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Clipper Automotive to showcase its strategy to save and fully electrify 10,000 iconic London TX4 taxis at MOVE 2023

Clipper Automotive to showcase its strategy to save and fully electrify 10,000 iconic London TX4 taxis at MOVE 2023.
Clipper Automotive to showcase its strategy to save and fully electrify 10,000 iconic London TX4 taxis at MOVE 2023.

Clipper Automotive to showcase its strategy to save and fully electrify 10,000 iconic London TX4 taxis at MOVE 2023.

  • Clipper Automotive has developed a cost-effective, highly sustainable conversion system to switch diesel-engined London TX4 taxis to 100% electric power
  • Innovative technology behind the conversion to be showcased at MOVE 2023, taking place at London’s ExCel from the 21st-22nd June
  • Conversion has the potential to keep 6,000 TX4 taxis on the road when the extended London ULEZ zone comes into force later this year  

Clipper Automotive, the start-up electric vehicle company, will be showing visitors to MOVE 2023 how it can save up to 10,000 London TX4 taxis from the scrapheap with its fully electric conversion.

As part of its attendance during the sustainable urban mobility-focused event, which takes place at London’s ExCel from the 21st-22nd June, Clipper Automotive will provide an insight into the significant environmental and financial benefits of its 100% electric London TX4 taxi conversion, which is already approved for licensing by Oxford, Birmingham and Edinburgh City Councils.

Currently going through the TfL licensing process, the electric conversion provides a lifeline to keep 6,000 London-based TX4 cabs on the road when the extended ULEZ comes into force later this year.

The all-electric Clipper Cab presents a win-win solution to the problem, not only saving cabs from the scrapyard and contributing to cleaner air in the capital, but also boosting sustainable urban mobility and lowering operating costs for hard-working taxi drivers. Across the UK, there are a further 4,000 TX4 cabs that can be converted to keep working in the growing number of low emission zones.

The Clipper Cab is the first vehicle to be offered by Clipper Automotive, with the business planning to apply its technology to other vehicle types in due course. To help it launch its first fleet of converted cabs, the company currently has a funding round open in partnership with Centrus.

The innovative conversion sees the TX4’s factory diesel engine replaced with a pure-electric drivetrain, utilising Clipper’s own bespoke driveshaft, battery boxes and integrated control units. The batteries and electric motors are second-life units, sourced from the original and well-proven Nissan LEAF. This keeps the cost manageable and further reduces manufacturing emissions, while still providing a level of performance and range that are more than a match for a London cab’s requirements.

All the original benefits of the TX4 remain too, including the tight turning circle, strong spares availability, and the popularity with customers.

Dr Alex Howard, founder of Clipper Automotive, said: “We are delighted to be at MOVE 2023, the event being exceptionally relevant for us given what we are striving to achieve, both in terms of its focus and its central London location. We have an excellent solution that has the potential to significantly reduce air and noise pollution in the capital while saving a national icon, and we are looking forward to outlining our vision with an audience that shares our passion for innovation and sustainability.”

Clipper Automotive will be on stand S16A in the Start-up Village area. MOVE 2023 takes place at London’s ExCel exhibition centre from 21st-22nd June. This year’s event is expected to be the biggest yet, with 6,000 tickets already sold, and more than 700 speakers and 650 exhibitors.

For more information on Clipper Automotive and its pure-electric TX4 Taxi conversion, please visit: Clipper Automotive

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Aftermarket, Brand strategy comms and planning, News, Product launches and PR Electric and Hybrid Vehicles Lifestyle and Luxury News Product launches and PR

Newspress Awards 2023: Congratulations to the Winners

Newspress Awards 2023
Newspress Awards 2023
Newspress Awards 2023

The 2023 Newspress Awards have come to a close and it has been a real celebration of PR and journalism excellence.

We are especially delighted to announce the winner of the Newspress Lifetime Achievement Award, Ray Massey, Motoring Editor of the Daily Mail. The thing with ‘Lifetime’ awards is they tend to go to people who are putting their feet up and looking towards retirement. Not so with Ray – he’s still cranking out story after story, trying to get the bottom of things and championing the consumer (he also scooped the Consumer Journalist award this year, too). He’s not about to put his feet up soon, it seems.

There were other successes worth noting. The Intercooler got a worthy double with awards for Automotive Website and Automotive Consumer Publication: we can see the commitment to great writing and entertaining and informative content here. 

Another winner is David Twohig, who took the prize for Technology Writer. It was the first time he has entered, and it seems he has started off with a bang. Kia once again took Press Office of the Year, but Kerry Sainsbury of Toyota – another new entry to the Newspress Awards – strolled off with PR of the Year, while the Rising PR Star award went to Tamara Better at Nissan. Congratulations to them both.

Yousuf Ashraf, another first-timer to the Newspress Awards, scooped the Rising Star award for journalism sponsored by Suzuki, and Paul Horrell fought off tough competition in the Road Tester category, sponsored by Kia.

Other notables were George Barrow, who secured the CV Writer award, sponsored by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, and Charlotte Vowden, for the second year in a row, marched off with the Classic Car Writer award, sponsored by Footman James.

We were delighted with the response this year, and judging was particularly tough because of the high quality of entries. We know that it takes time and effort to put together decent submissions, but we want to thank you, the automotive media, for taking the trouble to enter. The competition is always tough, and those who have secured awards this year, must be secure in the knowledge that this is no cake walk – you have to be right on top of your game to win a Newspress Award.

A special black and gold commemorative trophy celebrating Newspress’ 50th Anniversary will be sent to all award winners.

Newspress Managing Director, Tim Barfoot, said: “We continue to be astounded by the high quality of entries and the commitment to the awards. Every year, hundreds of automotive journalists enter and that, for us, is pretty humbling. So, congratulations to all the winners.

“We would like to thank our sponsors, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Kia, Suzuki and Footman James who help to make all this possible.

“And lastly, I would like to thank our committed panel of judges: Graham Hope, Amanda Stretton, Andrea Baker, John Kendall, Denis Chick, John Nolan and Trevor Adams. It’s a lot of work going through the entries, and we really couldn’t do it without them.”

The full list of winners is as follows:

  1. Commercial Vehicle Writer, sponsored by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles – George Barrow
  2. Automotive Business Journalist – Richard Aucock
  3. Classic Car Writer, sponsored by Footman James – Charlotte Vowden
  4. Automotive News Journalist – Jack Carfrae
  5. Automotive Business Publication – Auto Retail Profit
  6. Automotive Consumer Journalist – Ray Massey
  7. Automotive Feature Writer – Andrew Charman
  8. Automotive Photographer – Jayson Fong
  9. Automotive Video – Electroheads
  10. Automotive Rising Star (Journalist), sponsored by Suzuki – Yousuf Ashraf
  11. Road Tester, sponsored by Kia – Paul Horrell
  12. Automotive Technology Writer – David Twohig
  13. Automotive Website – The Intercooler
  14. EV Writer – Alex Robbins
  15. Rising PR Star – Tamara Better (Nissan)
  16. Automotive Press Office – Kia
  17. Automotive Consumer Publication – The Intercooler
  18. Automotive PR – Kerry Sainsbury (Toyota)
  19. Automotive Editor – Vijay Pattni
  20. Lifetime Achievement Award – Ray Massey

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Aftermarket, Brand strategy comms and planning, News, Product launches and PR Electric and Hybrid Vehicles Lifestyle and Luxury News Product launches and PR

MG Cyberster debuts at Auto Shanghai

MG Cyberster, a high-performance EV sports car, on display at Auto Shanghai 2023.
The much-anticipated return of the celebrated MG marque to sports car production with the all-electric Cyberster.
MG Cyberster, a high-performance EV sports car, on display at Auto Shanghai 2023.

An exciting new chapter in the MG story has just been announced at Auto Shanghai 2023 with the company officially confirming production plans of its unique high-performance EV sports car – Cyberster.

The two-seat roadster marks a much-anticipated return to sportscar production by the celebrated MG marque, with Cyberster poised to bring the story right up to date with its powerful all-electric powertrain and contemporary cabin featuring cutting-edge driver technology.

To read more about this, please visit https://newspressuk.com/login

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Aftermarket, Brand strategy comms and planning, News, Product launches and PR Content creation and social media Electric and Hybrid Vehicles Insight Lifestyle and Luxury News Product launches and PR

MG achieves record first quarter sales result in 2023

MG Motor UK Electric Car Results Q1 2023
MG Motor UK achieves record sales in Q1 2023, becoming the second best-selling electric car manufacturer in the UK.
MG Motor UK Electric Car Results Q1 2023

MG Motor UK has announced record results in the first three months of 2023 – with new SMMT data establishing the company as the second best-selling manufacturer of electric cars in the UK.

MG registered 20,679 new cars in the first quarter of 2023, marking a significant 49.4% increase on the same period in 2022. Crucially, its market share of the electric car market now stands at 9.4%, firmly positioning MG as one of the UK’s fastest growing electric car brands.

To read more about this, please visit https://newspressuk.com/login

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Aftermarket, Brand strategy comms and planning, News, Product launches and PR Product launches and PR

UK Press Launch of the all-new MG4 at Bicester Heritage

UK press launch of the all-new MG4 at Bicester Heritage
UK press launch of the all-new MG4 at Bicester Heritage

Exciting times for loop as we support MG with this week’s UK press launch of the all-new MG4 at Bicester Heritage.

One of this year’s most eagerly-anticipated EVs, the MG4 combines striking looks and the latest technology with a range of up to 281 miles on a single charge (WLTP) and a starting price from only £25,995 OTR.

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Classic and Historic Engineering Lifestyle and Luxury News Product launches and PR Technical

Work starts on next phase of Bicester Heritage development

Work starts on next phase of Bicester Heritage development
Work starts on next phase of Bicester Heritage development

Contracts have been signed to commence construction on the next key phase of development at Bicester Heritage – a major extension of the Bicester Heritage Technical Site as part of the Bicester Motion Technical Cluster. The move follows the appointment of Northamptonshire-based Buckingham Group as the construction partner for the project which will be delivered in Q2 of 2020.

Thanks to the unanimous planning approval that the project has received from Cherwell District Council, the entire £10.4 million project has been comprehensively funded from the outset with the backing of Handelsbanken AB.

The commencement of works signifies an exciting new era in the history of the former RAF aerodrome with the first new-build development in more than 80 years.

Occupying land currently lying derelict alongside Skimmingdish Lane, formerly an active part of the RAF Bicester base, the New Technical Site will provide purpose-built units, allowing new businesses to join the thriving Bicester Heritage community in eight new buildings.

Built sympathetically and in keeping with their Grade II-listed surroundings, the new units – ranging in size from 5,000-17,000 ft2 – are expected to create a host of new skilled employment and training opportunities. More than 80% of the space has been pre-let in advance of the construction beginning and, with an extensive waiting list already in place for the remaining units, the New Technical Site has proved an immediate business success.

The design and arrangement of the New Technical Site, which received unanimous approval from the Cherwell District Council’s planning committee in December 2018, has been developed with a conservation-led approach. This ensures the respect of the site’s historic significance and the creation of new structures that are in keeping with the character and appearance of the wider development.

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Classic and Historic Content creation and social media Lifestyle and Luxury News Product launches and PR

loop wins Creative Moments Awards 2019 with Lotus Cars #MerryDriftmas

loop wins Creative Moments Awards 2019 with Lotus Cars #MerryDriftmas
loop wins Creative Moments Awards 2019 with Lotus Cars #MerryDriftmas

loop started October on a high with a win at the Creative Moments Awards 2019.

Celebrating the very best of the UK’s creative and digital sector, the Creative Moment awards are designed to identify the leading agencies and projects over the last 12 months.

Following a busy year, the agency triumphed in the Automotive category taking home one of the Award’s distinctive gold trophies for its Lotus Cars project #MerryDriftmas

With 2019 the award’s inaugural year, the agencies shortlisted gathered in London’s West End for the evening meal and ceremony. Presented by BBC personality Gavin Ramjaun, the awards had the support of leading agencies and industry suppliers as well as the Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA).

The awards are backed by the industry and presided over by a panel of experts, as the judging panel, and laud the outstanding campaigns and exceptional talent in the UK’s vibrant PR and marketing sectors.

On the big night, Newspress Creative‘s E Tim Bowdler and Matt Sanger collected the award from Peter Mitchell, Group Managing Director of category sponsor Markettiers.

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Lifestyle and Luxury Motorsport News Product launches and PR

Mission Motorsport becomes Caffeine & Machine’s ‘Supported Charity’

Mission Motorsport becomes Caffeine & Machine’s ‘Supported Charity’
Mission Motorsport becomes Caffeine & Machine’s ‘Supported Charity’

The perfect way for petrolheads to support the rehabilitation of ex-Forces personnel, charity Mission Motorsport and Warwickshire-based automotive destination Caffeine & Machine have joined forces with the unveiling of a unique donation mechanism – a stunning re-worked engine block created by a beneficiary of the charity.

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Engineering News Product launches and PR Technology

New MAHLE 48-volt battery boosts mild-hybrid performance

New MAHLE 48-volt battery boosts mild-hybrid performance
New MAHLE 48-volt battery boosts mild-hybrid performance

With a new 48-volt battery optimized for use in mild-hybrid vehicles, MAHLE Powertrain is making it possible to maximize the recuperated energy that can be stored and released. This can significantly increase the efficiency of mild-hybrid vehicles, allowing a fuel saving of between 12 and 15 percent. With this development, MAHLE Powertrain is increasing the capabilities of 48-volt systems, which offer major safety and cost advantages when compared with high-voltage systems.

Mild-hybrid vehicles need to recover energy efficiently and at a relatively high power during deceleration events. High storage capacity is not required for these applications as the recuperated energy can be deployed during the next acceleration. Thus a compact and cost effective battery that is capable of high charge and discharge power levels relative to its storage capacity (high C-rates) is desirable. As there were no suitable low-cost, compact batteries able to deal with the necessary recharge and discharge cycles involving high currents, MAHLE Powertrain decided to develop its own. The LTO chemistry in the selected cells allows continuous charge / discharge rates of 10 kW and peak rates for short periods up to 20 kW from a battery pack that has only a 0.5 kWh storage capacity.

Optimal battery cooling guarantees charge/discharge performance and battery durability. However, the coolant needed to be electrically isolated from the cells. MAHLE Powertrain settled on a robust cooling strategy, with simulations showing cooling performance to be exactly on target.

MAHLE Powertrain engineers paid a great deal of attention to the design of the busbars and electrical connections within the battery, as any high resistance in these components can be an additional heat source and limit the power capability of the system.

Testing of the first prototype is underway to verify that the pack can meet the performance targets. Initial results indicate that all temperatures within the pack remain within an acceptable range at a continuous discharge rate of over 10 kW and that it is capable of peak power levels in excess of 20 kW. The next step will be to install the prototype pack into MAHLE Powertrain’s 48V eSupercharged extreme downsizing demonstrator vehicle.

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Electric and Hybrid Vehicles News Product launches and PR Technical

Developing the UK’s Most Affordable Electric Vehicle

Developing the UK’s Most Affordable Electric Vehicle
Developing the UK’s Most Affordable Electric Vehicle

A Greater Manchester company, MeV Ltd is addressing the twin issues of reducing vehicle emissions and improving air quality by producing innovative and affordable electric vehicles, the BeeAnywhere.  

(more…) "Developing the UK’s Most Affordable Electric Vehicle"
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