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FALLING SUPPORT AMONGST WOMEN FOR ELECTRIC CARS PROMPTS CALL FOR GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRY TO PUT WOMEN IN THE EV DRIVING SEAT

18 Mar 2024 15:24:43

The UK's leading EV advice site Electrifiying.com is calling on the Government to step up and ensure that women don't get left behind on the road to electrification. A joint survey of 3,712 female drivers by Electrifying.com and The AA found that two thirds of women don't want to give up their petrol or diesel cars, citing concerns around how to charge an electric car and a lack of confidence in the infrastructure as key reasons - with 55% of women telling us that they have concerns about their personal safety due to the location of some charging points. Female drivers also told us that they have concerns about running out of charge with their family in the car, with 60% giving this as a reason for their reluctance to switch. Women's enthusiasm to embrace electric vehicles has dropped dramatically over the past two years with just 16% saying that they feel confident about the prospect of charging an electric car, compared to 40% of men. While the number of women who feel less confident at the prospect of driving an EV than they do a petrol or diesel car has risen to 60%, up from 50% in 2021. A resounding 66% of female drivers said that clear and easily accessible information about electric cars - along with the opportunity to drive one - would help give them the confidence they need to switch, with 1 in 5 admitting they find information about how electric cars work confusing. To ensure no woman gets left behind on the road to electric, the female-fronted website Electrifying.com is calling for a Government led campaign to help alleviate the genuine concerns women have about EVs. Additionally, it is calling on the automotive industry to come together and offer women the opportunity to take extended test drives of electric cars to bolster their confidence - in a pressure free environment away from the dealership.

GENDER BIAS EXPOSED IN MOTOR GARAGE PRICING & TREATMENT FOR WOMEN

18 Mar 2024 15:23:32

Caura, the car management app, has found women are charged on average five per cent more than men for vehicle maintenance, in what the firm is calling a 'pink pricing prejudice'. The research, which aimed to understand the dynamics of customer treatment in garages, used a mix of methods, from mystery shopping to a survey in conjunction with YouGov. The YouGov survey of 4,000 UK men and women uncovered the fact that 59 per cent of women agree with the statement that garages are more catered towards men. Shockingly the younger generation feels these biases more, with 65 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds (both genders) agreeing that garages are spaces traditionally tailored for men. When looking at the process of booking in and agreeing work on their vehicle, nearly half (46 per cent) of the females surveyed said they felt rushed to approve additional works to their car, and 45 per cent said they were confused while doing it. However, it seems the confusion isn't from a lack of understanding what the work was, as 83 per cent of the women said they understood the language used when describing what their car needed in terms of maintenance - their concern lay more in the perception that garages may have intentionally obfuscated information and pressured them into making hasty decisions. To enhance its findings, the Caura team conducted a blind survey by contacting 100 garages and requesting quotes for an MOT and / or service under the aliases 'Emma' and 'Edward'. Each garage was contacted alternately by different team members using the same vehicle. Out of the 100 garages contacted, 70 responded to both calls, revealing a significant gender disparity in the quotes provided. For a service, 'Edward' was quoted £229 on average, whereas 'Emma' was quoted £241 on average - representing a five per cent increase for females. The most concerning price quoted by a garage was a whopping 265 per cent premium, where 'Emma' was quoted nearly three-times (£475) more than 'Edward' who was given a £130 quote for identical work. Similarly, for an annual MOT quote, typically considered fixed in some garages, 'Edward' was quoted £48 on average, while 'Emma' received average quotes of £49 - a two per cent increase for the female. Highlighting a systemic issue within the automotive sector that requires urgent attention, Janice Pang, Head of Vehicle Maintenance at Caura, said: "Cars don't judge their drivers whether they're male or female, so why should garages? A one per cent increase in price [when looking at male versus female] in either gender swing is wrong, but when our research shows a five per cent increase [on average] on like-for-like pricing, we were shocked by prejudice in pricing for women."

GEM SUPPORTS HIGHWAY SAFETY CAMPAIGN WITH TOP TIPS

18 Mar 2024 15:22:31

Road safety and breakdown organisation GEM Motoring Assist is supporting the new National Highways campaign encouraging all road users to make small changes to their behaviour and help create a safer environment for everyone. Around five people die every day on the road in the UK, while 84 suffer serious, life-changing injury1. GEM is committed to playing its part in raising awareness of - and reducing - these preventable tragedies that have such a devastating impact on families, individuals and communities. National Highways is asking drivers to: - use the left-hand lane on motorways and dual carriageways when conditions allow. If you wish to overtake a slower vehicle, then you can use the other lanes, but you should then return to the left lane when safe. - keep at least a two-second gap between themselves and the vehicle in front. This gives you time and space to stop safely in an emergency. Tips from GEM As well as supporting the wise advice from National Highways, GEM offers two simple tips of its own for any driver on any road: Pay attention: Give the road your full attention. Don't be distracted by passengers, mobile phones, other drivers or private thoughts. Hold back: Make a pledge that you won't react to the actions of other drivers. Nobody's perfect, so don't waste time and increase risk by trying to rebuke another road user. Focus on holding back and staying safe.

EVS ARE 59% LESS LIKELY TO BREAK DOWN, SAYS START RESCUE

18 Mar 2024 15:21:20

The myth about poor electric car reliability has been busted, according to data from one of the UK's leading breakdown providers. Contrary to common perceptions, EVs are 59% less likely to require a breakdown call-out than ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicles. “Our figures show electric cars ranging from new to 10-years old are 59% less prone to breakdowns than ICE cars,” says Lee Puffett, Managing Director of Start Rescue. “This might surprise some motorists, but with more than a million EVs now on the UK's roads it shows drivers can choose an EV confident that they are less likely to be stranded at the roadside.” Lee Puffett adds: “The hurdle to buying an EV of any age is more psychological than real for most buyers looking to make the switch from ICE to electric power. EV batteries are not like the ones in your mobile phone or laptop - they retain far more of their charge capacity to give you plenty of driving range. However, you still need to look after the 12-volt battery to avoid one of the most common causes of call-outs.” The 12-volt battery powers the same functions as petrol and diesel cars, such as the dashboard which enables the vehicle to start, as well as lights and wipers. The good news is, from Start Rescue's own data, EVs are less likely to suffer from a flat battery call-out than petrol or diesel cars. For EVs, this accounts for 23.7% of call-outs compared to 29.7% for petrol and diesel. Regular use keeps the 12-volt battery in good condition and avoids breakdown call-outs as EVs still need this system to open the doors and start. While most EVs come with a battery warranty of up to eight years, Start Rescue offers extra peace of mind with its dedicated EV breakdown cover. Its fully trained operatives will get you on the road again or recover your vehicle to an agreed location in line with your policy.

DEPRECIATION PUTS DEALERS OFF STOCKING USED EVS

18 Mar 2024 15:20:29

Shocking depreciation on some EV models has made dealers wary of buying them for stock, according to new research by HonkHonk. More than one in three used car dealers report that they are 'much less interested' than a year ago in taking an EV off somebody's hands, says HonkHonk. Price falls last year wiped almost half off the value of some battery car models, leaving many dealers afraid to stock them today. HonkHonk asked dealers if their attitude toward stocking an EV has changed over the past 12 months and found that more than half of them were less interested today than a year ago. Most of those - 38.5% - said they were 'much less interested', while the other 12.3% were 'a bit less interested'. Sebastien Duval, CEO of HonkHonk, said: "The problem is that the shocking depreciation we saw last year for many EV models has left dealers worried that they'll lose money if a car doesn't sell fast. It's a dramatic contrast with dealer appetite for buying in general for stock, because we're seeing demand go through the roof for other cars, when HonkHonk users offer them. "Right now, dealers can't get enough small or medium petrol cars, medium diesels and even hybrids, since the market began recovering in 2024. But less than one in ten of them want to snap up a battery EV car more than they did than a year ago." Market analysts have reported that EVs are partly the victim of their own success, with supply increasing in the used market and rapid improvements to the latest new models making used examples increasingly common but also less attractive to motorists. Combined with the ongoing problems of an inadequate charging infrastructure, the previous generations of EV - with their lower mileage ranges - are losing out to the kind of smaller petrol and diesel cars drivers trust and the improved but expensive new EV model ranges.

BRIGHTON NAMED SEASIDE WITH PRICIEST PARKING

11 Mar 2024 16:44:51

In a new study conducted by Motorscan, Brighton has been ranked as the most expensive seaside to park your car. Collating data via Parkopedia, the study evaluates the average parking costs across 30 prominent UK seasides. The analysis focuses on parking spots available on an 8-hour basis within a 30-minute or less walking distance from the centre. Brighton takes the top spot as the seaside with the most expensive parking, averaging at £24.21 for an eight-hour stay. Ranking as second most expensive is popular Cornish town, Newquay, where the average parking fee stands at £12.32 for eight hours. While still a significant expense, this rate is half that of Brighton's, offering a much more affordable option. Claiming the third spot is another beloved Cornish spot, Falmouth, with a marginal difference of just £0.20, totalling £12.12 for parking over the same period. Southend-on-Sea claims the fourth spot with an average cost of £11.50, while Bournemouth, a popular Dorset seaside destination, follows closely behind in fifth place with an average of £10.42 for eight hours. Seaside parking costs appear to decrease as visitors venture further north. For instance, St Andrews, Fife, claims the title of cheapest seaside to park, with an average cost of just £1.90 for eight hours—12 times less than Brighton. East Yorkshire seaside town, Hornsea, takes the title of second cheapest, coming in at an average of £1.98 for parking this Easter, over the same time period. Portrush, in Northern Ireland, ranks as the third cheapest seaside parking spot, with an average cost of £3.47 - three times less than Falmouth. Morecambe, located in Lancashire, clinches the fourth spot for the most budget-friendly seaside parking options in the UK, with an average eight-hour cost of £4.33. Bridlington, situated in East Riding, clinches the fifth spot as one of the most affordable seasides for parking, with an average cost of £4.60 for an eight-hour stay - less than half than that of Bournemouth.

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