Could Red Sea shipping issues be catalyst for UK to increase circular economy capacity utilisation?
The UK’s exportation of end-of-life tyres (ELTs) is coming under further scrutiny considering the current crisis in the Red Sea, which is disrupting shipments to the Indian subcontinent, a typical route for many the country’s ELT arisings. Research reveals that this might total as much as 300,000 tonnes of ELTs. With the economic feasibility of these exports under threat, the Tyre Recovery Association is asking for governmental support in promoting the utilisation of currently dormant capacity to process ELTs within the country. The positive case for this is that useful materials can be extracted from ELTs, supporting the country’s circular economy with the residual value offered by proper processing. Meanwhile, the TRA adds, the country would also be doing the right thing in not allowing ELTs to become a highly pollutive issue for authorities in the Indian subcontinent, where UK waste supports unethical, dangerous, and illegal businesses.
Continue ReadingNTDA welcomes UK government’s decision to retain MOT gap
The UK’s National Tyre Distributors Association has welcomed the publication of the Department for Transport’s (DfT) response to the extensive consultation on modernising MOT testing for cars, motorbikes and vans. The association was vocal in its opposition to any extension to the current gaps in required MOT tests, namely three years after a new car’s registration and an annual test thereafter. The NTDA said its position was based “primarily on safety grounds, but also based on years of independent statistical information demonstrating that the current model works and is, overwhelmingly, supported by both the trade and UK motorists.” The consultation was launched in January 2023, with the aim of seeking views to ensure roadworthiness checks continue to balance the cost to motorists, road safety, advances in vehicle technology and tackling vehicle emissions.
Continue ReadingDVSA conducts MOT digital device survey
The DVSA is conducting research into how technicians use digital devices at MOT test stations. The survey asks questions about devices used during the MOT test, if you use mobile devices such as phones and tablets during the MOT test, as well as how you use technology generally and how confident you feel using it.
Continue ReadingTRA warns Red Sea crisis could threaten UK environment with increase in illegal waste tyre storage and fly tipping
The Tyre Recovery Association has warned of a potential increase in damage to the environment around the UK as a result of disruption to a popular shipping route. The Houthi attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea will likely mean an increase in distance and time for vessels navigating the popular route between Europe and Asia, meaning costs will inevitably increase. The TRA says 75 per cent of the UK’s waste tyres are exported to the Indian subcontinent where there is evidence of pollutive dumping of baled waste tyres, a situation the TRA has described as “environmental colonialism”. Commenting on the emerging situation, the association is scathing about the UK government’s “apathy” about tackling the market’s waste tyres sustainably without depending on exports. With shipping costs are more than doubling, the TRA cites precedence that suggests rogue operators are likely to resort increasingly to illegal storage or fly tipping within the UK, as exporters are unwilling to cover the increased costs for collectors.
Continue ReadingBTMA joins Tire Industry Project as affiliate member
The British Tyre Manufacturers’ Association (BTMA) has joined the Tire Industry Project (TIP) as an affiliate member. The Australian Tyre Industry Council (ATIC) and the Automotive Tyre Manufacturers’ Association (ATMA) of India have also joined the organisation at the same level. While not contributing to the governance of TIP, affiliates engage with topics within the scope of the project’s mission. Formed in 2005, TIP is built on the pillars of research, action and engagement and communication, bringing a collaborative and scientific approach to sustainability in the tyre sector. Graham Wilson, chief executive of the BTMA, said the organisation is “delighted to enter a fuller and more structured relationship” with TIP, building upon the development of “informal ties” in recent years.
Continue ReadingEuro 7 Regulation a milestone in greening mobility, says ETRMA
Shortly before the Christmas Break, the European Parliament and Council reached a provisional agreement on the Euro 7 Regulation for motor vehicles. The European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers’ Association (ETRMA) says it “welcomes” this step towards enshrining tyre abrasion as the fourth tyre characteristic to be regulated after rolling resistance, wet grip and external rolling noise.
Continue ReadingArnold Clark hosts NFDA Parliamentary Engagement Programme in Glasgow
The National Franchised Dealers Association’s most recent Parliamentary Engagement Programme took place at Arnold Clark’s Innovation Centre in Glasgow. Graham Simpson, member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP), visited the centre with Arnold Clark senior executives and Sue Robinson, chief executive of the NFDA. The discussions covered electric vehicles, consumer confidence, the development of skills in the workforce, and charging infrastructure in Scotland.
Continue Reading50,000 public EV chargepoints installed in UK – DfT
The UK’s Department for Transport has hailed “another step on the road to zero emission driving” with new statistics showing that 52,602 public chargepoints have been installed across the country. This figure, supplied by Zapmap, represent a 44 per cent increase on the equivalent number at this time in 2022. The DfT added that the statistic shows the country is “on track” to reach its target of 300,000 public chargepoints by 2030.
Continue Reading44% of dealers think car buyers will stick with petrol, diesel for longer after UK government’s EV decision
More than four out of 10 dealers (44 per cent) think used car buyers will stick with petrol and diesel cars for longer following the government’s decision to delay the new car electrifcation deadline to 2035. Startline’s November Used Car Tracker also shows that 29 per cent believe the move will mean the used electric vehicle (EV) market will take longer to develop while 19 per cent forecast that consumer demand for EVs will fall. Additionally, 24 per cent of dealers now believe it is more likely that motorists will buy a hybrid as a stepping stone to full electrification while 20 per cent believe that EV prices will fall further in addition to recent reductions.
Continue ReadingRepairify: technology, AI can help bridge ADAS servicing skills gap
Garage and diagnostics equipment supplier Repairify has addressed the current chasm between the approximately 3,500 ADAS-qualified technicians in the UK and the 21,500 required to meet market demand for these services. The company says it can help businesses meet the dramatic increase in demand, set to continue as growth in ADAS-equipped vehicles rises, via the support of its own team of IMI-qualified technicians and the development of technology to support maintenance work on these cars. Phil Peace, managing director (SVP) international at Repairify Inc, told Tyres & Accessories that AI and machine learning has enabled the company to enhance its data to support its solutions that puts critical repair information into garage workflow.
Continue ReadingIMI: ‘profound economic repercussions’ ahead if ADAS technician skill shortage not addressed
Electric vehicles dominated discussions about future mobility in 2023, but the latest data from the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) suggests that a more urgent issue has been neglected in the rush to promote EVs. The latest IMI TechSafe Technician Forecasts data identifies what the institute calls a “dangerous shortfall” in technicians able to work safely and competently on vehicles equipped with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), with approximately 18,000 extra ADAS-qualified technicians required to meet demand.
Continue ReadingETRMA supports Euro 7 tyre abrasion progress
The European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers’ Association (ETRMA) has welcomed the European Parliament Plenary vote on 10 November and the “progress made towards delivering meaningful tyre abrasion limits under the auspices of Euro 7”.
Continue ReadingTyreSafe chair Stuart Lovatt featured on Driving for Better Business podcast
TyreSafe chair, Stuart Lovatt, has appeared on two episodes of the Driving for Better Business podcast. Lovatt provided a range of tyre safety insights, covering first the impact of tyre safety on fleet managers, and secondly a look at company cars and grey fleet, with tyres for electric vehicles, part-worn tyres and October’s Tyre Safety Month all discussed. Lovatt gave tips on mitigating risk, saving money and staying safe when driving for work. Both episodes are embedded below, or you can access them on the Driving for Better Business website and via various podcast platforms.
Continue ReadingDfT announces plans for red flashing lamps for roadside recovery, NTDA ‘delighted’
The Department for Transport (DfT) has announced plans to allow rear-facing red flashing lamps in order to make road-side recovery safer. As part of its ‘Plan for Drivers’, the government department said it would be: “Permitting red flashing lights for breakdown vehicles, helping to protect recovery drivers by making them more visible at the roadside”, adding: “This measure will apply to England, Scotland, and Wales.”
Continue ReadingRishi Sunak downplays EV delay by setting “path to zero emission vehicles by 2035”
Just a week after pushing back the deadline for transitioning to electric vehicles to 2035, the government has set out the percentage of new zero emission cars manufacturers will be required to produce each year up to 2030. The zero emission vehicle mandate requires 80% of new cars and 70% of new vans sold in Great Britain to be zero emission by 2030, increasing to 100% by 2035. The 2035 end of sale date puts the UK in line with other major global economies, including France, Germany, Sweden and Canada.
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