Tesla gets ready as electric cars go mainstream

The single-model display at the Geneva motor show by electric motoring pioneer Tesla is swamped this year by a seemingly endless string of rival sportscar companies launching electric vehicles of their own.

Whereas in the past the Tesla Roadster stood out as a breath of fresh air, and although it remains the only fully functional and street-legal electric car with others being trial models, it will soon be up against petrol-electric hybrids from Fisker and Lotus, Ferrari and Porsche.

"The world has been waiting for Porsche to show this," insists Porsche's chief executive Michael Macht as Porsche unveiled its plug-in petrol-electric hybrid at a Volkswagen Group event ahead of the motor show.
"Electric cars will be important for our customers; our models will have to be socially acceptable."

But whereas analysts fret about the threat, Tesla views the rivals' arrivals as good news.

Global Insight automotive analyst Aaron Bragman takes the view that Tesla is in danger of losing its "competitive advantage of being novel and unique".

By contrast, Cristiano Carlutti, head of Tesla's sales and operations in Europe, believes more electric cars from established brands will instead result in growth in the overall market for electric cars.

"Whoever does electrics is our friend," he says. "The fact that large firms enter the electric car market is an advantage for everyone.
full article

Government firms-up£5k electric car incentive

Ministers have provided more detail on forthcoming incentives to encourage the uptake of electric cars.

The plans, first outlined last April, will allow people who buy a qualifying ultra-low emissions vehicle (ULEV) to receive a grant worth 25% of the vehicle's value, up to a maximum of £5,000.

The Department for Transport (DfT) has now said that the 'Plug-in Car Grant' will operate in a similar manner to the scrappage scheme, with motorists paying the discounted price and the manufacturer being responsible for claiming the subsidy back.

But while the scrappage incentive was made up of equal contributions from the Government and car manufacturers, the new grant is set to be wholly provided from the public purse in an attempt to encourage "pioneering motorists" to take up new technology.

However, it will not be available until January 2011, at which point ministers expect a wider range of eligible vehicles to be available. In its previous announcement, the Government made clear that only electric, or plug-in electric hybrids would qualify, seemingly precluding currently popular models such as Toyota's Prius.

full article

Energy giants accused of cashing in on boiler scrappage scheme

Some energy companies are ripping off householders using the Government’s boiler scrappage scheme by quoting inflated prices for a new boiler, according to industry experts.

The warning comes as a leading heating engineer says that paying £2,000 to replace a working boiler is “financial madness” and that the scrappage scheme has serious flaws.

The boiler scrappage scheme, launched last month, gives households £400 to replace old boilers with a new, energy-efficient model. British Gas, E.On, nPower and Scottish and Southern have matched the Government scheme by offering an additional £400 discount. But some householders hoping to claim £800 off the cost of a new boiler have complained that British Gas is quoting far higher figures than independent engineers.

Peter Thom, of Green Heat, the heating engineer, says: “The energy suppliers are top-loading the price and then offering an £800 discount. A customer I saw in Cambridge received a quote from British Gas of £5,012 for a boiler replacement, which reduced to £4,212 with the £800 discount. Our quotation for exactly the same work and identical boiler was £2,894.”

full article

Boiler scrappage scheme - landlords can apply

Landlords are being reminded of the benefits of the Government’s boiler scrappage scheme, which was launched for households in England in January.

According to letting specialist, Leaders, private landlords can apply alongside homeowners.

For those with old G-rated boilers, it provides £400 towards the cost of a new energy efficient device.

Government figures put the potential saving per household at over £200 per year and the entire project, which involves removing 125,000 G-rated boilers, will save around 140,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions a year.

Leaders’ managing director, Paul Weller, comments: “Not only could this mean less in maintenance costs and hassle for our landlords, it will save our tenants a significant amount in energy costs.”

The firm says it has also negotiated additional discounts for its landlords through some of its gas contractors.
full article