AndyRob

Its a draw

I’ve been doing this for 3 or 4 years now. Transport minister says ‘it is crazy these days for people to go to work when work can come to people’  But once people get the taste for working from home, they may well also realise that it isn’t necessary to work for corporations any more either, and so the pyjama nation disruption of old work patterns continues apace.

This article titled “Sleep in or work from home: minister’s plans to ease rush hour” was written by Polly Curtis, Whitehall correspondent, for The Guardian on Wednesday 6th April 2011 23.07 UTC The transport minister, Norman Baker, wants to dramatically reduce rush hour in the capital and across the country by convincing companies to let people work from home, come in late, or set up satellite offices that will create commuting routes which go against existing traffic. Ministers are investigating tactics to “nudge” people into abandoning the rush hour, such as convincing train, tube and bus companies to offer bigger discounts for travelling outside the busiest hours. Instead of just peak and off-peak fares, the price of a journey could be staggered incrementally, with the most expensive fares around the times of 9am and 5pm. The system could be organised so that a 6.30am fare is cheaper than a 7.30am fare, for instance. “It is crazy these days for people to go to work when work can come to people. It is even crazier that we all travel on the same train on the same day at the same time. We should be able to spread the peak across different times,” Baker said. The plan would reduce carbon emissions, but ministers are also warning that there is urgency to fast-track changes to the rush hour because of the Olympics, warning that it would be “impossible” for the capital to accommodate the visitors anticipated for the games as well as going about its business as usual. Baker said: “We are going to have a gigantic influx of people all wanting to travel to see their events and it is simply not possible for everything to keep running if every one carries on as normal, so you have got to work differently to do this.” “This is not just the Olympics. It is winter too. Should business shut down when it snows? No. Should government spend taxpayers’ money investing in hundreds of snow ploughs? No. We should make sure we can carry on in business and government without everyone needing to travel in that period.” Options being considered include new “office hubs” in rural areas which would allow people to hotdesk closer to home. Some might have childcare facilities attached in “co-working” zones. Flexi-working, late or early starts, could stagger the rush hour and give people a greater work-life balance. More video-conferencing might mean people don’t have to leave home at all. The Trades Union Congress is backing the consultation. A TUC spokesman said they were pleased the minister was taking an interest. Staggering payments to encourage people to travel outside rush hour have been most stringently applied in Singapore, which also began the first road-pricing scheme in 1975. The system adjusts the price according to how busy the roads are at the time of driving. Singapore also has some of the world’s highest car taxes, and new cars are rationed in a bid to keep the state, the size of the Isle of Wight and having 4 million residents, congestion free.

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Carmakers Honda are considering a plan for coping with the parts shortage in Swindon as the global impact of earthquake and tsunami takes hold

This article titled “Honda considers suspending UK production after Japanese crisis” was written by Tom Bawden and Justin McCurry in Tokyo, for The Observer on Saturday 2nd April 2011 23.13 UTC Honda could be forced to halt production at its car plant in Swindon next month as the repercussions of Japan’s devastating earthquake and tsunami reach British factories. At a crunch meeting this week, the Japanese carmaker will agree a plan on how to tackle the growing shortage of key components such as satnavs. Executives will discuss a range of options, including a temporary closure of the Swindon plant, which employs about 3,000 staff, or a period of reduced production. The plant makes about 165,000 Civics, CR-V compact SUVs, and Jazz superminis a year and is braced for a shortage of electronic, electrical and brake parts. Each car comprises about 20,000 parts, 10% to 15% of which come from Japan. A Honda spokesman said: “All scenarios are a possibility. There will be an impact, although it won’t be till May. We don’t yet know what to do to get around the issue, but a decision will be made some time this week.” Honda is by no means alone, with car manufacturers around the world expecting interruptions to production as component shortages spread worldwide. Toyota’s UK plants in Burnaston, near Derby, and in north Wales are to continue a ban on daily overtime and fortnightly Saturday shifts imposed around the middle of last month, while a Nissan spokesman said the group was “constantly monitoring the situation in the UK and all over its operations”. The shortage of parts in the UK is expected to become increasingly significant over the next month, since many components from Japan take six weeks to arrive. Paul Everitt, the chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), said: “The disruption in Japan will have an impact on the UK motor industry, but the scale and timing remain very uncertain.” Initially, carmakers had hoped that most component manufacturers in Japan would be up and running in time to ensure minimal interruptions to overseas supplies. However, in the past fortnight it has become increasingly apparent that the damage and power shortages in Japan will have an impact overseas. Professor ManMohan Sodhi, an expert in supply chain management at Cass Business School in London, said: “There has been an aftershock in car manufacturing that mirrors the aftershocks from an earthquake. They may be smaller, but they are still significant.” In Japan, the economic damage caused by the crisis is already evident. Sales of new vehicles plummeted by 37% in March, the biggest monthly decline since 1974. Although none of the major car manufacturers suffered serious damage to factories, most cannot return to full operation until at least mid-May. Toyota had to halt production at all 18 of its plants in Japan immediately after the earthquake, although two have since reopened to produce a limited number of Prius and two other hybrid models. Honda said it would resume making parts for export markets tomorrow, with production due to restart at all its Japanese factories seven days later – but only at half their original capacity. The firm has not said when manufacturing will return to normal. Nissan, which estimated that its production fell by 55,000 vehicles in March, said it would resume normal operations by mid-April at all but one of its assembly plants. The exception is a factory in Iwaki, north-east Japan, located just 50km from the stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

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An in depth review of the world market for battery powered cars.

This article titled “A global industry: the big picture” was written by Adam Vaughan, Ben Lane and Katy Stoddard, for guardian.co.uk on Saturday 12th March 2011 00.07 UTC Over the next few years, more and more electric cars are expected to be seen on our roads as consumers take advantage of government grants to promote the vehicles and cheaper models being released by manufacturers. However, this is not just a UK initiative, countries all over the world are introducing infrastructure and subsidies to promote these environmentally friendly vehicles. But what is the current state of the electric car industry and how big is it actually going to become? Here, we take a comprehensive look at what is going on in the world of electric cars, from the models coming on to the market in 2011 to futuristic concept cars; from information about what countries taking a lead on battery-operated transport are doing, to sales targets, as predicted by the OECD and the International Energy Agency in a recent report. Available in the UK in 2011 and 2012 Reva G-Wiz i Electric Londoners will already be familiar with the G-Wiz, which is popular in the capital as it is exempt from the congestion charge. Its 13 kW motor gives a top speed of 50 mph and a 10 kWh battery provides a range of almost 50 miles. As a “quadricycle” it does not qualify for a government grant – but still gets the full congestion charge discount. Available now, price: from £9,995. Smart fortwo ed As a two-seater, the fortwo makes an ideal electric city-car. With a 30 kW motor, the fortwo is capable of 0-38 mph in 6.5 seconds and is speed limited to 62 mph. The 16 kWh lithium-ion battery takes 8 hours to slow-charge, which lasts for 80 miles. On limited lease in 2011, with full roll-out in 2012. Renault Twizy With its tandem-style seats and catchy looks, the two-seater Twizy “quadricycle” is something different. A 15 kW version with a top speed of 46 mph and a range of 60 miles is planned for release in the UK. Available for 2012 delivery – expected price: £7,000 plus £40 a month battery lease. Mitsubishi i-MiEV The i-MiEV’s 47 kW motor rear-wheel drive gives a top speed of 80 mph, and the 16 kWh lithium-ion battery provides a 90-mile range. Recharge times ranges from 7 hours using a normal domestic supply to 30 minutes to hit 80% capacity with a special rapid charging point. Price including grant: £23,990. Peugeot iOn Electric The iOn forms part of Peugeot’s innovative “Mu” mobility short-term rental service (membership required). While the iOn is an ideal city runabout, it can also keep up with the fastest motorway traffic. Available now on lease: £415+VAT/month including battery, servicing and warranty. Citroen C-Zero Electric You are likely to first experience the C-Zero in a rental setting as part of the Europcar fleet. On-board innovations include “regen braking”, which extends the drivable range. Available now on lease: £415/month including battery, servicing and warranty. Tata Indica Vista EV The Vista is the first EV from Indian car maker Tata – and will be built in the West Midlands. The 26 kWh of lithium-ion batteries provide a 100-plus mile range, and the 50 kW motor gives a top speed of 70mph. On trial in 2011, the Vista EV will be launched in 2012. Renault Zoe The Zoe is a Clio-sized car designed primarily for city use. Powered by a 60 kW (80 bhp) motor, range will be about 100 miles. Three charging options are planned: domestic charge using 13A socket (6-8 hours), rapid charge (80% in 30 minutes) or “quick-drop” (battery exchange). Available 2012 – £14,500 (after grant) plus £70 a month battery lease. Nissan Leaf Electric As European Car of the Year 2011, and oozing with quality, the Leaf is the first purpose-built, electric hatch. With 24 kWh of lithium-ion batteries, the Leaf has a range of about 100 miles. While most owners will charge at home overnight, a 30-minutes charge to 80% capacity is possible using a rapid charger. Tesla Roadster Electric With the Roadster, Tesla changed the game, and with it the fortunes for the electric car. Based on the Lotus Elise, the Roadster has the most impressive performance of any EV: 248 bhp (185 kW) motor; top speed 130 mph; 0-60 in 4 seconds; and a range of over 200 miles. Available now at £87,000. Renault Fluence ZE The Fluence ZE will be the largest car in Renault’s forthcoming EV range. The 70 kW motor will give an electronically-limited top speed of 84 mph, and the 22 kWh lithium-ion batteries will propel the vehicle for 100 miles. Available 2012. Expected price: £22,000, plus £70 a month battery lease. Renault Kangoo Van ZE The Kangoo Van ZE has the same carrying capacity and payload as the conventional Kangoo van. Its 44 kW motor and 22 kWh battery provide the ZE with a top speed of 80 mph and a 100 mile range. Available autumn 2011 – price: £16,990+VAT with £59 a month battery lease. Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid Following the success of the Prius hybrid, Toyota has developed a “plug-in” version, which can be recharged using electricity as well as refuelled conventionally. The 5.2 kWh lithium-ion battery provides an electric range of 12.5 miles, after which the car returns to hybrid mode. Vauxhall Ampera The Ampera is the first plug-in electric car of its kind – in addition to the 30-40 mile electric range provided by the 16 kWh lithium-ion battery, a small 1.4 litre petrol engine is used as an on-board generator to provide an additional 310 miles of use. Electric cars – what we could be driving in the future The latest concept cars are exploring the mobility needs of the future. With road space a premium, the car of the future may be smaller than you think. One such model is Kia’s city-car concept, the Pop. While similar in size to Toyota’s iQ, it seats two at the front with room for a third on the diagonal in the rear. Smaller still is the Peugeot BB1 and the Toyota FT-EV II, designed for urban use but with room for four. These concepts also experiment with “butterfly”, sliding or reverse opening doors to make access easier in a tight spot. More radical is Nissan’s Pivo 2. All four wheels are able to rotate allowing it to drive in any direction. Parking becomes a breeze as the wheels simply rotate through 90 degrees, enabling it to move sideways into the space. The cabin also rotates allowing the three passengers access from any direction through the Pivo’s single door. Smaller again is Nissan’s “Zero emission mobility concept”, a two-person, emission-free vehicle for urban journeys. Similarly, Honda has designed the 3R-C, a one-person, three-wheeled battery electric vehicle, which draws on their expertise in electric motors. As a vision of future urban transport, General Motors has developed the EV-N, a two-seater that uses Segway’s gyroscopic technology to enable the vehicle to stand on just two wheels, enabling it to complete a full circle on the spot. As part of this philosophy, expect to see more “thin cars”, which use a tandem-style seating pattern. The Renault Twizy, for example, which was featured at this year’s Geneva Motor Show, is an average 30cm thinner than the typical micro city car, with a turning circle of just 3.4 metres. Like the Lumeneo Smera it tilts like a motorcycle when cornering, and could do for traffic jams what the Smart Fortwo did for parking when launched in 1998 – less could certainly be more. Predicted global sales of electric vehicles To reach 2050 CO2 reduction targets, sales of electric vehicles must rise rapidly. The International Energy Agency (IEA) has released figures that show how this growth can be realised when global sales spread to non-OECD regions. 2020 7m 2030 30m 2040 70m 2050 100m

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This article titled “New Zealand earthquake strikes Christchurch, killing at least 65 people” was written by Ben Quinn and Mark Tran, for guardian.co.uk on Tuesday 22nd February 2011 13.18 UTC At least 65 people have died and more than 100 are missing after a powerful earthquake struck the southern New Zealand city of Christchurch, collapsing buildings, burying vehicles under debris and sending rescuers scrambling to help people trapped under rubble. The 6.3-magnitude quake struck the country’s second largest city on a busy weekday afternoon. The mayor of Christchurch, Bob Parker, has declared a state of emergency and ordered people to evacuate the city centre. “Make no mistake this is going to be a very black day for this shaken city,” he said. Power and water was cut and hundreds of dazed, screaming and crying residents wandered through the streets as sirens blared throughout Christchurch in the aftermath of the quake, which was centred three miles from the city. The US Geological Survey said the tremor occurred at a depth of 2.5 miles. After rushing to the city within hours of the quake, the prime minister of New Zealand, John Key, said the death toll was 65, and may rise. “It is just a scene of utter devastation. We may well be witnessing New Zealand’s darkest day.” The spire of the city’s well-known stone cathedral toppled into a central square, while buildings collapsed in on themselves and streets were strewn with bricks and shattered concrete. The multi-storey Pyne Gould Guinness Building, housing more than 200 workers, has collapsed with an unknown number of people trapped inside. Television pictures showed rescuers, many of them office workers, dragging severely injured people from the rubble. Elsewhere, police said debris rained down on two buses, crushing them, while emergency workers were moving to rescue survivors trapped in other partially collapsed buildings across the city. New Zealand’s TV3 said 24 people were trapped on the 17th floor of the 19-storey Forsyth Barr office building, near the cathedral. The building was intact but a stairwell had collapsed, it said. Christchurch hospital had to deal with many injured residents. “We’ve had a lot of people at the emergency department … a significant number, a lot of major injuries,” said David Meates, the chief executive of the Canterbury health board. “They are largely crushes and cuts types of injuries and chest pain as well,” he said, adding some of the more seriously injured could be evacuated to other cities, where hospitals have been put on alert and prepared to accept casualties. All army medical staff have been mobilised, while several hundred troops were helping with the rescue, officials said. A woman trapped in one of the buildings said she was terrified and waiting for rescuers to reach her six hours after the quake. “I thought the best place was under the desk but the ceiling collapsed on top. I can’t move and I’m just terrified,” office worker Anne Voss told TV3 news. Emergency shelters had been set up in schools and at a racecourse, as night approached. Helicopters dumped giant buckets of water to try to douse a fire in one tall office building. A crane helped rescue workers trapped in another office block. “I was in the square right outside the cathedral – the whole front has fallen down and there were people running from there. There were people inside as well,” said John Gurr, a camera technician who was in the city centre when the quake hit. The city’s historic cathedral was one of the buildings that took significant damage, while cars were buried under rubble and roads buckled as the tremor opened fissures in the ground. “It is huge. We just don’t know if there are people under this rubble,” a priest standing outside the rubble of the damaged cathedral told Television New Zealand. Search and rescue teams are working through the night to look for survivors, the civil defence director, John Hamilton, said. “We have to be prepared to accept that it is going to be a heavy toll,” he said, adding that it was unclear how many people were trapped in buildings. “There could well be people who are stuck in buildings overnight. I can’t confirm, but I would expect that’s in all probability the case.” All airports and airspace in the country were shut down and all flights into, out of and around the country were put on hold immediately after the earthquake. Airways NZ, New Zealand’s national air traffic control organisation, is based in Christchurch. Local TV showed bodies being pulled out of rubble strewn around the city centre, though it was unclear whether any of them were alive. It was the second time in five months that the city has been struck by a major earthquake. Last September’s 7.1-magnitude earthquake was 30 miles west of Christchurch. About 100 people were treated at hospital with earthquake-related injuries then. Christchurch has been hit by hundreds of aftershocks since that earthquake, causing extensive damage and a handful of injuries, but no deaths. New Zealand, which sits between the Pacific and Indo-Australian plates, records on average more than 14,000 earthquakes a year, of which about 20 would normally top magnitude 5.0. Christchurch is home to about 350,000 people and is a tourist centre and gateway to the South Island.

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