Seadoo Spark Jet Pump 2015 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.

Bad weather sees 'carnage' on roads

HIGH WINDS AND SNOW have caused "carnage" on some Scottish roads, according to police. Warnings of high winds and snow are in place throughout much of Scotland. The southern tip of Dumfries and Galloway is predicted to suffer from the same severe low pressure system that is causing major problems south of the border, although weather warnings are less severe throughout the rest of Scotland.

Volkswagen Scirocco R revealed

The new Volkswagen Scirocco R revealed today Despite dropping the 6 cylinder engines previously used, this is the hottest and fastest Scirocco VW has ever made. Power comes from a 2.0 litre, four-cylinder turbocharged engine, offering 265bhp. But there is no four-wheel drive on this Scirocco, instead VW has opted to offer the car as a front-wheel drive only, but benefiting from XDS (an electronic cross-axle traction control system).