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Electric car range drops by nearly 60% in cold weather

Electric cars like the Nissan LEAF (pictured) can lose 60% of their range when it’s cold We already know that the range of electric cars reduces as the car ages, with Nissan conforming that the LEAF’s range will drop by up to 28 per cent over five years. And now we have confirmation that the ambient temperature can have a big impact on range too, thanks to the AAA, America’s equivalent of the AA. The AAA took three standard EVs on sale in the US - Nissan LEAF, Ford Focus EV and Mitsubishi i-MiEV – and subjected them to test in different ambient temperatures.

BMW wants to sell 1,000 of its fire-breathing hybrids in the U.S.

It's literally a grand strategy: BMW is aiming to sell 1,000 of its new hybrids based on the 7-series and the X6 in their first year in the United States. The two hybrids will be revealed in production trim at the Frankfurt auto show this month. They use eco-technology to boost fuel economy and performance.

Drivers feeling the squeeze on parking

MOTORISTS are feeling the squeeze on parking - with rising charges and fewer and smaller spaces, according to the RAC. As many as four in five drivers have reported increasing parking charges in towns and cities. And 67% of those drivers believed there was now less parking close to their town or city centre and that parking restrictions had become more stringent where they live.