics models in 2024. The new two-tone color options include:

  • 2024 Triumph Speed Twin 900—Carnival Red and Phantom Black
  • 2024 Triumph Speed Twin 900—Competition Green and Phantom Black
  • 2024 Triumph Speed Twin 1200—Carnival Red and Storm Grey
  • 2024 Triumph Speed Twin 1200—Matt Ironstone and Matt Storm Grey
  • 2024 Triumph Scrambler 900—Cosmic Yellow and Graphite
  • 2024 Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE and Scrambler 1200 XC—Matt Sandstorm and Matt Jet Black
  • 2024 Triumph Bonneville T100—Competition Green and Ironstone
  • 2024 Triumph Bonneville T120—Jet Black and Fusion White
  • 2024 Triumph Bonneville T120 Black—Graphite and Matt Graphite
  • 2024 Triumph Bonneville Bobber—Jet Black and Ash Grey
  • 2024 Triumph Bonneville Speedmaster—Pacific Blue and Silver Ice
  • 2024 Triumph Bonneville Thruxton RS—Jet Black and Silver Ice

Pricing and availability for the 2024 Triumph Modern Classics lineup may vary by region. While the US pricing and availability have not been announced yet, it is recommended to contact your local authorized Triumph Motorcycles dealer for accurate information.