All New Homes in the UK Must Have EV Chargers Starting in 2022
According to an official release from U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson's office, legislation will be announced that requires the addition of EV charge points with every new home and business built from 2022 and beyond.
The PM's office says this legislation will result in 145,000 new charging points across the country each year. It's a much-needed step during the rapid run-up to the U.K.'s looming ban of new internal combustion-engine cars that begins in 2030.
Unlike the recently signed $1 trillion U.S. infrastructure bill, which puts the focus on building publicly accessible charging infrastructure, the upcoming U.K. legislation will place residential structures at the center of its attention.
Read the article at The Drive.
The Ford F-150 Lightning Will Be Able to Charge Other Lightnings
Ford has a trick up its sleeve that may finally persuade truck owners to go electric: The F-150 Lighting will be able to charge other F-150 Lightnings.
One of the key traits revolves around the truck's ability to act as a rolling battery and power generator, which allows it to share its electric charge with other devices - anything from camping gear to an entire house.
Theoretically, an F-150 Lightning could charge any electric vehicle, but the charging cord and electrical architecture compatibilities are the limiting factors. So at first, the truck will only be able to share its charge with other F-150 Lightnings.
Read the article at The Drive.
Japanese Makers Dominate New Consumer Reports Reliability Study — But Domestics Deliver Surprises
Japanese automakers - again - dominated the Annual Auto Reliability study from Consumer Reports, but there was some good news for Detroit manufacturers in the latest survey of vehicle owners.
The study found Lexus, Mazda and Toyota suffering the fewest reliability issues, with eight Japanese brands in the top 10. Only Buick made that cut among domestics. Detroit brands scored extremely well in some key product segments, including compact SUVs and all pickup categories. Domestics dominated in seven growing categories, including midsize and full-size pickups, overall.
The closely watched report had mixed news, meanwhile, on the “electrified” vehicle front. It revealed that hybrids and plug-in hybrids are among the most reliable vehicles on the market. But pure battery-electric vehicles, especially those built by Tesla, suffered from a number of serious problems.
Read the article at The Detroit Bureau.
ARI’s Jim Jackson Named 2021 National Remarketing Executive of the Year
ARI® announced that Jim Jackson has been recognized as the 2021 National Remarketing Executive of the Year.
The annual award, presented by the Independent Auction Group (IAG), honors remarketing professionals who share their expertise and skills to help advance this segment of the industry.
“Not only does Jim represent the very best our industry has to offer, he’s also at the forefront of helping to educate and develop the next generation of remarketing professionals,” said Lynn Weaver, Executive Director, Independent Auction Group.
“Jim’s passion for the automotive industry is second-to-none and his profound impact on the remarketing segment of the industry simply cannot be overstated. He’s universally respected and admired by his peers across the entire industry and I truly cannot think of a better ambassador for our remarketing profession.”
J.D. Power Announces 2022 U.S. ALG Residual Value Awards
The J.D. Power U.S. ALG Residual Value Awards are the automotive industry standard in recognizing vehicle models projected to hold the highest percentage of their manufacturer’s suggested retail price following a three-year period of ownership.
“Accurately forecasting residual values in the auto industry is a key factor in assessing an estimated $225 billion lease portfolio of vehicles in the United States,” said Eric Lyman, vice president of ALG.
In addition to the mass market brand level award, Honda also takes home three model-level awards. Lexus ranks highest among premium brands while only having one segment-winning model.
Read the article at J.D. Power.
