2009 Vauxhall Meriva Mk1 1.6l Petrol 100a Bosch Alternator on 2040-parts.com

Jenson Button in McLaren P1 (2013) supercar fly-by

McLaren’s P1 supercar trundled out for its first official drive-by today, when F1 driver Jenson Button drove it into McLaren’s Woking citadel before unveiling his 2013 race car. The stunt confirmed that the P1 can manoeuvre on electric power alone, unlike Button’s MP4-28: the race car’s hybrid KERS system is used to deliver a short power boost to supplement the V8. McLaren predicts the P1’s electric-only mode is a capability its forthcoming Ferrari rival (codenamed F150) won’t be able to match.

Chevy Volt production stopped as sales falter

Chevy Volt production halted General Motors has announced that they’re halting production of the range-extender Chevrolet Volt as sales falter. The Chevy Volt is General Motors’ car of the future (and sister car to the Vauxhall Ampera) with a range extender engine and the ability to run on a plug-in charge. And GM proclaimed it as the future of the company and did everything they could to keep costs in check.

Drivers unmoved by electric cars

SUPPORT for electric cars appears to be failing to spark off real interest from drivers, according to a survey of more than 3,000 motorists. Only 1% of UK drivers own an alternative fuel vehicle (AFV), while CO2 emissions are at the bottom of the checklist when Britons are shopping for a new car, the poll by Auto Trader found. Since January 2011, motorists have been eligible for up to £5,000 upfront cost relief on the purchase of a new electric vehicle but the survey showed that 35% of drivers were unaware of this grant.