Chevy Breather Pipe on 2040-parts.com

Leaf Powers Ahead As Europe's Best-Selling Car Vehicle

THE NUMBERS are in and, while recent months have seen a flurry of new electric car launches, one car reigns supreme in this emerging sector. With a record-breaking 2013 behind it, Nissan’s Leaf topped the charts in Europe with 11,120 sales – a massive 204 percent rise compared to 2012. Furthermore Nissan is keen to point out that the Leaf is head and shoulders above its nearest rivals, achieving 25 percent more sales than its closest competitor.

Best Western Hotels rolling out EV charging points in the UK

We’re electric car sceptics – or at least sceptical about their ability to replace the ICE car as our principal form of personal transport – although EVs do have their place as runarounds in urban areas, where their limited range isn’t really a factor. But taking your EV off for a weekend jaunt does pose logistical problems when the average range is probably no more than 80 miles, and something worth making the effort for a weekend away is almost always going to be further away than that. But a bit of smart marketing by Best Western Hotels – a group of 270 or so independently run hotels round the UK – means EV drivers will soon be able to plot their weekend away on the basis of Best Western Hotels en route, with Best Western planning on fitting EV charging points in their car parks, with half their hotels having free charging points by September.

MINI Graphite – yet another MINI limited edition

The MINI Graphite Edition - the latest MINI special. They’re all at it. Limited editions offering extra kit for less money seems like a good way to tempt buyers back in to car showrooms.