Podcasts about lcvs

Toby and Jon Burdekin dive into the challenges and opportunities of fleet electrification. They discuss the evolution of electric vehicle infrastructure, the growing role of salary sacrifice schemes in making EVs more accessible, and the misconceptions surrounding EV adoption. Jon shares insights on how businesses can smoothly transition their fleets while avoiding common pitfalls. Jon has 30 years' experience in the UK leasing and fleet finance industry, having previously worked for such major leasing companies as Alphabet GB Ltd and GE Capital Fleet Services.  His 15-year career with Alphabet incorporated roles as Account Manager, Head of Account Management, and Head of Consulting Services.  Client relationships that Jon had direct responsibility for included McDonald's, BOC, Shell, Oracle, Royal and Sun Alliance and the BBC. By managing such large vehicle fleets, he has gained extensive knowledge in helping clients transition to electric – incorporating all the component parts of that journey.  A subject matter expert in the adoption of electric vehicles and salary sacrifice schemes, Jon led Alphabet's Electric Vehicle proposition, AlphaElectric, and is the accredited EV and salary sacrifice trainer for both the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) and the Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP).  Jon has also delivered EV training directly for such clients as LV=, Leaseplan, AA Drivetech, Arval, United Rental Group, SG Fleet, Athlon, Select Car Leasing, Volvo, Citygate Group, Holdcroft Group and Norton Way Motors.  Delegate satisfaction rates consistently exceed 95% and Jon is able to demonstrate measurable improvements in EV confidence and knowledge of between 60% and 300%.   Jon has run his own consultancy business since January 2019 with the aim of enhancing subject matter knowledge on all aspects of Salary Sacrifice and EV adoption, and helping clients educate their customers for the transition to 100% electric by 2030 (cars), or 2035 (LCVs).   Jon on LinkedIn JB Consulting I hope you enjoy the show and if you have any comments or suggestions, please write to me at: toby@wickedproblems.fm. Wicked Problems is powered by Adaptavis® Adaptavis is a Business Performance Management and Transformation consultancy aimed at forward-thinking leaders, based in London UK. The company specialises in helping organisations to enhance operational efficiency, drive business growth, and navigate complex transformations. From strategy to execution, they focus on providing insights and practical solutions to improve the overall performance of businesses, ensuring they can adapt to changing market conditions and achieve sustainable success. Toby Corballis is a Partner at Adaptavis. You can find out more about their work by visiting: www.adaptavis.com Enjoy, Toby Corballis

In this special episode of the evo India Podcast, automotive historian and editor-at-large at evo India, Adil Jal Darukhanawala is in conversation with Sudhir Mehta, Chairman and MD of EKA Mobility. EKA Mobility is an Indian manufacturer of electric commercial vehicles, ranging from three-wheelers to buses, LCVs, and trucks. In this podcast, Sudhir shares insights on electric mobility for both people and goods, how electric commercial vehicles will help reduce the country's pollution and carbon levels, and how much money they save in the freight carrier industry compared to using ICE trucks and buses. You can also visit the EKA Mobility pavilion at the Auto Expo 2025 where you can see their range of electric commercial vehicles and meet the team behind the scenes. Sit back, relax, and enjoy this deep dive into how electric buses and trucks will save a lot money, and cut down pollution massively in India.

Last time we spoke about Operation Capital. In late November, General Gill's 32nd Division secured Limon and aimed for Ormoc, while General Arnold's 7th Division prepared to flank Japanese forces. Intense fighting marked the attack on Kilay Ridge, resulting in a costly victory for the Americans. Meanwhile, Japanese operations faltered as supplies dwindled. By December, Allied plans for Luzon's invasion were set, but delays in securing air support complicated the Mindoro operation. Across the seas, naval battles raged, revealing the fierce struggle for control in the Pacific. In December, the Chinese launched renewed attacks on fortified Japanese positions in Bhamo, but faced fierce resistance. While the 113th Regiment struggled, the 114th found early success aided by coordinated artillery and air support. As casualties mounted, General Honda ordered reinforcements for Hara's garrison, leading to a desperate counterattack. Despite heavy losses, Japanese forces managed to retreat to safety. Amid ongoing skirmishes, the Allies realized their strategies would need revision to face the shifting tide of battle effectively. This episode is the Fall of Ormoc Welcome to the Pacific War Podcast Week by Week, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about world war two? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on world war two and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel you can find a few videos all the way from the Opium Wars of the 1800's until the end of the Pacific War in 1945.  Last we left off,  the Japanese were preparing to initiate their Wa offensive, General Arnold's troops had successfully taken control of Shoestring Ridge and were poised to launch a fresh attack aimed at Ormoc. By December 4, the tanks of the 776th Amphibian Tank Battalion were positioned near Balogo, ready to strike the enemy positions ahead of the main assault. The next morning, these tanks targeted the weakened Japanese defenses at Balogo and Tabgas before subsequently withdrawing.There were numerous finger ridges inland which were cut by deep ravines and gorges that came to within a few hundred yards of the coast line. The entrenched Japanese, using reverse slope tactics, were able to deliver deadly fire on the advancing infantry. In many cases the reverse slopes were so steep that effective artillery fire could not be placed upon them. The 2d Battalion, 184th Infantry, moved forward slowly toward a small hill which faced the Palanas River, and at 0858 it encountered enemy small arms fire from the western slope of the hill. Using grenades, the battalion pushed forward, but at 0938 the Japanese opened up with three light machine guns. The supporting weapons of the 2d Battalion fired on the enemy positions to the front. At 1037, as the battalion reached the military crest of the hill, the Japanese launched a small counterattack on the left flank of Company E. This attack was repulsed, but the companies continued to receive small arms and machine gun fire. At 1325 the 1st Battalion renewed its advance and proceeded without incident, finding the situation "very quiet" to its front. At 1435 the battalion dug in for the night approximately 300 yards south of Balogo. The 3d Battalion moved through the gap between the 1st and 2d Battalions and across the front of the 2d Battalion on the right toward Hill 380, which consisted of a series of ridges. As the 3d Battalion advanced toward the hill, it came under machine gun fire on each flank. With artillery support, the troops reached the top of the second ridge of Hill 380 and dug in, nine of the men having been wounded. At 1635 the battalions of the 184th Infantry received orders to set up night defense positions in depth and to hold the "positions at all costs." Colonel O'Sullivan decided that the 3d Battalion was to bear the brunt of the advance of the 184th Infantry on 6 December and push on to Hill 380. On the right of the 184th the 17th Infantry had had a busy day in working toward its objective, Hill 918. At 0800 on 5 December the 1st and 2d Battalions of the 17th Infantry, with the 1st Battalion on the left, had moved through the 32d Infantry. At 0906 the advance elements of the 1st Battalion secured a ridge south of the main ridge leading from Hill 918, and at 1000 the entire battalion closed on this ridge. In the face of sporadic rifle and machine gun fire, the leading platoons pushed forward to secure a ridge that led west from Hill 918. As the advance platoons neared the crest of this ridge, they received intense rifle, machine gun, and mortar fire to the front and on both flanks from the 2d Battalion, 12th Independent Infantry Regiment. At the same time the rest of the battalion, in attempting to reach a forward ridge and support the leading platoons, also encountered cross fire that came down the intervening draw. As enemy gunfire pinned down the troops, the 1st Battalion lost contact with Company G, 2d Battalion, and a gap developed between the 1st and 2d Battalions. At the end of 5 December the 17th Infantry had secured the ridge west of Hill 918 and the 184th Infantry had secured a line extending from the beach 300 yards south of Balogo east to the high ground southeast of the Palanas River. Company K, 32d Infantry, had filled a gap that had existed between the 17th and 184th Infantry Regiments, while the 3d Battalion, 184th Infantry, had crossed the Palanas River and, advancing up the southwest slope of Hill 380, reached the top of the first ridge.  The next day the 2d Battalion had driven forward with Company E on the right and Company G on the left. Company E went east along the Bucan River for approximately 1,000 yards and then turned northeast to ascend Hill 918. At first, however, the company had to secure a small ridge southwest of Hill 918 on which was a small but dense banana grove. Company E encountered and destroyed a small enemy force on this ridge, after which the company reorganized and at approximately 1300 began to ascend Hill 918 itself. When Company E reached the military crest of the hill, the Japanese began heavy firing with grenade launchers and at least three machine guns. The enemy fire swept the crest of the hill and prevented any movement over the lip of the ridge. Meanwhile, Company G went to the left of Company E and secured a small ridge about 1,200 yards from the line of departure and west of Hill 918. The advance platoon of Company G then received fire from automatic weapons that were emplaced in a draw to the left front of the platoon. The rest of the company attempted to move around to the right of the ridge but also encountered automatic weapons fire coming from another draw. Since high cogon grass covered the area, observation was limited to a matter of inches. At about 1300, elements of the 13th Independent Infantry Regiment counterattacked through a gap between Company G and Company A of the 1st Battalion. A machine gun platoon, which was thrown in to plug the gap, succeeded in stopping the attempted Japanese advance. Company G, however, continued to be pinned down by the enemy fire directed at its front. Company F, the reserve company, was then committed to take a position between G and E Companies. Its mission was to come abreast of Company E, take Hill 918, and then turn west and wipe out the resistance in front of Company G. At 1415 Company F moved up Hill 918 and reached Company E without opposition. Three spurs led down from Hill 918. The one occupied by Company E ran southwest, that occupied by Company F ran west, and the third ran northwest. As the two commanders started to launch a coordinated assault from their respective spurs, their companies received a concentration of about fifty rounds of mortar fire but pushed through this fire and secured the crests of both spurs. They immediately came under automatic weapons and rifle fire from the northwest ridge. Since the left flank of Company F was in the tall cogon grass, it was practically impossible for the company to observe the enemy. On the other hand, Company E was on bare and open ground which exposed it to machine gun and mortar fire from Hill 918. Both companies also came under long-range machine gun fire from the vicinity of Kang Dagit, northeast of Hill 918. It was impractical to attempt an envelopment to the right, since the flank of Company E rested on a deep ravine which ran to the bed of the Bagan River. An envelopment to the left would have necessitated going down the hill, circling behind Company G, and attacking east from the positions of the 1st Battalion. Because of these unfavorable conditions, Companies E and F with their wounded withdrew to make a line with Company G. Meanwhile, the Japanese continued their preparations for Operation Wa, which was already set to fail from the outset. General Makino's 16th Division could only advance a composite battalion of 500 men, which incurred 200 casualties en route. Additionally, General Yamagata's 26th Division was still mobilizing to reach the assembly area, with only one forward battalion prepared for action. Consequently, feeling inadequately prepared, General Suzuki requested a delay in the attack, and General Yamashita effectively rescheduled it to the night of December 6. From his new headquarters in Lubi, Suzuki communicated this update to the 16th and 26th Divisions, but due to radio issues, Makino was never informed. Meanwhile, General Bruce's 77th Division was organizing a risky amphibious invasion of Ormoc. As per General Hodge's strategy, Rear-Admiral Arthur Struble's Task Group 78.3, consisting of around a dozen destroyers, was assigned the task of transporting and landing the 77th Division, along with its supplies and equipment, at the barrio of Desposito located southeast of Ormoc. Upon landing, Bruce's forces were to advance northward, capture Ormoc, and then proceed up the Ormoc corridor to connect with units from General Sibert's 10th Corps. To facilitate this operation, the 5th Air Force would provide continuous air support—both day and night—for the assault convoy en route to the target, during the landings, and for the return trip. In addition, General Gill's 32nd Division was set to initiate an offensive southward along Highway 2 towards Ormoc while the 7th Division pressed northward to seize the elevated terrain south of the Panilahan River. Consequently, on December 5, the 127th Regiment commenced its advance past Colonel Hettinger's 3rd Battalion, facing staunch resistance from General Kataoka's 1st Division, which was well-entrenched on the high ground 1,000 yards south of the Leyte River bridge. The well-camouflaged enemy defenses consisted of numerous foxholes and ten-foot-deep spider holes, many of which were connected by interlacing communication trenches. The terrain that the troops traversed was adapted to defensive fighting, and the 1st Division took full advantage of this fact. There were deep ravines and steep hills where the enemy had dug in on both the forward and reverse slopes. The entire area was covered by heavy rain forest with dense underbrush. The nearly constant rainfall made observation difficult and the maps for the area were very inaccurate. The 77th Division continued to assemble its troops on Tarragona Beach, on the east coast of Leyte, and during the night of December 5 the loading of supplies and equipment on the landing ships began. The loading was slowed by frequent air alerts. The division had previously been told that the convoy would be unable to stay in the landing area more than two hours and consequently there was no attempt to bulk load supplies, since they would take too long to unload. All supplies and equipment to support the initial assault had to be mobile-loaded, that is, loaded on the vehicles taken with the division so that the supplies could be brought ashore in the vehicles upon debarkation. There were only 289 vehicles in the initial convoy, including tanks, M8s, and M10s that could not carry supplies. The LVTs were filled with supplies rather than troops in order that they could be discharged from the landing ships into the water and go ashore fully loaded. Furthermore, since the supplies were mobile they could be moved either by water or inland by motor. The 77th Division gave the highest priority to ammunition, water, and rations.  Makino also initiated his segment of the Wa offensive, with around 150 Japanese troops stealthily advancing towards the Buri airstrip. At that time, Major-General Joseph Swing's 11th Airborne Division was tasked with securing the Burauen area, although most of the division was engaged in combat for the mountain passes leading to Albuera. Additionally, Major-General Henry Jones' 38th Division had been deployed at Leyte to prepare for future operations but could also reinforce Swing, along with portions of General Bradley's 96th Division, if needed. At 06:00 on December 6, the 287th Field Artillery Observation Battalion, located northwest of Burauen, spotted Makino's troops crossing the main road south of their position and moving east toward the Buri field. While the artillery team communicated this information to the 24th Corps, the Japanese forces advanced into the swamp near the airfield prior to initiating their assault. At 06:30 the 16th Division launched its surprise attack. Led by a Filipino, the Japanese broke into the American bivouac area while the men were still asleep. Some were bayoneted while in their blankets, or before they could seize their weapons. Others held the Japanese off until they could retreat, shoeless and in their shorts and undershirts, either up the bluff to the headquarters of the 5th Bomber Command, or to the road, where an infantry company had come up in support. The service troops were "firing at everything that moves and… probably inflicting casualties among our troops."  Swift promptly responded by deploying the 1st Battalion of the 187th Glider Regiment to counterattack toward Buri, while Hodge assigned the 1st Battalion of the 382nd Regiment to Swift's command. The battalion was to proceed immediately to the aid of the two companies of the 11th Airborne Division in the Buri airfield area. General Hodge emphasized that the area was "critical" and "must be kept closed." It would be "dangerous" to let the enemy "get into the service troops along the road and around airfields." One reinforced company of the 1st Battalion was already in the area and the rest of the battalion made ready to follow. This reinforcement allowed one bolstered company to quickly support the service troops, effectively holding back the enemy while the glider units took position near the airfield. When the Americans launched a coordinated counteroffensive, they succeeded in driving the Japanese from the Buri airfield by nightfall, though some resistance remained at the edges of the airstrip. Meanwhile, Arnold maintained his offensive, with the 184th Regiment advancing through Hill 380 to secure Balogo, while the 17th Regiment captured the abandoned enemy positions on Hill 918 and moved up Hill 380 to join the 184th. By midday, the loading of the 77th Division was complete, and the convoy gathered off Dulag to await the arrival of Struble's escorting destroyers. At 13:30, Struble's main convoy set sail, having been preceded by four slower LSTs under the protection of two destroyers. While American transports and destroyers navigated silently toward Ormoc Bay, General Tominaga activated the airborne segment of Operation Wa. He planned to deploy an initial wave of 40 Mitsubishi Ki-57 transports, carrying 409 paratroopers, primarily targeting the Buri, San Pablo, and Bayug airstrips to capture them. In a related secondary attack, two pairs of transports would drop smaller groups of paratroopers over the Dulag and Tacloban airstrips to destroy as many American aircraft and facilities as possible. The transports would have Ki-43 fighters as escorts, and 21 medium bombers were dispatched to bomb and strafe the Buri, San Pablo, and Bayug airstrips shortly before the paratroopers' descent. Two additional waves were scheduled, the first five hours after the initial assault, comprising 270 troops in 21 aircraft, followed by a third wave of 80 soldiers six hours later. These follow-up operations were intended to assist in eliminating any remaining resistance, after which a defense would be established at the captured airfield. The primary goal of this operation was to incapacitate the enemy airstrips to ensure the safe arrival of the last TA convoys with critical reinforcements to Leyte. The attack was synchronized with Admiral Okawachi's eighth convoy, which included three destroyers, two subchasers, and five transport ships carrying Major-General Kurisu Takeo's 68th Brigade, having departed from Manila on December 5 and expected to reach Albuera two days later. After taking off at 15:30, Tominaga's first echelon headed towards the Burauen area. Just before dark, thirty-nine Japanese transports with supporting bombers and fighters roared over the Burauen airfields. Several incendiary bombs fell on the San Pablo strip, setting a gasoline dump afire and burning a liaison plane. Despite American fighters destroying 18 planes, they managed to deploy over 300 paratroopers by 19:00 following preparatory bombing and the deployment of a smoke screen. However, the intense anti-aircraft fire caused some confusion, leading pilots to drop soldiers at incorrect locations. Still, approximately 60 paratroopers descended on Buri, while more than 250 landed at San Pablo.  Meanwhile the secondary attacks on the Dulag and Tacloban strips completely miscarried. Two transports flew over the former installation; one dropped about five paratroopers and then crashed, while the other crashed about 4,500 yards northeast of the field. Over Tacloban two medium bombers converted to transports lowered their flaps and wheels preparatory to landing, but one was shot down, and the other crashed. Nonetheless, upon landing, the paratroopers quickly advanced along both the north and south sides of the San Pablo strip. They talked in loud tones and allegedly called out in English, "Hello--where are your machine guns?" Most of the enemy forces assembled on the north side of the airstrip. They burned three or four more liaison planes, a jeep, several tents, and another gasoline dump, throwing ammunition on the latter. Fortunately for the Americans, inclement weather combined with significant Japanese transport losses prevented the subsequent waves of reinforcements from being dispatched. On the night of 6-7 December, the Air Corps service personnel had abruptly quitted the Buri airfield, leaving behind carbines, rifles, grenades, small arms ammunition, and machine guns. 2d Lt. Rudolph Mamula of the 767th Tank Battalion had been ordered to take charge of the situation, co-ordinate the action of forces on the airstrip, and recover abandoned armament and ammunition. Apparently he was unsuccessful, because later in the day the Japanese made "the best use" of the same arms and ammunition. By the middle of the morning, on 7 December, the enemy had completely occupied the Buri airstrip. In response, Swift quickly ordered the 674th Glider Field Artillery Battalion to abandon their artillery and support the 127th Airborne Engineer Battalion, which was near San Pablo preparing to reclaim the airstrip. General Krueger also reacted swiftly, allocating two battalions from the 148th Regiment to Hodge's command, who dispatched them toward San Pablo. However, before their arrival, Swift's forces had already initiated their counteroffensive at dawn on December 7, successfully driving the paratroopers back to the northwest until they ran out of ammunition. Fortunately, the Japanese chose to retreat towards Buri rather than continue the battle at San Pablo. At 14:00, upon the arrival of the 148th battalions, Swift promptly ordered them to launch an attack towards Buri. The 1st and 2d Battalions of the 149th Infantry, 38th Division, were alerted at 0200 on 7 December for movement to the San Pablo airstrip. The advance elements of the 1st Battalion were greeted at the San Pablo airstrip by General Swing, who is reported to have said: "Glad to see you. I am General Swing of the 11th Airborne Division. We've been having a hell of a time here. Last night approximately seventy-five Jap paratroopers dropped on us of which we have accounted for about fifty. Fifteen hundred yards from here on an azimuth of 273° is another airstrip just like this one. Between here and there are about twenty-five Jap troopers. It is now 1400. I want that strip secure by nightfall." The commanding officer of the 1st Battalion decided to attack with Companies A and C abreast, Company A on the right, with approximately a 200-yard frontage for each company. A section of heavy machine guns was attached to each unit, and a platoon of 81-mm. mortars from Company D was to support the attack from positions on the San Pablo airstrip. The 1st Battalion set out at 14:30, moving the first 400 yards without any issues, but eventually encountered a rain-swollen swamp that impeded their progress, resulting in the companies losing contact with one another. By nightfall, only Companies A and C had reached the airstrip but were unable to initiate their attack due to the late hour. Simultaneously, the 1st Battalion of the 187th Glider Regiment and the 1st Battalion of the 382nd Regiment advanced towards Buri and successfully joined the 1st Battalion of the 149th Regiment at the western end of the airstrip by the end of the day. In the meantime, Arnold continued his limited offensive on December 7, with the 184th Regiment facing little resistance as it ascended the high ground overlooking the Tabgas River.  At dawn the 17th Infantry sent out patrols. The one from the 1st Battalion located an enemy heavy machine gun, two light machine guns, and a mortar, emplaced 150 yards from the battalion's lines. When the patrol returned, mortar fire was placed on the position and it was wiped out. The 1st Battalion moved out at approximately 0900. Though long-range fire fell on the troops and small arms fire hit the left flank of Company C, the men continued to push forward. The battalion found several ridges leading up Hill 380--a knifelike ridge in front of Company C and a double ridge in the form of a horseshoe, with its closed end toward the hill, in front of Company B. Company B moved across the double ridge while Company C forced its passage through machine gun and rifle fire across the closed part of the horseshoe. At 1600 the two companies re-established contact on the northernmost ridge leading to Hill 380. At 1630 the Japanese with machine guns launched a counterattack against the right flank of the 3d Battalion, 184th Infantry, and the left flank of the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry. The 3d Battalion, 184th, was pinned down but did not yield any ground. The troops on the front lines of the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry, at first were forced back slightly but in a few minutes regained the lost ground. They dug in for the night on the crest of the ridge. After its dawn patrols had reported on 7 December, the 2d Battalion, 17th Infantry, jumped off to the attack. Company E secured the first of the three spurs leading from Hill 380, and continued forward to the middle spur in the face of light fire that came from in front of the company in the area the 17th Infantry wished to secure. Presently the fire grew to considerable intensity and the company's section of light machine guns and two platoons of heavy machine guns moved onto the middle spur, where they neutralized the enemy position. While this action was going on, Companies G and F moved to the first spur. Company G received orders from the battalion commander to make a wide envelopment of Hill 380 and then assault the hill from the east. At 0930 the company dropped below the military crest of the southern slope of Hill 380 unobserved and made its way very slowly over the steep terrain and through the thick cogon grass. At 1200 the 49th Field Artillery Battalion laid a five-minute preparatory fire in front of the battalion. The American troops then routed the surprised Japanese defenders and killed the majority of them as the others fled into the mountains northeast of the hill. Apparently realizing that Hill 380 was the key to defense of the Tabgas River valley and Hill 606, troops of the 26th Division poured long-range machine gun fire from Hill 606 into Company G and at the same time halted the company with small arms fire from the immediate left along the ridge. At 1355, after a heavy mortar barrage, about fifty men from the 26th Division counterattacked the positions of Company G, but the company held firm and mowed down the attackers with fire from its rifles and automatic weapons. The position on the hill was maintained. Although Company G occupied the top of Hill 380, it was not in a position to aid the advance of Company E. The Japanese troops were dug in on the reverse slopes and could only be rooted out by close-in fighting. The commanding officer of the 2d Battalion committed Company F down the main spur from the east, supported by Companies E and G and the machine guns from Company H. As soon as Company F started down the ridge, the enemy concentrated fire upon it both from the north and the west. In a matter of minutes Company F was reduced to a point where the number of its riflemen hardly equaled one platoon. The company commander secured an additional platoon from Company G and renewed the assault behind a concentration of 100 rounds of 60-mm. mortar fire and 80 rounds of 81-mm. mortar fire. The attack succeeded, and the enemy force was overrun and annihilated. Company E thereupon moved to the main ridge and helped mop up the area. At 0700 the 3d Battalion, 17th Infantry, moved out, reaching the source of the Palanas River at 1400. An enemy force of about fifty men was observed in a natural bowl to its immediate front. The battalion placed long-range rifle and machine gun fire on the group as two platoons from Company K attacked from the flank. They destroyed the entire Japanese force without any casualties to the American troops. The 3d Battalion then crossed the Palanas River and went into night perimeter at Kang Cainto. At 1907 eight rounds of artillery fire fell into the area, killing seven men and wounding eighteen others. At the end of the day the 184th Infantry was on the banks of the Tabgas River and the 17th Infantry had secured Hill 380, which commanded the Tabgas River valley. Arnold's offensive had become so precarious that Yamagata was forced to halt his division's advance towards Burauen and instead redirect them to defend Albuera, only sending his advance battalion to participate in the Wa offensive. The situation was about to worsen for Yamagata as Struble's convoy finally arrived off Deposito just before dawn. At 06:34, an enemy shore battery opened fire, and at 06:40, the destroyers responded by targeting their assigned locations. As the Japanese communicated this information to higher command, Okawachi received orders to land the 68th Brigade at San Isidro. Additionally, the 1st Combined Base Air Force and the 4th Air Army were directed to unleash all their resources against the landing forces. With Suzuki absent, Major-General Tomochika Yoshiharu took charge of the defense of Ormoc, promptly instructing the Mitsui Shipping Unit to secure defensive positions on Red Roof Hill. Meanwhile, the Imahori Detachment was ordered to advance south through Ormoc to confront the enemy. Elements of the 77th Regiment, which had just arrived by barge at Ipil, were also tasked with reinforcing the defense of Ormoc. Furthermore, Suzuki commanded the 16th and 26th Divisions to halt the Wa offensive and retreat immediately towards Ormoc. In Manila, Okawachi and Yamashita were preparing to send two provisional companies from the 58th Independent Mixed Brigade to garrison the Camotes Islands to counter the arrival of enemy reinforcements and suppress guerrilla activity in the region. Meanwhile, after Okawachi's latest convoy was detected, 57 P-47s were dispatched to strike the Japanese vessels while the 68th Brigade was being disembarked. In one of the fiercest aerial battles of the Leyte Campaign, the fighters strafed the vessels and dropped 94 1000-pound and six 500-pound bombs on enemy shipping, successfully destroying all five transports and damaging two destroyers. However, the 68th Brigade landed, albeit lacking most of its equipment, supplies, and heavy weaponry. Back at Ormoc Bay, General Bruce's first wave, composed of the leading battalions from the 305th and 307th Regiments, successfully landed on the White Beaches without encountering opposition at 07:07, and the troops quickly moved inland. The subsequent four waves of troops, including two battalions from the 306th Regiment, came ashore without incident. At 08:20, around 138 Japanese aircraft launched an assault on Struble's convoy. Despite the 5th Air Force executing a commendable interception of the attackers, some determined enemy planes managed to breach the anti-aircraft defenses and strike the American ships. On the morning of December 7, three years to the day after she fired the opening shot of the Pearl Harbor attack, the destroyer Ward came under attack by several Japanese kamikazes while patrolling off the invasion area. One bomber hit her hull amidships, bringing her to a dead stop. When the resulting fires could not be controlled, Ward's crew was ordered to abandon ship, and she was sunk by gunfire from O'Brien, whose commanding officer, William W. Outerbridge, had been in command of Ward during her action in Hawaii three years before. Nevertheless, their attempt to thwart this crucial invasion once again ended in failure. By 11:00, approximately 10,000 troops and most of the supplies had been landed, but under relentless air attack, Struble ultimately decided to withdraw and return to San Pedro Bay. Meanwhile, Bruce's forces were expanding their initial beachhead inland, with the 305th Regiment capturing crossings over the Bagonbon River and the 307th Regiment securing a bridge over the Baod River. Due to a lack of organized resistance, Bruce chose to continue advancing north along the highway to extend the division's foothold to Ipil. Consequently, the 307th began its northward advance around 10:45, gradually facing stiffer opposition as it approached its goal. By 14:55, they reached the outskirts of Ipil and commenced an assault on the defenses of two companies from the 77th Regiment, successfully killing 66 Japanese soldiers as they cleared the barrio and established a night perimeter on the northern edge by 17:40. With Bruce's forces having secured a two-mile beachhead, Yamagata's 26th Division found itself caught between two robust American divisions, leaving the route to Ormoc largely open for the 77th Division. On December 8, as the first two companies of the 12th Independent Regiment arrived to bolster the Mitsui Shipping Unit, the 307th Regiment resumed its advance northward, swiftly reaching the Panalian River where they began meeting stronger resistance. Successfully repelling enemy counterattacks, the 307th continued to push forward and achieved a total gain of 2,000 yards by day's end. At the same time, since half of the 2nd Raiding Brigade could not be airdropped during the now-halted Wa offensive, the Japanese decided to land them at the Valencia airstrip over the coming days to reinforce the defenders in Ormoc. Furthermore, Okawachi and Yamashita designated the Takahashi Detachment, organized around the 5th Regiment, as an emergency reinforcement to depart for Leyte immediately alongside the Ito Naval Landing Unit of SNLF Marines. Additionally, the 39th Regiment of the 10th Division was assigned to prepare for a counter-landing in the Carigara Bay region. Meanwhile, as the 26th Division began to withdraw along the coast to retreat through the ridges towards Ormoc, the 184th and 17th Regiments captured the Hill 606 positions and moved forward to the Sibugay River. During the night of 7-8 December, the Japanese brought forward two machine guns and emplaced them directly in front of Company A of the 1st Battalion, 382d Infantry. At dawn the machine guns opened up. Their low, grazing fire pinned down the company, but Pfc. Warren G. Perkins, in the face of enemy bullets, located the guns and called mortar fire upon the site. The mortar concentration, falling within fifty yards of Perkins, silenced the machine guns and startled the Japanese. Pvt. Ova A. Kelley took advantage of the confusion and charged with his M1 rifle and a carbine. Kelley killed eight of the enemy before he himself was slain. The rest of Company A followed Kelley and secured the edge of the airstrip where it set up a perimeter. During 8 December the Americans consolidated their positions. The following day, the 1st Battalion of the 149th Regiment launched an assault to the north, successfully crossing the airstrip and eliminating approximately 50 paratroopers before being halted by enemy fire. By nightfall, the 1st Battalion of the 382nd Regiment repelled another determined counterattack, killing an additional 50 Japanese soldiers and leaving around 100 paratroopers trapped on the airstrip. Concurrently, the 17th and 184th Regiments advanced through Albuera without opposition, continuing their movement through challenging terrain towards Gungab. In the early hours of December 9, Struble's initial resupply convoy reached Deposito, delivering the remainder of the 306th Regiment. As a result, its 1st Battalion was assigned to the 307th Regiment and promptly engaged in the northward attack. Progressing gradually through the formidable enemy ridge defenses, the 307th ultimately captured Camp Downes, while the 305th Regiment secured the northeastern area. During this advance, the rest of the 77th Regiment also arrived by barge at Palompon, where they were immediately deployed to bolster the defenders in Ormoc.  Ormoc, the largest and most important commercial center in western Leyte, possessed a concrete and pile pier at which a vessel with a sixteen-foot draft, and two smaller vessels, could anchor at the same time. On the route to Ormoc and in the town itself, the Japanese dug strong defensive positions. The favored sites were in bamboo thickets, on reverse slopes, along creek beds, and under buildings. Individual spider holes about six feet deep were covered with logs and earth and "beautifully camouflaged." Against such positions, artillery and mortar fire did little more than daze the defenders. Each position had to be searched out and destroyed. The next day, for the final assault on Ormoc, Bruce planned to deploy the 307th Regiment to attack along the highway, while the 306th Regiment would move northeast to encircle the opposing enemy forces. After a significant artillery barrage, Bruce first dispatched Company A of the 776th Amphibian Tank Battalion, supported by the rocket fire from LCMs and LCVs, to launch an assault on the city's strong enemy defenses. Following this, the 306th and 307th Regiments advanced, with the latter encountering minimal resistance until approaching the outskirts of Ormoc. Despite facing fierce opposition, the Mitsui Unit was effectively driven back, allowing the 307th to enter the city while the 306th advanced northeast with little resistance. The two regiments then pressured the enemy like squeezing a tube of toothpaste, ultimately forcing the determined defenders to retreat to the hills north of Ormoc, where the Imahori Detachment was gathering. However, some defenders remained behind, valiantly fighting to delay the American advance. Positioned in spider holes beneath the buildings, they resisted until overwhelmed.  At the same time that the 77th Division was entering Ormoc, the 32nd Division was pushing southward toward Ormoc Valley, the 11th Airborne Division was working westward over the mountains toward the town, and the 7th Division was pushing northward along the eastern coast of Ormoc Bay in an attempt to make a juncture with the 77th Division. General Bruce advised General Hodge: "Have rolled two sevens in Ormoc. Come seven come eleven." As his troops were reducing Ormoc, General Bruce also made a report on the status of the attack and referred to a promise that had been made by the commanding general of the 5th Air Force: "Where is the case of Scotch that was promised by General Whitehead for the capture of Ormoc. I don't drink but I have an assistant division commander and regimental commanders who do…" In its advance to the north, the 77th Division reportedly killed around 1,506 Japanese soldiers and captured 7 prisoners, at a cost of 123 men killed, 329 wounded, and 13 missing. The capture of Ormoc had significant consequences: it split the Japanese forces and isolated the remaining elements of the 26th Division; it diverted and eliminated previously uncommitted enemy reserves, easing the pressure on other fronts; it expedited the connection between the 10th Corps and the 24th Corps; and it prevented the Japanese from using Ormoc as a port, through which many reinforcements and supplies had been funneled into the campaign. Consequently, the Japanese had faced a clear defeat on Leyte Island; nevertheless, they were determined to continue fighting to the death, senselessly sending more troops into battle, which unnecessarily extended the campaign by several additional months. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. Japanese forces prepared Operation Wa while U.S. troops engaged in intense battles for strategic positions like Hill 918 and Balogo amid challenging terrain and strong defenses. Despite initial setbacks, American forces regrouped, successfully counterattacking Japanese positions and securing strategic areas, while Japanese reinforcements struggled amid heavy losses and unfavorable weather conditions.

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 21, 2022) - First Hydrogen Corp. (TSXV: FHYD) (OTC Pink: FHYDF) (FSE: FIT) ("FIRST HYDROGEN" or the "Company") is pleased to showcase its hydrogen fuel cell-powered light commercial vehicles (LCV) in operation at the HORIBA MIRA Proving Ground, located near Birmingham, UK. The following link shows the LCVs in operation during its initial test runs, one in fuel-cell and one in battery electric mode (FH Track Run). The vehicles are certified for road use in the United Kingdom (UK), excluding Northern Ireland. Fleet trials with major UK operators are scheduled for January 2023. A total of 14 fleet operators in various industries are engaged to participate in the trials through the UK Aggregated Hydrogen Freight Consortium (AHFC). The Company is now counting down to the unveiling of its new next generation vehicle. First Hydrogen's next generation vehicle platform is the culmination of 18 months of work by First Hydrogen's Automotive team and represents a major step forward for the Company by providing zero emission, compelling range, payload and overall total cost of ownership for the light commercial vehicle segment. The Company's commercial vehicle strategy is focused on supplying zero emission LCVs to the UK, European Union, United States and Canada. The global light commercial vehicle market is projected to reach $786.5 billion by 20301. These vehicles, together with the Company's Hydrogen-as-a-Service (HaaS) solution, which supplies green hydrogen fuel, distribution and complementing vehicle management services, will help the sector meet zero emission targets.First Hydrogen's LCVsTo view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8330/145013_081866e89479f8ff_001full.jpgFirst Hydrogen and AVL TeamsTo view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8330/145013_081866e89479f8ff_002full.jpgSteve Gill, CEO of Automotive for First Hydrogen Limited, says: "We believe that our next generation LCVs represents a holistic solution for commercial fleet operators needing to go green and cost-effectively run their business. We are very excited with our new designs and look forward to sharing these soon."Balraj Mann, Chairman & CEO First Hydrogen states: "Our automotive team, led by Steve Gill, has made significant progress in the past 18 months which started off as a conceptual idea and two agreements (with Ballard Power and AVL Powertrain) to having our LCVs successfully c

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 7, 2022) - First Hydrogen Corp. (TSXV: FHYD) (OTC Pink: FHYDF) (FSE: FIT) ("FIRST HYDROGEN" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that its first zero emission light commercial vehicles (LCVs) will shortly undergo test runs at the HORIBA MIRA Proving Ground and test track located near Birmingham.This week, the first of the Company's demonstrator vehicles has completed hydrogen fuelling at 700 bar pressure at the ITM/MOTIVE site in Rainham, Essex, close to the AVL facility in Basildon. The 700-bar fill is a key performance parameter as it is the pressure rate that supplies enough energy to give the vehicle a 400-600km range within a few minutes. When commissioned, drivers will be able to see the energy storage and power flow within the vehicle on the van's dashboard display. First Hydrogen's LCVs have been certified for use on UK roads and will be used in a series of real-world trials with major fleet operators that have signed up for the trials in the UK starting in January 2023. Current fleets scheduled to trial the LCVs include major grocery chains, infrastructure and utility providers and healthcare services. The trials, run in conjunction with the Aggregated Hydrogen Freight Consortium (AHFC), will enable First Hydrogen to gain feedback for its next-generation 2.0 LCVs and engage with future potential customers. They will also allow fleet managers to experience operating zero-emission hydrogen vehicles within their company. The global light commercial vehicle (LCV) market was valued at $463.00 billion (U.S.) in 2020 and is projected to reach $786.50 billion (U.S.) by 2030, registering a CAGR of 5.3%. (Allied Market Research), making it an important vehicle class for First Hydrogen to target with a zero-emission mobility solution. The latest development milestone coincides with the European Union's plans to ban the sale of petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2035. It has provisionally agreed to reduce CO2 emissions by 55% for new cars and 50% for new vans by 2030 from 2021 figures, with the ultimate goal to achieve 100% reduction of CO2 emissions for new cars and vans by 2035.Steve Gill, CEO at First Hydrogen Automotive says: "We are hugely proud to have reached this stage in the development of our first vehicles. The first fuelling is an incredibly exciting moment for us, which signifies a major step along the road to the wider production and launch of our First Hydrogen vehicles. We are eager to enter final testing and commence trials with operators early next year, which will help us to refine our end-to-end Hydrogen-as-a-Service solution and assess the commercial appetite for hydrogen vehicles as a way to achieve zero emissions in the transport sector."Following the European Union's outline to drastically cut vehicle CO2 emissions in the next 12 years, we are very confident that our plans for zero emission commercial vehicles are absolutely on the right track."Balraj Mann, CEO & Chairman of First Hydrogen Corp states, "We have already witnessed the car market in North America transition quickly to electric vehicles over the last four years. We are now seeing vans and commercial vehicles pursuing the zero emissions transition. I believe green hydrogen will be the choice for commercial vehicles that require range and payload capabilities."

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) says it will be picketing the Japanese Embassy in Pretoria on Friday. The union intends to hand over a memorandum of demands regarding a “number of grievances” against Nissan's management in South Africa. Included in the list of demands is clarity on what Numsa says is the Japanese car maker's failure to engage the union on its electric vehicle (EV) ambitions, and transparency on the future of the South African plant. “ . . . Some workers are likely to be displaced because the new {EV] technology is not labour intensive,” says Numsa in a statement. “Workers want to know what the plans are and whether they will be trained and upskilled to adjust to the new technology. “There are also plans to terminate at least 150 fixed-term contracts at the plant, and rumours that the Nissan plant [in Pretoria] will be moved to Egypt, thus threatening the livelihoods of over 1 200 workers.” Nissan Ambition 2030 will see the car maker accelerate the electrification of its vehicle line-up with investments of 2-trillion yen over the next five years. Nissan says it will introduce 23 new electrified models, including 15 new EVs by fiscal year 2030, aiming for an electrification mix of more than 50% globally across the Nissan and Infiniti brands. Nissan SA last year started production of the Nissan Navara pickup for the local and selected export markets. Production at the plant reached just more than 22 500 units last year. Some Contracts Coming to an End, Says Nissan SA Nissan SA says it is incorrect that “150 workers have been released”. The company notes, however, that there are a number of fixed-term contractors in its manufacturing operations whose fixed-term contracts have come to an end. “Resourcing needs are currently being reviewed, taking into account operational requirements, along with micro- and macro-factors, such as semi-conductor availability.” The global auto industry has been battling a shortage of computer-chips since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Nissan SA says it “remains committed to maintaining open engagements with Numsa and key stakeholders in order to find mutually beneficial resolutions”. The local arm of the Japanese manufacturer also denies that it is shutting its doors. “Africa has been identified as the last frontier of automotive growth and, to this end, Nissan has expansion plans across the continent. “This is evidenced by the recent R3-billion investment into the South African manufacturing plant and skills development of employees to locally manufacture the new Nissan Navara. “With a six-decade legacy of producing light commercial vehicles, the strategic goal is to establish Nissan's South Africa operation to be the continental light commercial vehicle hub.” It also does not seem as if Nissan's Rosslyn plant will soon produce EVs. “Our Rosslyn facility's primary strategic role in our broader global business is focused on continuing to manufacture LCVs for the African market,” says Nissan SA. “The future of the EV ecosystem in South Africa, including supply and demand, is currently at policy formulating phase. Key stakeholders . . . are actively co-creating the country's EV policy. Ultimately, it will be policy that guides [vehicle manufacturer] activity moving forward.”

how #1137.   If you get any value from this podcast please consider supporting my work on Patreon. Plus all Patreon supporters get their own unique ad-free podcast feed.   Good morning, good afternoon and good evening wherever you are in the world, welcome to EV News Daily for Thursday 8th July. It's  Martyn Lee here and I go through every EV story so you don't have to.   Thank you to MYEV.com for helping make this show, they've built the first marketplace specifically for Electric Vehicles. It's a totally free marketplace that simplifies the buying and selling process, and help you learn about EVs along the way too.   STELLANTIS MAKES 30 BILLION EURO WAGER ON ELECTRIC VEHICLE MARKET   - Stellantis (STLA.MI), the world's No. 4 automaker, said on Thursday it plans to invest more than 30 billion euros ($35.54 billion) through 2025 on electrifying its vehicle lineup. The company, formed in January from the merger of Italian-American automaker Fiat Chrysler and France's PSA, said its strategy will be supported by five battery plants in Europe and North America as it gears up to compete with electric vehicle (EV) leader Tesla (TSLA.O) and other automakers globally.   - Stellantis said it is targeting more than 70% of sales in Europe and over 40% in the United States to be low-emission vehicles - either battery or hybrid electric - by 2030. It aims to make the total cost of owning an EV equal to that of a gasoline-powered model by 2026.   - Stellantis said it wants to secure more than 130 gigawatt hours (GWh) of battery capacity by 2025 and more than 260 GWh by 2030. It said it has signed memorandums of understanding with two lithium geothermal brine process partners in North America and Europe to ensure supplies of lithium, a critical raw material for batteries.   Original Source : https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/stellantis-says-h1-margin-expected-top-annual-target-55-75-2021-07-08/     STELLANTIS TO SOURCE OVER 260 GWH IN EV BATTERY CAPACITY BY 2030   - Stellantis currently has two gigafactory projects, one in France and one in Germany, under its joint venture with Total, called Automotive Cells Company (ACC).   Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares announced that it would also be building a gigaplant in Italy at its engine facility, and one in the US.   - Stellantis said that its plans included dual battery chemistries, including a high energy-density option and a nickel cobalt-free alternative by 2024, with a solid-state battery technology introduction planned in 2026.   - As part of its strategy, Stellantis is also aiming to reduce battery costs using its technical expertise and manufacturing synergies, with it targeting to reduce EV battery pack costs by over 40% from 2020 to 2024 and by more than an additional 20% by 2030.   Original Source : https://www.spglobal.com/platts/en/market-insights/latest-news/electric-power/070821-stellantis-to-source-over-260-gwh-in-ev-battery-capacity-by-2030   AFTER SLOW START, STELLANTIS BETS BIG ON EVS   - Just by mid-decade, said Tavares, the goal will be to have 55 plug-based vehicles in global showrooms: 40 battery-electric vehicles, or BEVs, and another 15 plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles, or PHEVs.   - The PSA side of Stellantis, drawing on experience from core brands Citroën, Opel and Peugeot, is further ahead when it comes to electrification. In the U.S., the former Fiat Chrysler brands trail the competition. It currently offers no all-electric models and just two plug-ins, the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivan and the new Jeep Wrangler 4xe. The response to the 4xe has taken company officials by surprise, generating more than 20% of Wrangler sales since its April debut.   Original Source : https://www.forbes.com/wheels/news/stellantis-ev-plans   STELLANTIS DELAYS AFFORDABLE ELECTRIC CARS UNTIL 2026   - Stellantis EV Day 2021 was embarrassing. The 3 hour video presentation was all about putting together multiple nonsense commercials and delaying the introduction of affordable electric cars.   - Four BEV-centric platforms are the backbone of the electrified vehicles from Stellantis brands. The platforms are designed with a high level of flexibility (length and width) and component sharing, delivering economies of scale as each platform can support production of up to two million units per year. The four platforms are: ● STLA Small, with a range up to 500 kilometers/300 miles ● STLA Medium, with a range up to 700 kilometers/440 miles ● STLA Large, with a range up to 800 kilometers/500 miles ● STLA Frame, with a range up to 800 kilometers/500 miles   - Stellantis recognizes that CTP (cell-to-pack) combined with cobalt-free batteries are the two most important technologies available today to make affordable electric cars that compete with ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) cars in price and availability. However, Stellantis will delay the introduction of these two technologies until 2024. Moreover, only in 2026 the TCO (total cost of ownership) of Stellantis' electric cars will match ICE cars   - With this decision, Stellantis leaves an open door for Chinese automakers to arrive and dominate the European EV market very soon   Original Source : https://pushevs.com/2021/07/08/stellantis-delays-affordable-electric-cars-until-2026/   STELLANTIS TO INVEST €30 BILLION IN E-MOBILITY   - In the US, performance brand Dodge plans to launch its first electric muscle car in 2024, Ram will sell an electric version the 1500 in 2024. Jeep wants to offer plug-in hybrids in all SUV segments by 2024, the Wrangler 4xe is already sold out for this year. The Jeep Wagoneer is to be targeted as an all-electric premium SUV primarily for the US market.   - In addition to the gigafactories of ACC (the joint venture together with Total subsidiary Saft), the cells are to be sourced from CATL, BYD, SVOLT, Samsung and LG Energy Solution, preferably from their European plants. The 50 GWh for the USA are to be procured from partners, while names are not yet mentioned since final negotiations are reportedly still underway. In 2030, the demand will be the 260 GWh mentioned above, of which more than 170 GWh will be in Europe. Half of this – 85 GWh – is to be covered by ACC. Either ACC will have to expand the factories in Douvrai, Kaiserslautern and Termoli or build further gigafactories.   Original Source : https://www.electrive.com/2021/07/08/stellantis-to-invest-e30-billion-in-e-mobility   VAUXHALL EV-ONLY BY 2028 AS STELLANTIS RAMPS UP ELECTRIFICATION   - The company – whose brands are Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Citroën, Dodge, DS, Fiat, Jeep, Lancia, Maserati, Opel, Peugeot, Ram and Vauxhall – has targeted low-emissions vehicles (LEV) accounting for more than 70% of its European sales and 40% of its US sales by 2030. The LEV term includes both electric cars and plug-in hybrids.   - Opel – including Vauxhall in the UK – will become an electric-only brand in Europe by the end of 2028 in both passenger cars and commercial vehicles. The firm will also expand into the Chinese market with a range of EVs. The German brand has also confirmed that it will revive the Manta name for a new EV. Opel has previously shown an electric restomod version of the Manta, but a teaser of this latest car shows it will be entirely unrelated, with the concept's low-slung retro silhouette making way for a high-riding and altogether more SUV-esque proposition.   - , Fiat will become electric-only by 2030, with the exact date determined by customer demand, and will launch a new dedicated EV in 2024. Its performance offshoot, Abarth, will also go electric-only.   - Stellantis has also released 'statements' for all 14 of its brands to reflect the electrification approach of each. Alfa Romeo's statement is "From 2024, Alfa Becomes Alfa e-Romeo", although the firm has yet to specify exactly what this means.   Original Source : https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/industry-news-manufacturing/vauxhall-ev-only-2028-stellantis-ramps-electrification   STELLANTIS INVESTS IN ITS FIRST ALL-EV PLANT   - The automaker plans to devote its factory in Ellesmere Port in the UK to electric LCVs (light commercial vehicles) and passenger EVs, with the plant slated to produce models under four brands: Opel, Vauxhall, Citroën, and Peugeot.   - The plant will receive a new body shop, an on-site battery-pack assembly facility, and an upgraded general assembly.   - When it comes to light commercial vehicles, the Ellesmere Port plant will produce battery-electric versions of the Opel and Vauxhall Combo-e and its passenger variant, as well as the Citroën e-Berlingo along with its passenger version, and the Peugeot e-Partner with its own passenger model.   Original Source : https://www.autoweek.com/news/green-cars/a36954284/stellantis-first-ev-plant/   THE STELLANTIS BRANDS HAVE NEW 'GREEN' SLOGANS AND THEY'RE PRETTY TERRIBLE   Abarth – “Heating Up People, But Not the Planet”         Alfa Romeo – “From 2024, Alfa Becomes Alfa e-Romeo” Chrysler – “Clean Technology for a New Generation of Families” Citroën – “Citroën Electric: Well-Being for All!” Dodge – “Tear Up the Streets… Not the Planet” DS Automobiles – “The Art of Travel, Magnified” Fiat – “It's Only Green When It's Green for All” Jeep® – “Zero Emission Freedom” Lancia – “The Most Elegant Way to Protect the Planet” Maserati – “The Best in Performance Luxury, Electrified” Opel/Vauxhall – “Green is the New Cool” Peugeot – “Turning Sustainable Mobility into Quality Time” Ram – “Built to Serve a Sustainable Planet” Commercial Vehicles – “The Global Leader in e-Commercial Vehicles”    Original Source : https://www.carthrottle.com/post/the-stellantis-brands-have-new-green-slogans-and-theyre-pretty-terrible/   QUESTION OF THE WEEK WITH EMOBILITYNORWAY.COM   If you had to buy one electric car today and it was the only car you were allowed to drive for the next three years, what would you choose? And why. I'll go first. VW ID.4 GTX   Email me your thoughts and I'll read them out on Sunday – hello@evnewsdaily.com   It would mean a lot if you could take 2mins to leave a quick review on whichever platform you download the podcast.   And  if you have an Amazon Echo, download our Alexa Skill, search for EV News Daily and add it as a flash briefing.   Come and say hi on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter just search EV News Daily, have a wonderful day, I'll catch you tomorrow and remember…there's no such thing as a self-charging hybrid.   PREMIUM PARTNERS PHIL ROBERTS / ELECTRIC FUTURE BRAD CROSBY PORSCHE OF THE VILLAGE CINCINNATI AUDI CINCINNATI EAST VOLVO CARS CINCINNATI EAST NATIONALCARCHARGING.COM and ALOHACHARGE.COM DEREK REILLY FROM THE EV REVIEW IRELAND YOUTUBE CHANNEL RICHARD AT RSEV.CO.UK – FOR BUYING AND SELLING EVS IN THE UK EMOBILITYNORWAY.COM/

In this episode… Manheim Auction Services' head auctioneer Andy Conde returns to Fuel/talk to share his latest observations from the rostrum, this time joined by Stuart Peak – Manheim's national LCV manager to discuss how the wholesale market for vans is currently fairing. Andy and Stuart are the genuine experts in their field and never shy to share an opinion, so make a brew, set your phone to silent and enjoy the conversation!

In what must be the most stories we've ever covered in 40 minutes, James and Rebecca are joined by head of Used Car Awards mystery shopping 'Joe' for this week's show. The stories mentioned this week are... Time's up for Go Ultra Low electric car campaign after it fails to secure further funding Tesla Model 3 paint problems leads Elon Musk to advise people not to buy his cars as production is ramping up Bank of England boss predicts sharp bounce back to the economy in summer Van market enjoys positive start to 2021 as sales of new LCVs rise by two per cent Industry has reasons to be cheerful but challenges still lie ahead Some car dealers still offering test drives during lockdown 3 despite 90 per cent saying they're ‘morally wrong' Vertu Motors issues ‘remarkable' performance update as it expects to exceed year-end profit forecasts Businesses are more confident about the future than they have been for seven years, survey reveals Tesla recalls 135,000 cars in US over touchscreen software faults Audi director: High levels of savings and low levels of debt could see ‘revenge buying' customers flood back to market Rollout of EV charging points ‘must increase five-fold' before 2030 ban on petrol and diesel vehicles Are car dealers allowed to offer test drives during lockdown 3? Confusion mounts over legality of test drives Emergency call fault sees Kia issue recall for new Sorento models Hendy appoints King of the Jungle Harry Redknapp as Land Rover ambassador Buyers are comfortable spending more on used cars online in lockdown 3 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/car-dealer-magazine/message

In this episode… for our final Fuel/talk of the year and to wrap up 2020, James Davis chats with Cox Automotive's Chief Customer Officer, James Leese. James and James look back at the year and debate whether it's one to forget or one to hold close; reflects on the how Cox Automotive, our customers and the sector as a whole have navigated the challenge of Covid-19; recalls the headline moments and milestones beyond Covid-19 that should be celebrated, and looks ahead to the new year. And all in just 15 minutes!

Total South African new-vehicle sales declined by 25.4% in October, to 38 752 units, compared with the 51 968 vehicles sold in the same month last year. The new-passenger-car market also fell by 25.4%, to 26 793 units. Some good news is that the car rental industry accounted for “an encouraging” 12.8% of passenger car sales in October, says National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa) CEO Mikel Mabasa. Domestic sales of new vans, bakkies and minibuses declined by 27.8% in October, to 9 644 units. Medium truck sales, at 662 units, were down 21.2%, compared with October last year, while the heavy truck and bus market declined by 11.5%, to 1 653 units. October new-vehicle export sales, at 33 474 units, fell by 18.9%. For the year to date vehicle exports from South Africa have now fallen by 35.3%, or 119 803 vehicles. “Vehicle export numbers are gradually regaining momentum, but in terms of a recovery much will depend on an improvement in the economic climate of the South African automotive industry’s main trading partners,” says Mabasa. “A second wave of Covid-19 infections in Europe, accounting for three out of every four vehicle exports at present, poses significant downside risks on the pace of recovery in domestic vehicle exports over the short to medium term.” Year-to-date domestic new-vehicle sales numbers are down 32.5% compared with the same period last year. LCV Supply Problems “Major supply issues” across major light commercial cehicle (LCV) brands owing to Covid-19 restrictions, coupled with the run-out of certain key models, resulted in a 22.6% drop in LCV sales through dealers in October, reports the National Automobile Dealers’ Association (NADA). “Demand seems to be outstripping certain supply lines on LCVs, and while this is not an ideal situation, it could be worse if things were the other way around,” says NADA chairperson Mark Dommisse. “Dealers are enjoying strong demand for used vehicles. However, getting sufficient quality pre-owned stock is problematic,” he adds. “This situation has been exacerbated by the limited flow of decent stock coming from the rental companies, who destocked earlier in the year when demand for hire cars fell drastically, resulting in significant downsizing of these businesses.”

Show #842   Good morning, good afternoon and good evening wherever you are in the world, welcome to EV News Daily for Saturday 18th July 2020. It’s Martyn Lee here and I go through every EV story so you don't have to.   Thank you to MYEV.com for helping make this show, they’ve built the first marketplace specifically for Electric Vehicles. It’s a totally free marketplace that simplifies the buying and selling process, and help you learn about EVs along the way too.   Welcome to a new Patreon PRODUCER NIKLAS NORRSÉN   NEW YORK TO INVEST $750 MILLION TO EXPAND ELECTRIC-VEHICLE INFRASTRUCTURE "New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday announced an investment program that would allocate $750 million to build charging stations and other electric-vehicle infrastructure as part of the state's long-term goal to reduce emissions. The measure is set to create more than 50,000 charging stations and will largely be funded by the state's investor-owned utility companies, with the total budget capped at $701 million through 2025." reports Autoblog: "An additional $48.8 million is allocated from a 2017 settlement with German carmaker Volkswagen AG over its diesel emissions cheating scandal to fund electric school and transit buses, as well as charging stations. New York's announcement comes on the heels of a similar measure by Florida, which on July 10 announced an $8.6 million investment to expand charging stations."   https://www.autoblog.com/2020/07/17/new-york-to-invest-750-million-to-expand-electric-vehicle-infrastructure/   RENAULT ZOE VAN REVEALED AS PRACTICAL SMALL EV WITH 245-MILE RANGE "Created by applying modest modifications to the Zoe road car – most notably opaque rear windows and the removal of the rear seats to form a flat load area – the Zoe Van will be powered by the same 52kWh battery pack and 107bhp R110 electric motor. Its range is rated at 245 miles per charge under the WLTP test cycle, allowing for a 50% payload and 75kg driver."£ says Autocar: "Prices without VAT but with the plug-in van grant start at £19,380 and rise to £20,995, highlighting the business savings over the Zoe road car, which starts from £28,795 with VAT and prior to the application of the electric vehicle grant."   https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/renault-zoe-van-revealed-practical-small-ev-245-mile-range   UK COULD BAN NON-ELECTRIC NEW CAR SALES BY 2030, SAYS SHELL "Royal Dutch Shell expects the UK can end the sale of gasoline and diesel vehicles in just a decade, as the nation attempts to eliminate emissions by the middle of the century." accordin to WorldOil.com: "The ban can be brought forward to 2030 with “the right policy and incentives,” Sinead Lynch, the head of oil giant Shell’s operations in Britain said on LinkedIn. That’s five years earlier than the deadline set by Prime Minister Boris Johnson in February, and also beats the 2032 date that Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said may be possible to achieve. Europe’s biggest oil companies have been preparing for a slowdown in fuels demand, and are increasingly turning their attention to electricity production"   https://www.worldoil.com/news/2020/7/17/uk-could-ban-non-electric-new-car-sales-by-2030-says-shell   DS TO FOCUS ON BEV & PHEV AS OF 2025 "The electrification strategy of the PSA brand DS Automobiles provides for an even stronger orientation towards e-mobility: From 2025, DS intends to offer only fully electric models and plug-in hybrids." says electrive: "Currently, the French have a pure electric car in their range with the DS 3 Crossback E-TENSE, which takes over the drive technology from the Opel Corsa-e and Peugeot e-208. DS 4 E-TENSE is to be presented before the end of this year. At the beginning of June it was announced that a DS model will be built at Opel in Rüsselsheim from 2021 – according to reports, this will be the DS 4. Although the model is to be based on the larger EMP2 platform (which is currently offered at most as a PHEV), an electric motor with 100 kW output and a 50 kWh battery are mentioned as probable technical data."   https://www.electrive.com/2020/07/17/ds-to-focus-on-bev-phev-as-of-2025/   ITALY’S BEV SALES DOUBLED IN FIRST HALF OF 2020 "Italy’s EV market is finally getting hot. Following months of unprecedented growth and despite an incredibly adverse time in history, electric mobility has now reached the halfway point of this infamous year with outstanding figures, doubling sales from 2019. And the most important aspect is, we haven’t seen anything yet." reports CleanTechnica: "Market share of hybrid and fully electric cars lags behind that of other European nations such as the UK, France, and Germany, let alone Scandinavian countries. market share of fully electric cars now stands at 1.7%. the Italian BEV market from booming in the first six months of 2020, doubling year over year to about 10,000 units."   Zoe, Smart ForTwo, e-Up! the Top 3.   https://cleantechnica.com/2020/07/17/italys-bev-sales-doubled-in-first-half-of-2020-the-only-way-is-up/   PORSCHE DELIVERED 4,480 TAYCAN ELECTRIC CARS IN FIRST HALF OF 2020 "The first deliveries of the Taycan started late last year, and therefore, 2020 is the first full year of production and deliveries for Porsche’s first all-electric car, with 4,480 deliveries during the first half of 2020." says Electrek: "Aside from the pandemic, another thing that could have affected Taycan sales in the first half of the year is that the Taycan 4S, the cheaper version of the electric sedan, arrived just a few months ago. Furthermore, Porsche recently announced the RWD version of the Taycan, which will bring the base price even lower. However, the German automaker has only confirmed deliveries of that version for the Chinese market so far."   https://electrek.co/2020/07/17/porsche-taycan-electric-car-first-half-2020/   GENERAL MOTORS PROVIDES DETAILS FOR LINE OF FUTURE ELECTRIC VEHICLES Beginning in 2020, GM’s EV portfolio will begin to expand with launches by Chevrolet, GMC and Buick. The next Chevrolet EV will be a new version of the Bolt EV, launching in 2021 as a 2022 model, followed by the 2022 Bolt EUV, launching Summer 2021. The Bolt EUV will be the first vehicle outside of the Cadillac brand to feature Super Cruise, the industry’s first true hands-free driver assistance technology for the highway. Later in 2020, GM plans to reveal the Cadillac Lyriq luxury SUV. Production of the Ultium-powered GMC Hummer EV is expected to begin in Fall 2021 at the Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant. A Buick SUV will offer more conventional crossover proportion that maximizes interior space and cargo. A Buick CUV will feature more expressive proportion with a greater emphasis on form and athletic fashion.   LIGHTNING SYSTEMS DEBUTS NEW ELECTRIC FORD F-550 FOR SHUTTLE BUSES, DELIVERY TRUCKS "Lightning Systems has introduced an all-electric powertrain for the popular Ford F-550 Chassis Cab. The top speed is 65 miles per hour. The 128 kWh batterypack supports a range of more than 100 miles, depending on equipment configuration, payload, route, weather, and driver." repotrs Green Car Congress: "Full regenerative braking adds range while reducing wear and tear on the friction brakes. Featuring a liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery system, the new Lightning Electric Ford F-550 will accommodate a full charge in as little as two-and-a-half hours with DC fast charging. In addition to powering new F-550 models, existing trucks and shuttle buses can be repowered as zero-emission vehicles by conversion to the Lightning all-electric powertrain."   https://www.greencarcongress.com/2020/07/20200717-lightning.html   NEW VAUXHALL VIVARO-E DELIVERIES TO BEGIN IN OCTOBER Vauxhall has released further details on the Vivaro-e, its first factory-built, fully-electric van. Priced from £27,723, excluding VAT and after Plugged-in Van Grant, lease deals on the Vivaro-e will be available to order soon, with first deliveries set to commence in October. British Gas has already announced that is has ordered 1,000 Vauxhall Vivaro-e. This was the largest commercial BEV (battery electric vehicle) order in the UK to date. The Vivaro-e has a range of 188 miles on the WLTP cycle. Its payload of up to 1,226kgs is also comparable to that of similar LCVs with internal combustion engines. In fact, the load it can carry is only 130kgs less than a Vivaro fitted with a diesel engine. a 75kWh unit provides up to 188 miles of range, while business users with smaller areas to cover in the working day can opt for a 50kWh battery with a range of up to 125 miles. Using a 100kW DC public charging station, charging of the 50kWh battery to 80% only takes 30 minutes ."   https://leasing.com/car-leasing-news/new-vauxhall-vivaro-e-to-be-uks-only-fully-electric-lcv-capable-of-towing-a-trailer/     [mention for Premium Partners]   You can listen to all 842 previous episodes of this this for free, where you get your podcasts from, plus the blog https://www.evnewsdaily.com/ – remember to subscribe, which means you don’t have to think about downloading the show each day, plus you get it first and free and automatically.   It would mean a lot if you could take 2mins to leave a quick review on whichever platform you download the podcast.   And  if you have an Amazon Echo, download our Alexa Skill, search for EV News Daily and add it as a flash briefing.   Come and say hi on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter just search EV News Daily, have a wonderful day, I’ll catch you tomorrow and remember…there’s no such thing as a self-charging hybrid.     PHIL ROBERTS / ELECTRIC FUTURE (PREMIUM PARTNER) BRAD CROSBY (PREMIUM PARTNER) AVID TECHNOLOGY (PREMIUM PARTNER) BRIGHTSMITHGROUP.COM – FOR CLEANTECH TALENT (PREMIUM PARTNER) PORSCHE OF THE VILLAGE CINCINNATI (PREMIUM PARTNER) AUDI CINCINNATI EAST (PREMIUM PARTNER) VOLVO CARS CINCINNATI EAST (PREMIUM PARTNER) NEW! NATIONALCARCHARGING.COM and ALOHACHARGE.COM  (PREMIUM PARTNER)   OEM AUDIO OF NEW ZEALAND AND EVPOWER.CO.NZ (PARTNER) PAUL O’CONNOR (PARTNER) TRYEV.COM (PARTNER) GARETH HAMER eMOBILITY NORWAY HTTPS://WWW.EMOBILITYNORWAY.COM/  (PARTNER) BOB BOOTHBY – MILLBROOK COTTAGES AND ELOPEMENT WEDDING VENUE (PARTNER) EV-RESOURCE.COM   ALAN ROBSON (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) ALAN SHEDD (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) ALEX BANAHENE (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) ALEXANDER FRANK @ https://www.youtube.com/c/alexsuniverse42 ANDERS HOVE (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) ANDREA JEFFERSON (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) ASEER KHALID (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) ASHLEY HILL (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) BÅRD FJUKSTAD (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) BRENT KINGSFORD (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) BRIAN THOMPSON (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) BRUCE BOHANNAN (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) CHARLES HALL (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) CHRIS HOPKINS (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) COLIN HENNESSY AND CAMBSEV (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) CRAIG COLES (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) CRAIG ROGERS (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) DAMIEN DAVIS (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) DARREN BYRD (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) DARREN FEATCH (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) DARREN SANT FROM YORKSHIRE EV CLUB (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) DAVE DEWSON (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) DAVID BARKMAN (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) DAVID FINCH (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) DAVID MOORE (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) DAVID PARTINGTON (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) DAVID PRESCOTT (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) DEREK REILLY FROM THE EV REVIEW IRELAND YOUTUBE CHANNEL (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) DON MCALLISTER / SCREENCASTSONLINE.COM (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) ENRICO STEPHAN-SCHILOW (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) ERU KYEYUNE-NYOMBI (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) FREDRIK ROVIK (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) FREEJOULE AKA JAMES (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) GENE RUBIN (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) GILBERTO ROSADO (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) GEOFF LOWE (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) HEDLEY WRIGHT (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) IAN GRIFFITHS (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) IAN SEAR (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) IAN (WATTIE) WATKINS (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) JACK OAKLEY (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) JAMES STORR (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) JERRY ALLISON (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) JIM DUGAN (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) JIM MORRIS (EXECUTIVE PRODICERS) JOHN BAILEY (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) JOHN C SOLAR (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) JOHN LACEY FROM CLICK CLACK VIDEO NZ (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) JON AKA BEARDY MCBEARDFACE FROM KENT EVS (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) JON MANCHAK (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) JUAN GONZALEZ (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) KEN MORRIS (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) KEVIN MEYERSON (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) KYLE MAHAN (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) LARS DAHLAGER (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) LAURENCE D ALLEN (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) LEE BROWN (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) LUKE CULLEY (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) MARCEL LOHMANN (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) MARCEL WARD (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) MARK BOSSERT (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) MARTIN CROFT DORSET TRADESMEN MARTY YOUNG  (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) MATT PISCIONE (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) MAZ SHAR (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) MICHAEL AND LUKE TURRELL (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) MIA OPPELSTRUP (PARTNER) MICHAEL PASTRONE (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) MIKE ROGERS (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) MIKE WINTER (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) NATHAN GORE-BROWN (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) NEIL E ROBERTS FROM SUSSEX EVS (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) NIGEL MILES (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) NORTHERN EXPLORERS (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) OHAD ASTON (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) PAUL RIDINGS (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER)               PAUL STEPHENSON (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) PERRY SIMPKINS (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) PETE GLASS (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) PETE GORTON (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) PETER & DEE ROBERTS FROM OXON EVS (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER)  PHIL MOUCHET (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) PHILIP TRAUTMAN (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) PONTUS KINDBLAD (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) RAJ BADWAL (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) RAJEEV NARAYAN (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) RALPH JENSON (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) RENÉ SCHNEIDER (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) RICHARD LUPINSKY (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) ROB COOLING / HTTP://WWW.APPLEDRIVING.CO.UK/ (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) ROB HERMANS (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) ROB FROM THE RSTHINKS EV CHANNEL ON YOUTUBE (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) ROBERT GRACE (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) ROBIN TANNER (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) RUPERT MITCHELL (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) SARI KANGASOJA (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) SEIKI PAYNE (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) STEPHEN PENN (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) STEVE JOHN (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) THOMAS J. THIAS  (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) THE PLUGSEEKER – EV YOUTUBE CHANNEL (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) TIM GUTTERIDGE (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) WILLIAM LANGHORNE (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER)     CONNECT WITH ME! EVne.ws/itunes EVne.ws/tunein EVne.ws/googleplay EVne.ws/stitcher EVne.ws/youtube EVne.ws/iheart EVne.ws/blog EVne.ws/patreon   Check out MYEV.com for more details: https://www.myev.com

In the first of a two-part podcast about electric vehicles, two fleet experts discuss the developments in charging and battery technology. Listen now.The UK government wants all new cars to be zero-emission by 2040 – with at least half of new cars to be there by 2030. In this podcast – the first of two dedicated to electric vehicles – two experts look at why electric vehicles and why they make a lot of sense right now for fleets and individuals.Matt Walters is LeasePlan’s Head of Consultancy and Customer Data Services, and Andy Rayner. Together, they look at the latest plans and how a host of developments are making the case for starting electric.These include increased range, the launch of the Tesla Model 3, the purchase of Chargemaster by BP and the role of e-LCVs in last-mile delivery.They also explore:Charging developmentsBattery technologyPublic access chargingWhole life costsWhy it’s time to start making a change in your fleetsYou can listen to the podcast on our site or through Apple Podcasts, Spotify or any other podcasting app. Just search for ‘LeasePlan Podcast’ or ask Siri or Alexa to “Play the LeasePlan podcast”.

Topic Discussed : Start-ups Driving Innovation in Upstream Oil & GasSpeaker: Rasholeen Nakra, Frost & Sullivan with Talgat Shokanov, CEO and president at QuantumPro; Yvonne van den Berg, co-founder and chief commercial officer at Ingu Solutions; Evyatar Meiron, CEO at Fieldbit; and Mark McClure, CEO at ResFracThe oil and gas industry has overcome major volatility over the past decade. We have witnessed $130 oil and, more recently, $30 oil. Now we are seeing an outburst of start-ups and a changing culture that is founded on innovation. The upstream oil and gas industry is increasingly focused on cutting costs and improving recovery rates through the adoption of radical new solutions and digital technologies. While some oil & gas companies are developing these innovations themselves, many are investing, acquiring or partnering with start-up companies to drive change. Some believe we are in the "Golden Age” of emerging technology development and investment. The oil and gas start-up ecosystem is certainly alive and growing.Key takeaways include: Discover start-up companies that are providing innovative solutions to industry challengesHear real success stories and pain points from start-upsInteract with start-up companiesFor further insights, please join us for future podcasts and become a member of Frost & Sullivan’s Leadership Council by emailing us at: digital@frost.com or click here to Contact Us.Related Keywords: Frost & Sullivan, Financial lease, operating lease, outright purchase, Company car, Key market participants, financial lease, operating lease, Passenger Vehicles (PV), light commercial vehicles (LCVs), Total car parc, new registrations, total fleet sales, emerging trends, LeadsPlan, ALD Automotive, Arval, Element Fleet, VolkswagenWebsite: www.frost.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Topic Discussed : Global Company Car Leasing Market Outlook, 2019Speaker: Raghav Koundinya V RKey Takeaways:In 2019, the global company car leasing market is projected to grow 3.9% to hit 7.9 million units. While 2018 had a faster growth, this slowdown is expected due to the emergence of new alternatives which are transforming the leasing industry. This study is focused on the outlook of the global fleet leasing industry in 2019. It starts with detailing the existing market scenario, followed by trends that are shaping the leasing industry in 2019. It details market size across the passenger vehicle (PV) and the light commercial vehicle (LCV) segments and provides sales/parc data for the total market and the fleet and the company car (true fleet) segments. The company car segment is discussed in detail, with a focus on actual development and growth potential of financial lease, operational lease, and outright purchase. The analysis takes into account historic data and current market conditions and insight and opinion from market participants to deliver a five-year outlook on growth opportunities (2018–2022). In addition to market data (PV and LCV) for new registrations and portfolio, the study details actual competitor data (portfolio) for the leading leasing providers worldwide.For further insights, please join us for future podcasts and become a member of Frost & Sullivan’s Leadership Council by emailing us at: digital@frost.com or click here to Contact Us.Related Keywords: Frost & Sullivan, Frost & Sullivan, Financial lease, operating lease, outright purchase, Company car, Key market participants, financial lease, operating lease, Passenger Vehicles (PV), light commercial vehicles (LCVs), Total car parc, new registrations, total fleet sales, emerging trends, LeadsPlan, ALD Automotive, Arval, Element Fleet, VolkswagenWebsite: www.frost.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Topic Discussed : Light Vehicle Leasing Market in United Kingdom, Forecast to 2022Speaker: Abishek NarayananKey Takeaways:This research sheds light on the market size across passenger vehicle (PV) and light commercial vehicle (LCV) segments and provides sales/parc data for the total market and fleet and company car (true fleet) segments. The company car segment is discussed in detail, with a focus on the actual development and the growth potential of financial lease, operational lease, and outright purchase. The analysis takes into account historical data and current market conditions and insights and opinions from market participants to provide a five-year outlook on growth opportunities (over the 2017–2022 period). In addition to market data (PV and LCV) for new registrations and portfolio, it provides actual competitor data (portfolio) for the leading leasing service providers in the country. Competitor data is available for both the leasing segments (operational and financial) for the base year, 2017.For further insights, please join us for future podcasts and become a member of Frost & Sullivan’s Leadership Council by emailing us at: digital@frost.com or click here to Contact Us.Related Keywords: Frost & Sullivan, Financial lease, operating lease, outright purchase, financial lease, operating lease, Passenger Vehicles (PV), light commercial vehicles (LCVs), Total car parc, new registration, total fleet salesWebsite: www.frost.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Topic Discussed : New Business Opportunities Arising in Austria's Light Vehicle Leasing MarketSpeaker: Gopi SukumarKey Takeaways:As new business from corporate accounts begins to saturate, fleet leasing providers strive to tap the lucrative SME fleet customer segment. Currently, private leasing is the hottest business segment across most European countries, which have long been dominated by company car leasing. Individuals are shifting towards private leasing in response to benefits like low down payments, maintenance covers, and a wide selection of vehicles. With the objective of curbing emission levels, Austria offers subsidies towards the sale of EVs and other low emission vehicles. This is expected to narrow down the gap in TCO between xEVs (hybrids and EVs) and diesel-powered vehicles.For further insights, please join us for future podcasts and become a member of Frost & Sullivan’s Leadership Council by emailing us at: digital@frost.com or click here to Contact Us.Related Keywords: Frost & Sullivan, Financial lease, operating lease, outright purchase, financial lease and operating lease, Passenger Vehicles (PV), light commercial vehicles (LCVs), Total car parc, new registration, total fleet salesWebsite: www.frost.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Topic Discussed : Light Vehicle Leasing Market in Denmark, Forecast to 2022Speaker: Raghav KoundinyaKey Takeaways:New company car registrations are expected to be slow among large companies as a result of their efforts to reduce overhead costs and focus on their core business services. However, asa consequence of high vehicle registration taxes, total leasing, with a penetration of 73.9%, is the most preferred car option to source company cars in DenmarkFor further insights, please join us for future podcasts and become a member of Frost & Sullivan’s Leadership Council by emailing us at: digital@frost.com or click here to Contact Us.Related Keywords: Frost & Sullivan, Financial lease, operating lease, outright purchase, financial lease, operating lease, Passenger Vehicles (PV), light commercial vehicles (LCVs), Total car parc, new registration, total fleet salesWebsite: www.frost.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Topic Discussed : Light Vehicle Leasing Market in France, Forecast to 2022Speaker: Gopi SukumarKey Takeaways:Fleet leasing providers in France attract new business from SMEs and individuals through flexible leasing models. They strive to evolve themselves into mobility providers and push fleet management from a TCO to a TCM based approach. Operational leasing is the most preferred car finance option among fleet users.As SMEs increasingly prefer operational leasing to minimize administrative effort, all major independent leasing companies such as Arval, Renault, FCA, ALD and LeasePlan have introduced exclusive product offerings to tap into new businesses in this segment.As France enacts policies against diesel vehicles and promotes low emission vehicles, fleet owners are increasingly shifting away from diesel powered cars toward petrol-based alternativesFor further insights, please join us for future podcasts and become a member of Frost & Sullivan’s Leadership Council by emailing us at: digital@frost.com or click here to Contact Us.Related Keywords: Frost & Sullivan, Financial lease, operating lease, outright purchase, Company car, Key market participants, financial lease, operating lease, Passenger Vehicles (PV), light commercial vehicles (LCVs), Total car parc, new registrations, total fleet salesWebsite: www.frost.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Topic Discussed : Light Vehicle Leasing Market in Croatia, Forecast to 2022Speaker: Gopi SukumarKey Takeaways:The Croatian fleet & leasing market is currently facing headwinds. Only a handful of leasing companies managed to survive years of economic downturn. As the market recovers, they must focus on customer service and explore opportunities in niche services to gain better financial position.New opportunities have arisen as a result of Croatia becoming a member country of the EU in 2013.There are over 152,000 SMEs that accounted for 99.7% of the companies in Croatia. As young companies increasingly prefer to channel their funds towards their core business activities and lease their fleet, SME segment offers huge potential in the long termFor further insights, please join us for future podcasts and become a member of Frost & Sullivan’s Leadership Council by emailing us at: digital@frost.com or click here to Contact Us.Related Keywords: Frost & Sullivan, Financial lease, operating lease, outright purchase, financial lease, operating lease, Passenger Vehicles (PV), light commercial vehicles (LCVs), Total car parc, new registration, total fleet salesWebsite: www.frost.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Topic Discussed : Light Vehicle Leasing Market in Poland, Forecast to 2022Speaker: Ivan KondratenkoKey Takeaways:The total number of company cars registered in Poland has been increasing steadily from 2013, expanding from 47.3% to 53.2% of the total market by 2017. Strong growth in the leasing segment has been spurred by the shift towards usage from ownership. This trend has been particularly noticeable among SME clients who are the main driving force behind the success of the operational leasing segment.Operational leasing accounted for 70.9 thousand units in 2017, increasing by 18.9% Y-o-Y. This model is experiencing rising demand from corporate clients, as they increasingly move from traditional financial leasing and credits towards full service options. This allows them, for instance, to get a D/E-class vehicle for $ 575 per month with repair and maintenance included, while avoiding any risks related to the residual value loss accumulated over the years of car use.Diesel, which used to be the dominant powertrain among fleet clients in Poland, is continuously losing market share. Its share of new registrations in the company car segment declined from 58.1% in 2013 to 48.0% in 2017. In contrast, petrol low-capacity engines with turbochargers are gaining popularity due to improved fuel economy, enhanced total cost of ownership (TCO), and adherence to EU emissions norms.The overall EV market in Poland is at a nascent stage with a total of 1,048 units registered in 2017. EVs remain a niche in the Polish fleet and leasing market as well. The EV market is underdeveloped primarily due to constantly evolving technology and high prices that result in uncertain residual values. Such values could decline over 20-30% every year. To offset future risks due to obsolete technology when re-marketing at the end of the leasing contracts, leasing companies set high monthly installmentsFor further insights, please join us for future podcasts and become a member of Frost & Sullivan’s Leadership Council by emailing us at: digital@frost.com or click here to Contact Us.Related Keywords: Frost & Sullivan, Financial lease, operating lease, outright purchase, Company car, Key market participants, financial lease, operating lease, Passenger Vehicles (PV), light commercial vehicles (LCVs), Total car parc, new registrations, total fleet salesWebsite: www.frost.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Episode 23, recorded June 22, 2018, includes an update on recent events, a discussion of the "driver window" and communication best practices, details of upcoming courses, and some thoughts on the challenge of complex system design. Sections include: - 00:00 - Travels in the south - 06:50 - Driver windows and communication best practices - 27:25 - Fall protection and defensive driving - 39:30 - LCVs and complex system design

On this Saturday’s episode of MotortradeRadio.com, Philip Nothard of COX Automotive joined by Curtis Hutchinson, editor at Motortrader.com to discuss the latest headlines, as SMMT report that the new car market falls for the eighth consecutive month with diesel demand down 30%, along with Van sales falling -11% across the board with small LCVs hit hardest.  Franchised dealers go into the red in October reports ASE, as the average dealer site made £2,000 loss as return on sales fell to 1.01% in the rolling year. Pendragon to reduce Stratstone premium brand locations, the dealer group will reduce its premium brand outlets over the next three years and is selling its US business. Aberdeen's John Clark Group acquires Morrisons of Stirling, as the dealer group grows with the acquisition of their Jaguar and Seat business. And finally, a survey finds buyers spend more time researching holidays than cars, Black Horse surveys 2,000 buyers showing more time is spent on holiday choice than researching a car.

The genus Legionella consists of environmental bacteria which are the causative agents of the severe pneumonia Legionnaires’ disease. L. longbeachae and L. pneumophila are able to replicate intracellularly in human alveolar macrophages and aquatic or soil amoebae. In order to replicate within host cells the bacteria establish a compartment derived from the endoplasmatic reticulum (ER) which is called “Legionella-containing vacuole” (LCV). A bacterial intracellular multiplication/defective in organelle transport (Icm/Dot) type IV secretion system (T4SS) is essential for the formation of this LCV. The Icm/Dot T4SS enables translocation of effector proteins into the host cell. More than 100 effector proteins are presumably translocated during an L. longbeachae infection whereas around 300 translocated effector proteins are known for L. pneumophila. During maturation the LCV communicates with vesicles from the endocytic vesicle trafficking pathway, avoids fusion with lysosomes and instead fuses with the ER. Phosphoinositides (PI) such as phosphatitdylinositol-4-phosphate (PtdIns(4)P) are enriched on the LCV which mediate the binding of Icm/Dot translocated effector proteins like SidCLpn (substrate of Icm/Dot transporter) as well as its paralogous protein SdcALpn. The 73 kDa effector SidM but not the 106 kDa SidCLpn was found in a previous phosphoinositide pulldown assay with L. pneumophila lysate to be the major PtdIns(4)P binding protein. Using L. longbeachae lysate we showed binding of the 111 kDa SidCLlo to PtdIns(4)P in a phosphoinositide pulldown. This result was confirmed by protein-lipid overlay assays using “PIP-strips”. In further analysis the P4C (PtdIns(4)P-binding of SidC) domain was identified as a 19 kDa domain of SidCLlo located in the amino acid region 609 to 782. This P4C domain was located in the same region as the 20 kDa SidCLpn_P4C domain of L. pneumophila. Both P4C domains can be used as LCV markers. This was shown with GST-tagged proteins binding to LCVs in a cell homogenate. The two P4C domains show a sequence identity of only 45% and the full-length protein of 40%. Circular dichroism measurements revealed that the secondary structure of the two proteins is similar. Moreover, isothermal titration calorimetric measurements indicated a 3.4 higher affinity of SidCLlo towards PtdIns(4)P compared with SidCLpn. In RAW 264.7 macrophages infected with L. longbeachae we showed that endogenous SidCLlo as well as heterologously produced SidCLpn is translocated to the LCV in an Icm/Dot-dependent manner. The deletion of the sidCLlo gene led to a reduced recruitment of calnexin to the LCV in infected Dictyostelium discoideum. This effect was complemented by adding plasmid-encoded SidCLlo, SidCLpn or SdcALpn. The same recruitment defect for a L. pneumophila strain lacking the sidCLpn and sdcALpn genes was complemented by the production of SidCLlo and SidCLpn as published before. Therefore, these effectors play a role for pathogen-host interactions by promoting the recruitment of ER to the LCV. L. longbeachae or L. pneumophila wild-type strains outcompeted their sidC deletion mutant in a competition assay in Acanthamoeba castellanii. However neither of the deletion mutants were impaired in their growth in single strain replication experiments. In summary despite of the small sequence identity and the higher binding affinity to PtdIns(4)P of SidCLlo compared to SidCLpn both effector proteins seem to have similar functions during an infection of Legionella. For the characterization of L. longbeachae-containing vacuoles through proteomic analysis, LCVs had to be isolated from infected D. discoideum or RAW 264.7 macrophages. Endogenous SidCLlo or heterologously produced SidCLpn were used as LCV markers for the isolation. Pathogen vacuoles harbouring L. longbeachae were isolated by immuno-affinity purification using antibodies specifically recognizing SidCLlo or SidCLpn. Future investigations aim at optimizing the LCV purification protocol for L. longbeachae to determine the proteome composition of the L. longbeachae-containing vacuole.

The Gram-negative bacterium Legionella pneumophila naturally parasitises environmental amoebae, but is also able to infect human alveolar macrophages in a mechanistically similar manner. This can result in the mild "Pontiac fever", a flu-like illness, or a potentially lethal pneumonia termed Legionnaires' disease". Crucial for establishing an intracellular replication niche is the Icm/Dot type IV secretion system (T4SS), which translocates approximately 300 different "effector" proteins into the host cell. These substrates enhance uptake efficiency into phagocytes and direct formation of a replication-permissive compartment, called the Legionella-containing vacuole (LCV), and ultimately the egress of the bacteria. Some of the effectors interfere with small GTPases, phosphoinositide metabolism or the ubiquitination machinery, and modulate host cell signalling and vesicle trafficking. We developed a method to isolate intact LCVs by using immuno-magnetic separation with an LCV-specific antibody followed by density gradient centrifugation. Proteomic analysis of the purified phagosomes together with findings of previous studies showed, that the vacuoles harbour markers of the endosomal network, associate with mitochondria, early secretory vesicles and the endoplasmic reticulum, but avoid fusion with lysosomes. Our investigations of the novel L. pneumophila effector RidL revealed that the LCV also communicates with the retrograde vesicle trafficking pathway of infected cells. This pathway recycles amongst others acid-hydrolase receptors, such as the cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor (CIMPR), from the tubular endosomal network back to the trans-Golgi. This transport requires the multiprotein "retromer" complex, which consists of two major subunits: the heterotrimeric cargo-selective subcomplex comprising the proteins Vps26, Vps29 and Vps35 and the membrane-deforming heterodimeric subcomplex composed of any combination of the phosphoinositide (PI)-binding sorting nexins SNX1 or SNX2 plus SNX5 or SNX6. Pull-down experiments with lysates of RAW 264.7 macrophages or D. discoideum amoebae revealed Vps26, Vps29 and Vps35 to be retained by the then uncharacterised protein RidL, which represented an intriguing, novel effector interaction. Like most T4SS substrate mutants, L. pneumophila lacking ridL showed no phenotype for growth in liquid AYE medium and uptake into phagocytes compared to wild-type bacteria. However, intracellular replication was strongly impaired for the mutant strain in several host cell lines. RidL is preferentially expressed in the late post-exponential growth phase and translocated in an T4SS-dependent manner at early time-points of the infection, suggesting a role shortly after the uptake of the bacteria. The effector exhibited a bipolar localisation on the LCV membrane, but upon overexpression the protein covered the entire vacuole. Interestingly, RidL bound the lipid phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate (PtdIns(3)P), a known eukaryotic endosomal membrane anchor, and also specifically bound to the retromer subunit Vps29. Although the protein had no effect on the acquisition of Vps26, Vps29 and Vps35, the percentage of LCVs positive for the retrograde cargo receptors CIMPR or sortilin was reduced in presence of RidL, suggesting interference with the retrograde transport pathway. Furthermore, significantly less SNX1- and SNX2-positive LCVs were detected in cells infected with wild-type L. pneumophila compared to the ridL mutant strain. Moreover, RidL competed with SNX1 for binding at PtdIns(3)P-positive membranes. To directly examine the influence of RidL on retrograde trafficking, the retromer-dependent transport of cholera and Shiga toxin inside cells was analysed in macrophages infected with wild-type or ridL L. pneumophila, and in HeLa cells ectopically producing RidL, respectively. In both cases, the trafficking was inhibited by RidL, and for cholera toxin the transport was arrested at the endosomal stage. In line with these findings, siRNA knockdown experiments revealed that a functional retrograde pathway restricted intracellular growth of L. pneumophila. Taken together, we postulate that RidL (Retromer interactor decorating LCVs) inhibits retrograde trafficking at endosomes by binding to the retromer subunit Vps26 and/or by competition with sorting nexins, thus promoting intracellular replication of L. pneumophila. Collectively, the results obtained in this thesis shed light on the host factor composition of LCVs and provide mechanistic insights into a novel L. pneumophila effector protein.