Arias Pistons 12.5:1 Compression 82mm Bore Honda B-series on 2040-parts.com

China to boost electric cars with 30% Government EV fleet

The BYD E6 EV (pictured) will benefit from China’s push on EVs The UK government has just announced its commitment to use electric cars for its own vehicles in an effort to boost the take-up of EVs, but China is going even further. China has ordered government officials to start buying electric cars (that means BEVs, plug-in hybrids and hydrogen fuel cell cars) in a big way, with instructions that 30 per cent of government cars must fall in to the ‘New Energy’ category by 2017, and an even higher percentage going forward. The aim is to cut pollution, and China expects to have 5 million New Energy cars on the road by 2020 and it is urging it government agencies and some city governments to start buying New Energy vehicles from Chinese makers like BYD and SDAIC, but also instructing them to build more charging stations and supporting infrastructure.

Porsche CEO likely to bow to pressure to leave, report says

Porsche CEO Wendelin Wiedeking is likely to bow to pressure from the Porsche family to step down, a German newspaper report said on Wednesday. Business daily Handelsblatt said that the two parties had already reached agreement that the chief executive should go and that a formal decision could come by Thursday, when the company's supervisory board meets. The newspaper also said, however, that Wiedeking would fight to keep his job.

Audi Allroad goes e-tron with Detroit concept

Audi introduced its Allroad shooting brake concept at the Detroit auto show on Monday. The plug-in hybrid brings a total output of 408 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque from three power sources, an engine and two electric motors. The transversely mounted 2.0-liter TFSI engine provides 292 hp with help from its turbocharger.