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

Better Place EV Battery Swap business goes bust

It seemed like a good idea: take the cost of batteries out of the cost of buying an electric car and instead charge EV owners to use ‘Battery Swap’ stations where depleted batteries could be swapped for fully charged ones in the time it takes to fill an ICE car with petrol. But it’s all gone a bit Pete Tong. Better Place – which partnered with Renault in 2009 to make the battery swap technology viable – has failed to find anyone to add to the $750 million already involved in the project and has filed for bankruptcy.

Fiat 500X: A sneak peek at Fiat’s 500 SUV

The Fiat 500X is an SUV based on the same platform as the 500L, and we’ve got a sneak peek of it at a press event in Italy. Fiat are determined to extend the 500 franchise with an extended range of models, such as the Fiat 500L we saw officially launched earlier today. Next up will be the Fiat 500X, a crossover come SUV based on the same Punto platform as the new 500L and aimed at the same market place as the MINI Countryman.

60% of drivers say no to more cyclist protection – survey

A MAJORITY of drivers believe that they should not change the way they drive despite a series of cyclist deaths on the roads of the capital, according to a survey carried out by Motorpoint. Over 1,700 respondents answered the poll on the vehicle retailer’s website, with 60.5% of those declaring that their driving standards did not need to be improved in order to better protect cyclists. The Government’s response was to launch Operation Safeway, which included officers stationed a busy and dangerous junctions in London and an increase in on the spot fines for poor behaviour by drivers and riders alike.