A team of UK engineers, including representatives from Sevcon, Generator Technologies and Newcastle University, has just been awarded a grant of £518,000, by the UK’s Technology Strategy Board, to develop a new motor for pure electric and hybrid vehicles that will reduce the dependency on using rare earth metals.

Current EV motors use rare earth metals like Neodymium and Dysprosium and the new engine motor will use steel which is easier and cheaper to produce, plus its much less damaging to the environment.

The market for electric cars and commercial vehicles is expected to grow five fold over the next decade, from less than 2.0 million sold in 2010 to around 49 million by 2020 and hence the need to find a more-cost effective metal to drive the engines. The system is expected to be ready for production within four years.

The “Kia Motors’ Cleaner Driving” report has revealed that UK motorists spend more than two days each year (49.5) stuck in stand-still traffic. They also found that the average Brit will spend 91 days of their working life grinding to a halt trying to reach their workplace.

The headlines of the Kia report are:

-Two-thirds of drivers (66%) admit to speeding when the traffic clears up to make up the time.

-62% of drivers get angry when they hit queues.

-33% admit having experienced road rage in heavy traffic.

-One in five (19%) have suffered a bump or accident on route to work.

-44% are regulary late for their work due to traffic congestion.

However the report also found that 30% of motorists have ruled out public transport due to inconvenience and 72% said they value the privacy and space travelling to work in their car.

Fiat 500 C

Vertu Motors, one of the largest motor retailers in Britain, has been awarded the Fiat car franchise for the first time. Vertu has 54 dealerships throughout the country and will open new Fiat sites at former Brooklyn Motors sites, which it recently acquired in Cheltenham and Worcester.

Vertu already represents Fiat commercial vehicles with the Iveco brand and Fiat Professional via their Bristol Street Motors brand. Tim Head, dealer development director, Fiat Group Automobiles UK said, “We are delighted to welcome Vertu Motors into our growing dealer network”.

Hyoung-Keun Lee

Kia Motors Corporation has appointed Hyoung-Keun (Hank) Lee as their new president and in his new role will lead Kia’s corporate planning, marketing and overseas business operations.

Michael Cole, Managing Director of Kia Motors (UK) said, “Hank knows the UK and European markets well and I am confident this is a positive development that will maintain the progress we have made with the brand in recent years. With five new models due to come to the market in the next two years his steady and knowledgeable hand on the tiller will be very welcome as the world emerges from economic turmoil”.