Apk Usema

BMW is to start testing a solid-state battery this year for a prototype vehicle planned to be on the road before 2025, writes Brian Byrne . The Munich-based carmaker is developing the battery with US-based Solid Power, a company it has been working with since 2017. Solid state batteries are expected to provide longer ranges and faster charging times than the current lithium batteries in use for EVs.  Nissan and Volkswagen are also working to develop such batteries, and the date pencilled in for production vehicles by all three is around 2030. Toyota is investing heavily in the technology and has taken out a number of patents for their work. Manufacturing capacity to the level required for the global EV industry is a significant hurdle.   

The Irish Sailing Team has welcomed a new Mercedes-Benz Vito van to its fleet of commercial vehicles, writes Trish Whelan .  The second of its kind to be added to the fleet, it will soon be put through its paces transporting the team’s boats and equipment to international training camps and competitions throughout Europe in destinations such as Portugal, Italy, and the Olympic sailing venue of Marseille.  Thanks to the support of Irish Sailing and the Irish Sailing Foundation, the new Vito 114 Style model arrived fully equipped with fixtures and fittings from CAFCO Vehicle Solutions and finished with sign writing by FISH Graphics.  Mercedes-Benz previously supported Ireland’s Olympic medal winning sailor, Annalise Murphy, in her preparations for the Rio and Tokyo Olympic Games.  

All wheel drive versions of the performance variants of the Skoda Enyaq EV are scheduled to arrive in Ireland in the early part of this year, writes Brian Byrne . Skoda Ireland expects to see a significant increase in the number of 4x4 Skodas here when the 4x4 Enyaq RS and Enyaq Coupe RS arrive. Skoda Ireland's Product Manager Libor Pavlas says that with the arrival last year of the Enyaq 80X, the AWD version of the brand's EV SUV, the format now represents 10pc of all Enyaq orders. There's a premium of €2,960 over the two-wheel drive version, with no change in annual road tax and minimal impact on range. Following Ireland's coldest winter in 130 years in 2010, Skoda Ireland took a marketing position to promote 4x4 vehicles and succeeded in increasing AWD sales by a factory of five. "Subsequent winters have proved milder which has coincided with a reduction in demand for 4x4 vehicles but Skoda still has a loyal band of 4x4 customers here in Ireland," says the ...

Peugeot has outlined their latest electrification timeline which will see all of the French carmaker's models sold in Europe fully electric in seven years time, writes Brian Byrne . In the meantime the company has committed to having an electric offering for all of its lineup by 2025. And before this year is over, every model it produces will have an electrified variant of some kind. This will be thanks to a new mild hybrid 48V system that will be a standard opening powertrain in 208, 2008, 308, 3008, 5008 and 408. With a 6-speed dual clutch automatic, Peugeot says these 100hp and 136hp will mean a 15pc improvement in fuel consumption compared to their current engines. A new E-3008 variant of Peugeot's popular compact SUV will also be revealed in the second half of this year with a range of up to 700km from the largest of three battery options. 

If you have a spare €212,000 burning a hole in your pocket and you fancy a tyres-smoking motor, you can put in an order for a new special edition BMW, writes Brian Byrne . The BMW M3 CS will have a 550hp engine with an eight-speed auto and AWD. A 0-100km/h sprint of 3.4 seconds will be achievable. The car features  carbon fibre-reinforced plastic in its construction to give a very lightweight body, and the chassis technology will be specially tuned to the performance potential. Right hand drive markets launch is in March. 

This is a concept from Suzuki which shows the direction the company is looking to produce its first battery electric model, writes Brian Byrne. The eVX was unveiled at the Auto Expo in Delhi, and a production version is mooted for 2025. The car will have a 60kWh battery which the company suggests will have a range in excess of 500km. The production car is expected to be in the same size bracket as the S-Cross small SUV. The powertrain is likely to be influenced by Suzuki's technological cooperation deal with Toyota. 

Irish motorists are being reminded that they have a responsibility to make sure their car is in safe running order, even if there are long delays in getting appointments for statutory NCT tests, writes Brian Byrne . Tom Dennigan of Continental Tyres Ireland says  there are a number of simple checks that motorists should regularly carry out on their vehicle. "For example, with your car’s tyres, the vehicle’s only contact with the road, a tyre check can be done very simply and quickly by checking the tread depth and tyre pressures as well as keeping an eye out for any bumps or bulges in the tyre," he says. "As tyres are consistently in the top five reasons for a failure in the NCT, motorists should get into the habit of performing these simple checks at least every two weeks and certainly before a long journey." Since the introduction of the National Car Test in 2000, Tom Dennigan says the initiative has 'done a great job' in ensuring the vast majority of cars...

EX30 outline on left, teased last November beside new EX90. Volvo will be revealing a new electric car in June, smaller than anything in its existing Recharge EV range, writes Brian Byrne . What is expected to be named the EX30 will sit below the C40 and XC40 Recharge cars. It was teased at last November's reveal of the new flagship car, the EX90, when it appeared as a flashing outline in a shot of the bigger car at the end of the event. According to reports in the US-based Motor Authority online magazine, the car will be built in China on an EV platform owned by Volvo parent company Geely. The company hopes it will bring more affordability to the brand, and younger customers. 

Over three decades-plus of automotive journalism, there have been occasions when having a particular car outside my door made me nervous, writes Brian Byrne . Mainly due to its price, and my responsibility for having the vehicle in my care. Most recently, such a car was the Mercedes-Benz S580 e. Thankfully, I returned it at the end of my time in the same pristine shape as I had received it. Provided you don't aspire to the even more rarified Maybach-Mercedes, the S-Class in any form is not just the top Mercedes-Benz model, it is also arguably the benchmark for its rivals to attempt to match or surpass. Whether they succeed in that is very much a personal subjective matter, as cars at any level tend to be. But there's no doubt about the exclusive cachet to the S-Class. When I first reviewed the current S-Class back in late 2021, I mentioned what I saw as an unexpected positive in that the styles of Mercedes saloons have all become alike — it's not always easy to identify at ...

Peugeot’s new 308 small family car is the latest version of the hugely successful nameplate with more than seven million worldwide sales over the generations, writes Trish Whelan .  The new 308 is built on a multi-power platform developed to incorporate a petrol engine along with an electric motor whilst preserving space on board and boot volume. Particular attention was given to weight reduction and balance to make sure the driving experience is as rewarding as possible.  The 308 has always been one of the best-looking small cars on the market but with this latest model the Lion brand has dared to change the body shape quite dramatically. Peugeot were very brave in their design continuing the model as a hatchback and bucking the current trend of upscaling cars to crossovers or SUVs. The result is a car that looks dynamic from every angle. And gorgeous!  The change in style includes an extended wheelbase that stretches the car’s silhouette and offers more space for rear p...

Full details of revisions to the CLA Coupe and Shooting Brake variants have been detailed by Mercedes-Benz, writes Brian Byrne . The exterior changes include modifications to the front apron and radiator grille, and to the rear diffuser. There are also changed graphics in the LED headlamps, now standard across the range. New paint colours and wheel designs have also been introduced. Inside the MBUX infotainment system has 7-inch and 10.25-inch screens as standard, with the option of two 10.25-inch available. There are new trim elements, and seats in part-leather and 100pc recycled fabric are also standard. All petrol engines are electrified, power outputs between 136hp-224hp, with mild-hybrid and PHEV options, the latter with faster charging and more powerful electric motors. Rated electric range is between 68-82km. There are diesels with outputs from 116hp-190hp. Mercedes-AMG variants have their own revisions, including engines up to 421hp. 

Toyota Ireland has added a second version of the Corolla Cross hybrid SUV to its lists, with a smaller engine and some modifications that include more cargo space, writes Brian Byrne . Though pricing isn't available until March, potential buyers of the 1.8 hybrid version can register their interest and book now for deliveries in the summer. The addition follows the launch of the 2.0 hybrid Corolla Cross last year. The 1.8 hybrid will offer 140hp and a 0-100km/h acceleration of just under 10 seconds. The switch to a torsion beam rear suspension of the new variant allows the addition of 46 litres more to the cargo capacity of the SUV. More than 90pc of Toyota's passenger cars sold in Ireland have hybrid electric powertrains.  

You'd be forgiven for not noticing that the car above is a Toyota Prius, writes Brian Byrne . But to motor racing fans in Japan it is the last of a what has been a hero series of Priuses for a decade. Its predecessor car made a debut win at the 2013 Fuji 500 in Japan's Super GT Series, the top level of auto racing in that country. It was the first ever win for a hybrid-engined car in the series. While the hybrid part of the car's powertrain was close to factory standard for the Prius of the time, the internal combustion part was not — it was a howling 3.4 V8. There were to be three generations of the Prius GT, the last with a 5.4 V8 and hybrid electrification. With many podium wins and places down the decade, Toyota pulled the plug on the car after the 2021 season. From now on, apr Racing who operated the Prius GT for the carmaker, will be running a new car based the Lexus LC 500h. But a decade of Prius GTs turned road Prius owners in Japan into very proud people, ready to ...

Renault Megane E-Tech Electric. The Renault Group in Ireland, comprising Renault and Dacia brands, finished out 2022 with a combined 7.1pc share of the passenger car market in Ireland, writes Brian Byrne .  The Renault Arkana, with 1,223 units, was the best seller in the parent brand's range, followed by the Clio (1,193) and Captur (967). In the Dacia brand, the top seller was the Duster (1,434), followed by the Sandero (1,318) and the Jogger 7-seater (637). Patrick Magee, Country Operations Director, Renault Group, said he was very happy with the group's performance given supply challenges earlier in the year."It has been a good start to 2023 with good supply across both brands," he added, noting the new brand identity Dacia range which has arrived and the all new Megane E-Tech electric for which consumer interest and orders are high. In the LCV market Renault Group finished in 4th position with 9.3pc market share.

More than eight in ten Irish motorists don't believe the national target of 945,000 electric vehicles on the road by 2030 will be achieved, writes Brian Byrne . In a poll of 5,000 motorists carried out on behalf smart mobility services specialist Easytrip, the main barriers to them buying an EV are the high purchase price, the status of the public charging network, and the driving range. The recent increases in the cost of electricity has also emerged as a factor, although low running costs remain the top reason to buy an EV, according to the survey. Some 34pc of respondents said they are considering the purchase of a new car during this 231 registration period. Almost four in ten of these are looking to hybrids, 27pc are considering EVs, and 23pc diesel. Just 9pc are looking at straight petrol cars.  

Volvo Cars have announced upgrades to their XC40 and related C40 Recharge models to provide more range, improved powertrains, and a new RWD version, writes Brian Byrne . The brand’s two key electric cars also gain faster charging times at suitable charge points. Both cars are now available to order in Ireland with prices starting at €61,715. The cars now come with 82kWh batteries, which have extended range by up to 62km. The arrival of a RWD version is the first time in 25 years that Volvo have produced such a configuration.  The AWD vehicles benefit from two new electric motors, the more powerful of which has been developed by Volvo in-house. 

A short look at Volkswagen's T-Roc crossover.  A Rough & Ready Production by Brian Byrne for Irish Car.  

Jaguar's I-Pace electric SUV has been given a mid-life upgrade designed to visually enhance the car and also higher specifications, writes Brian Byrne . The exterior changes include a revised grille, door details and rear diffuser. The specification upgrades include distinctive alloys across all versions, and a new range of satin-finish paints. The I-Pace won three categories at the 2019 World Car of the Year Awards , including World Car of the Year . It has a rated range of up to 470km under the WLTP regime. According to Jaguar's own calculator, the combined urban-motorway range in a typical Irish winter day temperature of 5degC would be 358km.  

Tesla has cut prices of its Model Y in Ireland by up to 24pc, writes Brian Byrne . The company has also reduced the price of its main seller, the Model 3. This means that at a starting price of €46,990, two versions of the model Y now qualify for the SEAI €5,000 EV incentive grant. The previous price of the entry RWD car was €59,450. The top grade, the Model Y AWD Performance, has had its price cut from €72,990 to €63,990. The new starting price of the Model 3 is €44,490, with the Performance version now topping the model range at €59,990. Tesla says the reductions are because of a 'normalisation' of some cost inflation and economies of scale due to localisation of production globally. The move follows price cuts announced in the US market on Thursday. Tesla sold 1,112 cars in Ireland last year and was in 18th place in the overall sales table. It was the fourth biggest selling EV in Ireland for 2022, with an 8.4pc EV share behind Volkswagen (26.4pc), Hyundai (12.6pc), and Kia (...

This is the promised plug-in hybrid version of Mazda's electric car, the MX-30 E-Skyactiv R-EV, writes Brian Byrne . A mouthful of a name, the car is revealed at the Brussels Motor Show today and features a rated 85km electric range, with a new rotary engine extended range petrol engine to enable longer journeys. The electric motor will power the car all the time, the rotary engine kicking in only to recharge the battery or to give additional power during sudden acceleration. The petrol tank for the engine is 50 litres, providing a potential combined range competitive to a standard petrol car. The Mazda rotary engine is based on the concept developed by German engineer Felix Wankel in the 1950s. The Japanese company produced it for a range of RX sports cars until 2012, after which it was only used in a racing championship up to 2017. A prototype rotary engine used as an EV range extender was shown in a Mazda2 in 2013. 

The new Giulia front. The electrification of the Alfa Romeo brand will be the keynote theme at the company's stand at the Brussels Motor Show, opening tomorrow, writes Brian Byrne . The highlight model on display will be the Tonale Plug-In Hybrid Q4 SUV, with an 80km range on EV power alone. The car is also claimed to be the sportiest version of the range. There will also be the Tonale hybrid which was the first electrified SUV from the brand, which also features an electronic suspension. Changes to the other Alfa models, the Giulia saloon and Stelvio SUV include new headlights and grilles, the introduction of the latest connectivity systems, and a completely new digital instrument panel. Alfa Romeo is one of the Stellantis Group brands and is distributed in Ireland by the Gowan Group Motor Division. 

This is the last ever Jaguar F-Type model that will be produced, and also marks the end of new Jaguar sports cars powered by internal combustion engines, writes Brian Byrne . From 2025, Jaguar will only launch electric new models. The Jaguar F-Type 75 is a special edition unveiled last October, the '75' recalling the number of years since the XK120, the brand's first sports car, was launched. The last of the F-Type line is powered by V8 petrol engines outputting 450hp and 575hp, the latter for the R version. Both are all-wheel-drive, but there's also a RWD version available. There's also a convertible.  

If all these Volkswagen ID numbers are somewhat confusing to you, you're probably not alone, writes Brian Byrne . Quick primer: all IDs are electric; ID.3 is a compact family hatchback; ID.4 an SUV in the same C-segment; ID.5 a coupe version of that last; and ID.Buzz is the van-based passenger MPV and commercial vehicle. There's an ID.6 in China, a 7-seater in the D-segment; and planned for this year are a city car ID.1, a small ID.2 crossover, and large saloon and estate ID.7s. So what you see is Volkswagen's roadmap to offering a range of EVs to match most of its current internal combustion models. Nothing in the pickup to match the upcoming new generation Amorak yet, but given the cooperation agreement with Ford on LCVs and future blue oval passenger EVs, doubtless there will be a VW variant of Ford's US F-150 Lightning at some stage. All of which brings me to the ID.5 which is the subject for my review this week. The style is slick, recognisably an ID, but with that...

Kevin Hilliard Brand Director GWM Ora Ireland, Pat Ryan Managing Director ORA Ireland and Paul Linders Managing Director Linders Motor Group. The first dealer for the Ora car brand from China has been appointed, writes Brian Byrne . It is the Linders Motor Group based on the Naas Road in Dublin. The first model from the brand is the Funky Cat, a supermini-sized hatchback with two range offers, 310km and 420km. Prices start at €31,995 after grants. Order books are now open and first deliveries to customers will be by the end of January. The brand is being distributed in Ireland by IM Automotive Ltd. The Ora brand was created in 2018 by the Chinese company Great Wall Motors, to be specifically for electric vehicles. All of its current range of cars have Cat in the name — Black, White, Good (Funky in Europe), Punk (Ballet) and Lightning. Great Wall Motors was founded in 1968 and is currently the eighth largest automotive manufacturer in China. 

Heated seat belts are being claimed as another way to increase the range of electric vehicles, writes Brian Byrne . The issue is being promoted by the automotive components developer ZF, who say that in cold weather their use could add 15pc to an EV's range. It is well established that heated seats are the best way to stay warm in an electric car, allowing less dependence on the normal heating-ventilation system which is a bigger draw on the battery system. The ZF heated seat belt is marginally thicker than the standard ones in use, with integrated heating elements in the fabric. No changes to the other elements of the seat belt system are required. So far, no car company has been named as a customer — but it's not so long ago that heated seats were unknown in temperate markets like Ireland, now we almost expect them. So they'll come, you can bet your winter jacket on it. 

Peugeot’s new 308 small family car is the latest version of the hugely successful nameplate with more than seven million worldwide sales over the generations - the first unveiled in 2007 as a replacement for the 307, the second in 2013 (voted European Car of the Year 2014), and the third in 2021 which saw the inclusion of a hybrid powertrain, writes Trish Whelan .   The new 308 is built on a multi-power platform developed to incorporate a petrol engine along with an electric motor whilst preserving space on board and boot volume. Particular attention was given to weight reduction and balance to make sure the driving experience is as rewarding as possible.  The 308 has always been one of the best-looking small cars on the market but with this latest model the Lion brand has dared to change the body shape quite dramatically. Peugeot were very brave in their design continuing the model as a hatchback and bucking the current trend of upscaling cars to crossovers or SUVs....

Mazda rotary brand identity, with original Wankel pic by Softeis, courtesy CC BY-SA 3.0. A plug-in hybrid version of Mazda's MX-30 electric car will be unveiled at the Brussels Motor Show on Friday next, writes Brian Byrne . The powertrain will use the company rotary petrol engine as an electricity generator to power the electric traction motor. No further details of the car have been revealed, but it will be on sale in European markets in the spring. The Mazda rotary engine is based on the concept developed by German engineer Felix Wankel in the 1950s. The Japanese company produced it for a range of RX sports cars until 2012, after which it was only used in a racing championship up to 2017. A prototype rotary engine used as an EV range extender was shown in a Mazda2 in 2013.

The substantial increase in electric energy costs over the past few months has changed the economy dynamic between electric and internal combustion engine power, writes Brian Byrne . Especially if you depend on public charging facilities for your electric car. At this time of writing, internal combustion engines — for which fuel costs have been coming down since the scary heights reached at the start of the Ukraine invasion — can have an economy edge over similar electric models. Since electric vehicles have become a realistic part of the cars mix, the emphasis has been on range rather than consumption. But that’s not the correct way to think about it. It’s really — as it always has been with ICE engines regardless of their fuels — about consumption. With ESB stations now charging 68c per kWh, following two major increases in the last year, travelling 100km in a Peugeot e-208 will cost €10.20 if you depend on public chargers. The same journey in an equivalent Toyota Yaris Hybrid will ...

A new high-definition map system from Google will enable lanes-level navigation and advanced driving assistance in the upcoming Volvo flagship model EX90, writes Brian Byrne . The detailed and up to date road information will also facilitate future enhanced levels of autonomous driving. Combined road information from the HD map and data from the Volvo EX90’s lidar and other sensors will be processed through the car’s core computer system with artificial intelligence. The system will also feature in Volvo's companion brand Polestar in its next model, Polestar 3. Volvo and Polestar already use Google's systems for navigation and actions request.  

Mercedes-Benz is to build a global branded charging network for its electric car  customers, starting in the US and Canada this year and rolling it out later in Europe and China, writes Brian Byrne . Announced at last week's CES show in Las Vegas, the system in the US is envisaged to have 2,500 chargers across 400 strategically located hubs by 2027. The German carmaker will partner with local EV charging and technology companies in the scheme, which will also utilise the Mercedes me Charge system whereby the charge unit communicates directly with the vehicle without the need for manual use of a charging card or fob. Partnering with companies that provide 'green' electricity will be a feature of the scheme. Mercedes-Benz intends to go all-electric wherever market conditions allow by the end of this decade. 

The Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Deirdre Ford, has been presented with a Ford Mustang Mach-E electric car for her official duties, writes Brian Byrne . The extended-range vehicle has a rated range in excess of 600km and is the second year Henry Ford & Son Ltd have provided a Mustang Mach-E to the Lord Mayor. The Cork-based company traditionally provides the official transport for the Lord Mayor. The mayoral car is always the first car each year to be registered in Cork, and it was handed over by the company's Pádraig Duane. 

The Cupra Formentor compact SUV was the VW-owned performance brand's biggest seller in Ireland in 2022, with 521 units, writes Brian Byrne . In second place was the Cupra Born electric hatchback, with 126 units. The Irish distributor says demand outstripped supply for its models because of disruption caused by the war in Ukraine and supply chain issues, but nevertheless they achieved growth for the fourth year in succession in the Irish market. The other models in the Cupra range are the Leon hatchback and Sportstourer and the Ateca SUV. 

A County Cork machinery salesman has recently found what happens when the odometer on his 16-year-old Kia Sportage reached 999,999.9 kilometres, writes Brian Byrne . No, it didn't start at zero again, it just stopped at that figure and doesn't record any more. At this writing, Ben O'Connor of Colemans of Millstreet has driven his trusty blue Sportage more than 10,000k further, but he relies on the trip computer to track the mileage. Ben is the Sales Manager of Colemans for the company's New Holland division, right beside their Kia dealership. He says he's known as 'the man in the blue car who sells the Blue Tractors'. He has no plans to change his 4x4 any time soon, saying it has become part of his identity. Besides, it has been totally reliable over those million-plus kilometres, only needing a new clutch apart from normal servicing during its time. Even though his driving to see customers in Cork, Kerry and Limerick counties often takes him on poor roads i...

With the Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show (CES) now firmly established as a showcase for automotive conceptualising, Peugeot is wooing the tech-heads this week with its Inception Concept , writes Brian Byrne . The sleek car previews how the latest Stellantis Group battery-electric STLA platform will enable changes in thinking for both interiors and external shaping of a car. The Inception Concept is built on the large version of that architecture, and is powered by two electric motors with a 100kWh battery enabling a claimed 800km range. Production cars with the technology are envisaged as being able to add 150km of range in five minutes at a suitable charging point. 

Almost 70 years after the model was first produced, Mercedes-Benz is launching the latest version of the Mercedes-AMG SL Roadster, writes Brian Byrne . It's not for many — the €238,395 opening price tag will see to that — but it does represent for some the latest iteration of their dream car. The soft-top roof can be opened and closed at speeds of up to 60km/h. At start, the entry engine outputs 381hp, and two 4.0 V8 biturbo engines are available with 476hp or 585hp — 0 to 100 km/h times of under four seconds in each case.  A Formula 1-inspired hybrid with an electric motor at the rear axle will follow. Fully variable all-wheel drive is standard. Dream on.  

A car that chats to you as you drive along could well sound like the ultimate automotive distraction, but that's the premise of a presentation by BMW at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week, writes Brian Byrne . The car is embodied with the name Dee, sounds cute but is really an acronym for Digital Emotional Experience. Using augmented reality and artificial intelligence, Dee is presented as its owner's 'ultimate companion' that 'gets to know you better every day'. The presentation even includes actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, kind of stopped in his tracks when the car converses with him and suggests a 'digital hug'. It's all a bit twee, and somehow like driving in the middle of a TikTok movie, but I can see how CES-goers would enjoy it. Motorheads, not so much. You don't have to go to Las Vegas to meet Dee, just click here . 

This is a camouflaged version of the next Volkswagen ID car, the ID.7 large saloon which will debut this year along with a tourer version, writes Brian Byrne . The car is the key reveal for the maker at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, opening to the public today. It's the first time in six years that VW has exhibited at the CES, which has become a showcase for high-tech cars from several manufacturers. The ID.7 will have a rated range of 700km, and is expected to be available at the end of this year for 2024 deliveries in Ireland. Prices and specifications will be provided closer to that time. 

A short look at Volkswagen's electric coupe SUV ID.5 GTX MAX.  A Rough & Ready Production by Brian Byrne for Irish Car.

Smart-charging company Ohme is the new official charging partner for Kearys Motor Group in Ireland, writes Brian Byrne . The agreement will see Kearys recommend Ohme EV chargers for all of its new and used electrified vehicle sales.  Based in Cork and London, Ohme was one of Ireland’s fastest growing smart-charging companies in 2022 and Kearys Motor Group is Ireland’s largest family-owned motor group, with franchises for BMW, Hyundai, Nissan, Renault and Mini across 12 dealerships and employing 450 people throughout Ireland. Kearys also own Carstore, Ireland’s largest used car supermarket with superstores in Dublin, Cork and Limerick as well as a strong online presence. Ohme’s smart chargers can connect with the national grid in real time and automatically adjust their charging for drivers to take advantage of off-peak tariffs. They also offer the option to charge their car when renewable energy generation on the national grid is at its highest, further lowering their CO2 impact....

Sales of electric cars in Ireland in 2022 were 15,678, and 81pc increase on 2021, writes Brian Byrne . According to figures released by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry today, total registrations of new cars were 105,253, a marginal 0.3pc increase on 2021 and 10.1pc down on pre-Covid levels. Brian Cooke, SIMI Director General, said new car sales and those of commercial vehicles had been impacted by supply constraints. He also said that dealers are reporting strong orders for the new 231 sales period which began yesterday. New light commercial vehicle sales of 23,653 units for 2022 were 17.7pc down on 2021. Petrol accounted for 30.16pc, Diesel 26.77pc, Hybrid 19.29pc, Electric 14.90pc, and Plug-In Hybrid 6.76pc. Hybrid, electric and plug-in hybrid now account for 41pc of the market.   Automatic transmissions now account for 57pc in powertrains, in part reflecting the increase of electrified power. 

With 155 deaths in road traffic incidents during 2022, fatalities were up by 13pc on the previous year, writes Brian Byrne . Figures compiled by the Road Safety Authority also revealed that the 41 pedestrians killed in 2022 was double the figure for 2021. Four in 10 of all deaths were drivers of cars. Serious injuries suffered by 1,292 people in road traffic incidents represented a slight decrease on the 2021 figures.