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

SAE approves new fast-charging standard for EVs, plug-ins

SAE International said it has approved a new technical standard that will dramatically reduce charging times for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and electric vehicles. The global engineering group said the new charging standard, developed with the cooperation of more than 190 automakers, utilities and equipment builders, will allow charging times to be reduced from as long as eight hours to as short as 20 minutes. Automakers want DC direct charging to take less than 10 minutes, or roughly the time it takes to fill a tank with gasoline.The goal is to accommodate currents as high as 500 volts distributed from public charging stations.

Toyota Prius plug-in to cost from £31k

Toyota Prius plug-in will cost £31k We thought it was probably too good to be true. When we revealed that the US price for the new Toyota Prius plug-in was 36 per cent more than a regular Prius, we did hope that price increase would apply to the UK too. Because if Toyota were to do the same in the UK, the plug-in Prius would have come in – after the taxpayer very generously chipped in a £5k subsidy for ‘eco’ cars – at a ‘buy’ price in the UK around £2.5k more than the non plug-in Prius.

2015 Audi A3 sedan configurator goes live

The 2015 Audi A3 sedan will be appearing in dealerships in a few months, and the trim and pricing details have been announced for the U.S. market. The engines on offer on this side of the pond are a 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder making 170-hp and 200 lb-ft of torque, and a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder coupled with Quattro all-wheel drive, making 200-hp an 258 lb-ft of torque.