Harken 1548, Cheek Block 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.

British Motor Show first details

By Ben Whitworth Motor Shows 17 December 2007 10:30 It may be a long way off on your automotive calendar, but next year’s 2008 British Motor Show looks set to be the biggest yet, with organisers expecting ticket sales to top the 550,000 mark. Housed at ExCeL London in the Docklands between 23 July - 3 August 2008, the show will feature more than 60 vehicle marques and 600 cars – including the global debut for the new Vauxhall Insignia and a preview of the new four-seater Lotus Project Eagle (mule for next-gen Eagle/Esprit chassis testing above). Although it’s still some eight months distant, over 80 percent of the stand space has already been sold, and the exhibition will also include the following attractions: • The Heritage Enclosure and Parade – a driving display providing the sights, sounds and thrills of supercars from the last five decades • Drift School – a chance for visitors to be driven sideways around a circuit by professional drivers • The Marine Experience – the British Marine Federation will display a line-up of luxury water craft as well as a programme of on-water entertainment • The Autoglym Supercar Paddock, a high-octane collection of luxury marques • The 4x4 Experience, a challenging terrain for testing the best of the off-road pack • Motor Theatre, a live-action stunt show Tickets to the Show will be on sale from February, with prices starting at just £8.

Volvo to give away S60 on Facebook

Win a Volvo S60 on Facebook It seems that Volvo UK are very keen to get their Social Web stuff buzzing. Last week we reported that Volvo were giving away tickets for the Goodwood Moving Motor Show, including the chance to drive a Volvo up the Goodwood hillclimb. The entry criteria were simple enough – follow Volvo on Twitter and Tweet back the answer to a daily Volvo trivia question including the relevant hashtag.