CAR TALK
TOYOTA’S PRIUS PLUG-IN HYBRID
Toyota’s new Prius Plug-in Hybrid will cost less than £31k when it goes on sale next year. The car has an electric (EV) driving range of more than 14 miles, CO2 emissions of 49g/km (combined) and a claimed potential fuel economy of 134.5mpg. The Ultra-Low Carbon Vehicle grant scheme could possibly reduce the price by a further £5k.
HYDROGEN REFUELLING STATION
Honda is hoping to encourage the uptake of hydrogen-powered vehicles by opening the first hydrogen refuelling station available to the public in the UK. Located at its manufacturing facility in Swindon, the facility looks like a conventional fuelling station and should take only five minutes or so to fuel a car like Honda’s FCX Clarity fuel cell car. If you can find one.
POTHOLE DAMAGE TO YOUR CAR
According to research from online mail order parts supplier Carparts-Direct.co.uk, the average compensation for vehicles damaged by potholes is £200. Last year there were 22,000 successful claims against local councils, and numbers are set to increase after the Government decided not to patch motorway potholes “smaller than the size of a soup bowl” after 2015.