Sinclair Finance & Leasing

Car cloning warning

Car cloning is a growing trend amongst criminal gangs, according to a national organisation formed to help combat vehicle fraud.

The Vehicle Safe Trading Advisory Group (VSTAG) has launched the website www.vstag.co.uk offering advice to anyone who suspects a vehicle has been cloned.

Fuel prices

         Average fuel prices in the UK:

BMW reveals details of its most fuel-efficient car

  BMW has announced details of its most fuel-efficient car ever – the 116d, and has also released special editions of the 5-Series aimed at business customers.

Powered by a detuned version of the 2.0-litre diesel engine found in the 118d and 120d, the 116d offers 116bhp, claimed combined fuel economy of 64.2mpg and CO2 emissions of 118g/km – ensuring it sits in the lowest benefit-in-kind tax band for diesels.

Due to go on sale in March, prices start at £17,605.

Majority of motorists belive they were still drunk the morning after

   Eighty per cent of drivers think they might have been over the drink drive limit the morning after a night of drinking.

The advice is: if you have drunk alcohol the night before, then do not drive the following morning if you have any doubts about their alcohol levels.

Talking cars get on the road

The next generation traffic management technology has been launched that will enable vehicles to communicate with overhead gantries carrying road signs over motorways and trunk roads.

The data from passing vehicles will be collected, while the passing vehicles will also receive traffic information, which will then be processed by on-board driver assistance systems.

Electric car makers call for lease industry cooperation

"According to Alison Bell, marketing manager for Venson Automotive Solutions, there are also other more practical issues, such as vehicle range, health and safety around charging points and even whether VAT can be reclaimed on the electricity used to charge vehicles, that suppliers need to address before fleets can consider widespread adoption of electric vehicles."

Electric carmakers and distributors have called on the lease and fleet sector to work with them to accelerate the introduction of electric vehicles onto the UK’s roads.

Study confirms future of electric vehicles

Electric vehicles recharged from the national grid could potentially cut greenhouse gas emissions by more than 40% compared to vehicles powered by carbon-based fuels, new research has found.

The study by Arup and Cenex on behalf of the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and the Department for Transport, also found that contrary to common perception, the UK electricity grid has sufficient generating capacity to cope with a greater uptake of electrified vehicles.

Electric talk

The UK’s network of Elektrobay roadside charging stations is now able to ‘talk’ to electric cars as they are being recharged.

The resulting ‘conversation’ can exchange data and discuss billing, power requirement identification, transaction security and safety.

Fuel concerns lesson as petrol prices fall

Fleet managers will be breathing a sigh of relief as the summer of soaring fuel appears to be ending, and a season of stability takes over.

According to analysts, oil prices have fallen by 31% since a peak of $147 a barrel in July, to below the $100 mark this week, while the AA says the average price of fuel is now 113p per litre for petrol and 123p for diesel.

While still not cheap, experts believe prices will drop further, relieving a huge financial burden on fleets.

A spokesman for the Petrol Retailer Association (PRA) said "We envisage that fuel prices will continue to drop over the autumn as demand falls.

Green driving techniques taught to learners

Learner drivers are now recieving additional tuition on how to drive in a way that saves money, saves fuel and cut emmisions as part of their practical driving tests.

However, while driving test examiners will provide candidates with feedback on how green their driving is, candidates will not pass or fail their practical test as a result of this assessment.

To compliment the initiative, transport minister Jim Fitzpatrick has also announced that the government is to spend £3 million on promoting green driving techniques to motorists who already have a licence.