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News Desk

Tesla in fatal California crash ‘was on autopilot’

A Tesla involved in a fatal crash on a southern California freeway last week was operating on autopilot at the time, authorities said.

The May 5 crash in Fontana, a city 50 miles east of Los Angeles, is under investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The probe is the 29th case involving a Tesla that the agency has responded to.

Tesla Model 3
A Tesla Model 3 (Tesla)

A 35-year-old man was killed when his Tesla Model 3 struck an overturned lorry on a freeway at about 2:30am.

The victim’s name has not yet been made public. Another man was seriously injured when the electric vehicle hit him as he was helping the lorry driver out of the wreck.

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) announced on Thursday that the car had been operating Tesla’s partially automated driving system called Autopilot, which has been involved in multiple crashes.

The Fontana crash marks at least the fourth US death involving Autopilot.

“While the CHP does not normally comment on on-going investigations, the Department recognizes the high-level of interest centred around crashes involving Tesla vehicles,” the agency said in a statement.

“We felt this information provides an opportunity to remind the public that driving is a complex task that requires a driver’s full attention.”

The federal safety investigation comes just after the CHP arrested another man who authorities have said was in the back seat of a Tesla that was driving this week on Interstate 80 near Oakland with no-one behind the wheel.

CHP has not said if officials have determined whether the Tesla in the I-80 incident was operating on Autopilot, which can keep a car centred in its lane and a safe distance behind vehicles in front of it.

But it is likely that either Autopilot or “Full Self-Driving” were in operation for the driver to be in the back seat. Tesla is allowing a limited number of owners to test its self-driving system.

News Desk

Sadiq Khan confirms he will expand the Ultra Low Emission Zone

Sadiq Khan confirms he will expand the Ultra Low Emission Zone that will cost up to 350,000 motorists £12.50-a-day to drive into London

  • Sadiq Khan will make the Ultra Low Emission Zone 18 times larger than it is now 
  • Owners of older, more-polluting vehicles must to pay £12.50 daily fee if in zone 
  • 100,000 more cars, 35,000 vans and 3,000 lorries must now pay the fee
  • TfL estimates total income from the expanded ULEZ, congestion charge and low emission zones, will hit £762million this financial year
  • Between 2022 and 2023, this number could hit £1.157billion, it estimates 

By Jemma Carr For Mailonline[1]

Published: 14:03, 14 May 2021 | Updated: 14:52, 14 May 2021

Sadiq Khan[2] has confirmed he will expand the Ultra Low Emission Zone in a move set to cost up to 350,000 motorists £12.50-a-day to drive into London[3].

The newly re-elected Mayor of London will make the zone 18 times larger than it is currently. 

The move will force owners of older, more-polluting vehicles that don’t comply with strict emission standards to pay a £12.50 daily fee – in addition to the congestion charge – if driving through the zone.

Around 100,000 more cars, 35,000 vans and 3,000 lorries will be affected. Lorries and buses who don’t pay the fees will be slapped with a £100 fine.

The AA put its estimate at the number of motorists affected at 350,000.

Transport for London has estimated its total income from the expanded ULEZ, along with congestion charge and low emission zones, will hit £762million this financial year.

Between 2022 and 2023, this number could hit £1.157billion. 

Sadiq Khan has confirmed he will expand the Ultra Low Emission Zone which is set to cost up to 350,000 motorists £12.50-a-day to drive into London (a London road, file image)

Sadiq Khan has confirmed he will expand the Ultra Low Emission Zone which is set to cost up to 350,000 motorists £12.50-a-day to drive into London (a London road, file image)

Sadiq Khan has confirmed he will expand the Ultra Low Emission Zone which is set to cost up to 350,000 motorists £12.50-a-day to drive into London (a London road, file image)

The newly re-elected Mayor of London will make the zone 18 times larger (expansion proposal, pictured) than it is currently

The newly re-elected Mayor of London will make the zone 18 times larger (expansion proposal, pictured) than it is currently

The newly re-elected Mayor of London will make the zone 18 times larger (expansion proposal, pictured) than it is currently

The move will force owners of older, more-polluting vehicles that don't comply with strict emission standards to pay a £12.50 daily fee - in addition to the congestion charge - if driving through the ULEZ (file image)

The move will force owners of older, more-polluting vehicles that don't comply with strict emission standards to pay a £12.50 daily fee - in addition to the congestion charge - if driving through the ULEZ (file image)

The move will force owners of older, more-polluting vehicles that don’t comply with strict emission standards to pay a £12.50 daily fee – in addition to the congestion charge – if driving through the ULEZ (file image)

Will your recent buy be hit by ULEZ charges? 

The Alliance of British Drivers has published a list of cars which will fall foul of ULEZ charges:

  • 2015 Citroen C3 Edition 1.6 Bluehdi 100 Edition 5dr 90bhp
  • 2015 Citroen C4 1.6 e-HDi Airdream VTR+ Hatchback 5dr Diesel 115bhp
  • 2015 Ford Fiesta 1.6 TDCi ECOnetic Style 5dr 94bhp
  • 2015 Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi 115 Zetec 5dr 113bhp
  • 2015 Fiat Panda 1.2 MULTIJET POP 5d 75 BHP
  • 2015 Fiat 500 Lounge1.3 Multijet 3dr 95bhp
  • 2015 Nissan Juke 1.5 ACENTA DCi 5 DOOR 110 BHP
  • 2015 Renault Clio 1.5 dCi ECO Expression + 5dr 90bhp
  • 2015 Toyota Auris 1.4 D-4D Excel (s/s) 5dr 90bhp
  • 2015 Vauxhall Corsa 1.3CDTi Ecoflex Design 94BHP
  • 2015 Vauxhall Astra 2.0 CDTi Ecoflex Elite 163 bhp
  • 2015 Vauxhall Astra 1.6 CDTi 16V Ecoflex Design 5dr 108bhp 
  • 2015 VW Golf hatch 1.6tdi Bluemotion tech S 104bhp
  • 2015 VW Golf Bluemotion 1.6tdi estate 108bhp
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Petrol cars must comply with the Euro 4 engine standards – usually vehicles registered from January 2006 – or face paying the fee. 

Meanwhile, diesel cars will need to pay up unless they meet the Euro 6 standard – meaning they were registered after September 2015. 

The capital’s Ultra Low Emission Zone – which was introduced in 2019 – will cover the streets inside the North and South Circular roads under Khan’s new plans.

The move will come into force on October 25. 

Mr Khan said: ‘I pledge to be the greenest Mayor London’s ever had with a mandate from Londoners to put the environment and climate policies at the heart of my second term in office. Today I am reaffirming my commitment to speed up the cleaning of London’s toxic air.

‘In central London, the Ultra Low Emission Zone has already helped cut toxic roadside nitrogen dioxide pollution by nearly half and led to reductions that are five times greater than the national average. 

‘But pollution isn’t just a central London problem, which is why expanding the ULEZ later this year will benefit Londoners across the whole of the city and is a crucial step in London’s green recovery. 

‘There is no time to waste. We know pollution hits the poorest Londoners the hardest which is why I’m doing everything I can to improve the health for all Londoners.’

Jemima Hartshorn, founder of pollution campaign group Mums for Lungs, said: ‘Mums for Lungs has campaigned for an expansion of the ULEZ for over three years now, so we are glad that this scheme will be implemented very soon. 

‘The ULEZ in central London has really reduced NO2-pollution across the area, and more children will benefit from ULEZ expansion. 

‘But more is needed to ensure that London meets World Health Organization guidelines, so we call on the Mayor, national government, councils and business to work together to ensure breathing no longer harms the health of London’s children.’

Among the car models which will fall foul of the ULEZ charges are some 2015 Ford Focus, Fiat Panda, Citroen and Vauxhall Astra models.

The new ULEZ zone will operate 24 hours a day for seven days of the week within the same area of central London as the Congestion Charge.     

Research showed the health damage from cars and vans across the UK costs £6billion a year to the NHS and society, with the bill in London £650million.  

Officials said expanding the ULEZ – and stricter standards for heavy vehicles across London – would result in more than 100,000 Londoners no longer living in areas exceeding legal air quality limits in 2021.

All areas in the capital are expected to see reductions in pollution. 

Furthermore, research shows that those exposed to the worst air pollution are more likely to be deprived Londoners and from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities. 

There is also emerging evidence linking air pollution with an increased vulnerability to the most severe impacts of Covid. 

Mr Khan has been pushing hard for London to spearhead new measures to reduce vehicle emissions in the capital since being sworn in as mayor in 2016.

This includes the introduction of the T-Charge in 2018 – which was superseded by ULEZ in 2019. 

Last year, a study by Environmental Defense Fund Europe found that harmful air pollution from diesel vehicles was 23 per cent higher outside London’s current ultra-low emissions zone (ULEZ).

The study – which gathered pollution data from 231 sites in London and tracked levels of toxic nitrogen oxides (NOx) – found the five worst locations were all outside the ULEZ. 

In 2018, Mr Khan (pictured) confirmed the extension of the ULEZ after growing concerns about rising pollution levels in the capital

In 2018, Mr Khan (pictured) confirmed the extension of the ULEZ after growing concerns about rising pollution levels in the capital

In 2018, Mr Khan (pictured) confirmed the extension of the ULEZ after growing concerns about rising pollution levels in the capital

NOx pollution is an umbrella term which includes nitrogen dioxide (NO2), which can lead to health issues like inflaming airways while aggravating existing heart and lung diseases.  

London has breached legal limits for NO2 since 2010 and last year it was revealed more than 2 million Londoners are living in areas exceeding legal air limits – including 400,000 children.  

As well as NOx, common pollutants from diesel include unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and particulate matter – microscopic particles of matter.

Diesel vehicles pour out more ultra-fine particles than all other vehicles, which are the most toxic of the air pollution particles. 

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE ULEZ 

 The ultra-low emission zone (ULEZ) was introduced in London in April 2019. Here are some of the key questions around the scheme: 

What is it?  The ULEZ is a way of charging vehicles which emit the most nitrogen oxide for entering parts of London.

When does it apply?  The daily charge runs from midnight to midnight every day.

Where is it happening?  The scheme is initially within the same area as the congestion charging zone, before being expanded to within the North and South Circular roads from October 2021.

What vehicles are included?  All vehicles are affected apart from black taxis.

How much does it cost to enter the zone with an older vehicle?  It costs £12.50 for most vehicle types, including cars, motorcycles and vans. Heavier vehicles such as lorries, buses and coaches are liable for a £100 charge.

How can I avoid the charge?  To be exempt from the Ulez charge, petrol cars, vans and minibuses must meet the Euro 4 emissions standard and diesels must meet Euro 6. That means the oldest cars that can be driven in central London without paying are roughly a four-year-old diesel model or a 13-year-old petrol model.

What happens if I don’t pay?  If you fail to pay the charge, car drivers face a £160 Penalty Charge Notice (reduced to £80 if paid within 14 days). Lorry drivers will be handed a much larger fine of £1,000 (reduced to £500 if paid within 14 days).

What if I don’t know my vehicle’s emissions standard?  Drivers can check whether their vehicle is liable for a charge by entering its registration on the Transport for London website.

Why was ULEZ introduced?  London Mayor Sadiq Khan says the scheme will improve the capital’s air quality, which he says is responsible for thousands of premature deaths and other serious conditions.

Has there been any opposition to the scheme?  Conservatives on the London Assembly claim Mr Khan’s decision to introduce the scheme earlier than planned could catch out some motorists – particularly those from the poorest households – who have not already upgraded their vehicle to a newer model. They also warn that expanding the zone to the whole of inner London will not effectively tackle pollution and will affect people and businesses in areas with low pollution.

What vehicles are covered by ULEZ?

It’s not just cars and vans that will be subject to extra charges in London.

These ULEZ non-compliant vehicles will also be impacted:  

– Motorcycles, mopeds, motorised tricycles, quadricycles

– 4X4 light utility vehicles and picksups

– Motorised horseboxes

– Ambulances and fire engines

– Motorcaravans

– Minibuses

– Lorries

– Buses and coaches

– Breakdown & recovery vehicles

– Snow ploughs and gritters

– Refuse collection vehicles and road sweepers

– Concrete mixers and tippers 

 

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References

  1. ^ Jemma Carr For Mailonline (www.dailymail.co.uk)
  2. ^ Sadiq Khan (www.dailymail.co.uk)
  3. ^ London (www.dailymail.co.uk)

European Union

Genesis reveals the all-new G70 Shooting Brake

13.05.2021: Model to go on sale in Europe, showing clear dedication to the region Genesis transforms award-winning Genesis G70 sedan into an iconic Shooting Brake The news follows the company’s recent announcement that Genesis will arrive in Euro…

Uncategorised

End of an era as Greyhound pulls out of Canada

Greyhound Canada is shutting down all of its remaining bus routes in Canada, permanently.

The bus company says all of its remaining routes will cease operations as of midnight Thursday.

The iconic bus carrier pulled out of Western Canada in 2018. 

It then put its remaining routes in Ontario and Quebec on pause when COVID-19 hit in 2020, but now it is pulling out of domestic Canadian service permanently.

“A full year without revenue has unfortunately made it impossible to continue operations,” spokesperson Stuart Kendrick said. “We deeply regret the impact this has on our staff and our customers, as well as the communities we have had the privilege of serving for many years.”

Greyhound Canada has been in operation in one form or another for nearly a century. The company says anyone with a ticket booked can get a refund up until the end of June.

Anthony Perl, a professor of urban studies at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, B.C., says the news did not come as a surprise, since the company’s business model has been on a slow decline.

Financial challenges

“They’re a for-profit company and they’ve proven after trying for decades that you can’t make a profit trying these routes with relatively small populations,” he said in an interview.

He says governments need to step up to fill the gap to ensure that bus-based transportation networks can exist, either by subsidizing them like urban bus systems or by helping to develop a hybrid model such as a co-operative, which many other countries have seen success with.

“Bus services are an essential part of the future because of their lower environmental impact,” he said. “We just have to think of a way to make it economically viable.”

While Greyhound bus service between Canadian destinations will end, Greyhound’s U.S. parent will continue to operate five cross-border routes that either start or finish in the U.S. They are:

  • Toronto to Buffalo, N.Y.
  • Toronto to New York City.
  • Montreal to Boston.
  • Montreal to New York City.
  • Vancouver to Seattle.

In Windsor, Ont., bus patron Bobbi Day says she would normally use Greyhound to travel to Toronto on a regular basis, so she was disappointed to hear of the shutdown.

“We need more transportation here, not less,” she told CBC News in an interview. “I’m going to have to carpool, I guess.”

Bobbi Day says she would regularly take the bus between Windsor and Toronto, but now she will have to find alternative arrangements. (CBC)

Federal Transport Minister Omar Alghabra says the federal government was also disappointed to hear of the company’s decision, because so many communities depend on bus service to connect them to the rest of the country.

“We will work with our provincial partners to explore options to address this gap and provide Canadians with safe, reliable and affordable transportation across the country,” he said in a Twitter post.

300 jobs cut

The Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), which represents workers at the bus line, says about 300 jobs will be lost as a result of the decision, and governments must bear some of the blame.

“The collapse of Greyhound was not a foregone conclusion; this could have been avoided if our federal and provincial governments actually cared about those in remote communities who relied on intercity bus service,” ATU president John Di Nino said.

A bus depot that would normally be full of Greyhound bus travelers sits abandoned on Thursday, since the bus company has put its routes on pause because of the pandemic. (Turgut Yeter/CBC)

The federal NDP also laid blame on the government. “The loss of all remaining Greyhound bus routes leaves many communities without affordable, safe passenger transportation,” Transportation Critic Taylor Bachrach said in a release. “And it disproportionately affects the most marginalized residents, including Indigenous people and seniors.”

WATCH | Bus users react to Greyhound’s move

Windsor resident Stephen Durand says the move will hurt a lot of people 0:54

Prof. Perl agrees there are major equity issues at play because the communities and groups most likely to depend on a service like Greyhound are those who were already disadvantaged.

“It’s often groups that have been treated less than fairly as a whole, First Nations communities, women of colour … You’re really condemning people to economic and social isolation,” he said.

“Marginalized groups will be most affected.”

News Desk

Creating a circular economy: Made in Britain’s sustainable Green Growth Programme – The Manufacturer

John Pearce, CEO of Made in Britain, explores the notion of the circular economy and the reality for SME and larger manufacturers, and highlights the Green Growth Programme, designed to help create a more resilient and sustainable manufacturing sector.

The UK has one of the highest circular economy scores in Europe*, but what are the key metrics and which businesses are impacting them? Where is this already happening and, crucially, what are the economic benefits to creating a ‘regenerative’ business model?

Moving on from a linear industrial model

In theory, the circular economy is simple – keep as much product, and therefore value, in the economy as possible by recycling and reusing products that will otherwise reach their usable life span. All manufacturers are reliant on raw materials, which are becoming increasingly scarce. Coupled with this the idea that businesses can keep using and wasting materials is fast becoming outdated.

“Businesses must look beyond the current ‘take- make-waste’ model and focus on interconnected circular systems that aim to redefine growth and eliminate waste. This means gradually decoupling economic activity from the consumption of finite resources and ultimately designing waste out of the system.” Ellen McArthur Foundation

As the leading circular think tank, Ellen McArthur Foundation, points out businesses must look beyond the current ‘take-make-waste’ model and focus on interconnected circular systems that aim to redefine growth and eliminate waste. This means gradually decoupling economic activity from the consumption of finite resources and ultimately designing waste out of the system.

Circular economy comes into the limelight

Such is the increasing profile of the circular economy that last year the European Commission (EC) launched a circular economy action plan to embed the principles into manufacturing. As a result, the EC’s Sustainable Product Policy Framework proposal, part of the European Green Deal, will empower consumers and encourage manufacturers to deliver on circularity. It claims that the EU’s 2050 climate targets cannot be achieved without fully transitioning.

UPSO bags from Carradice of Nelson Made-in-Britain

UPSO bags from Carradice of Nelson are made from upcycled lorry tarp, seatbelt and fire hose material otherwise destined for landfill. On foot or on two wheels, each UPSO bag customer is guaranteed a unique bag that will last for years. Image: Carradice of Nelson.

An impossible challenge?

Not for British SME and larger manufacturers. Achieving a circular economy is possible, but it
comes with a long list of challenges, the first being awareness. Unlike many other sectors, manufacturers cannot ignore resource scarcity. Some are already taking action, appreciating that raw material is critical to producing goods.

Businesses are already working together to move from ‘production lines’ to ‘circular systems’ that guarantee every energy and material input and output is used efficiently or upcycled into another production cycle. These are the new ‘regenerative’ manufacturers and they are already operating in the UK.

Huge collaborative shift needed for change

Companies like Aquapak are certain that circularity is gaining traction, but it will take a huge cultural shift to have a significant impact – and no one doubts the urgency of action that is needed.

Infection control bag made from Hydropol_Aquapak Made-in-Britain
This fully dissolvable infection control laundry bag for infected linen is helping Birmingham-based Aquapak tackle the challenges of circularity by utilising biodegradable Hydropol instead of plastic. Image: Aquapak

Manufacturers are already having frank discussions around the costs and benefits of circular models. The key part of the phrase ‘circular economy’ for manufacturers and businesses is the word ‘economy’ – keeping materials within the economy and eliminating waste makes sense from a business and financial perspective. But business leaders need to keep up and learn to interact with other sectors, especially the regenerative and waste handling sectors.

A mindset shift is needed as we transition to a fully circular economy. And with the countdown to COP26 (1-12 November, Glasgow) – when climate change targets will be addressed – there’s no better time than now for manufacturers in Britain to lead the world. They must embrace collaborative thinking to make a circular economy that works and makes sense for everyone.

Who’s embracing circularity?

Made in Britain is focused on creating a more resilient, sustainable and productive manufacturing sector. As a result, it has developed the UK’s first universal Green Growth Programme, in partnership with Cambridge Judge Business School, to reveal progress on sustainability.

Amongst the SMEs that are embracing the circular model is Telford-based Craemer, a leading wheelie bin manufacturer. Craemer demonstrated internal circularity when it minced up the plastic from a Manchester council’s wheelie bins and reused it to create newly-designed bins, giving their product an extra 10-15 years of life.

Rather than using the internal circular model, Blackburn-based luxury bag manufacturer, Carradice, became circular almost by accident 53 when it repurposed a stash of old lorry tarpaulins destined for landfill and turned them into bags. Within 18 months, Upso cycling bags launched, with a new customer base. Canvas costs for the regular range were increasing so it was a logical, money savvy business decision, and the SME had the agility to convert the opportunity.

FFS lined with Hydropol_Aquapak Made-in-Britain

Using a Hydropol[TM] layer inside Form Fill and Seal (FFS) pouches makes it possible to recycle 100% of their paper fibre. Image: Aquapak

Birmingham-based Aquapak is tackling some of the challenges of circularity head on by taking an innovative approach to the complicated issue of plastic recycling. The company uses a polymer called polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) which, unlike most plastics, goes straight down the drain and biodegrades safely. The company takes PVOH and turns it into a processable pellet called Hydropol, which can be used to make all manner of things recyclable, especially packaging, as part of a circular business model.

More information www.madeinbritain.org[1]

References

  1. ^ www.madeinbritain.org (www.madeinbritain.org)