With the gradual phasing out of petrol and diesel cars over the next few years, electric vehicles will become increasingly more common, but convincing every motorist to switch to fully electric cars will take more time than anticipated, according to experts.

The shift to electric cars is already under way, however new research by leading UK indoor karting company TeamSport has revealed that Brits are still struggling to separate fact from fiction.

The launch of the Tesla Model S in 2012 proved that electric cars can perform just as well as petrol. However, the research highlighted that half of drivers (50%) think electric cars are unreliable and a further 65% said they believe that electric vehicles are much slower.

The study also claimed that the majority of drivers still don’t fully understand the capabilities of electric vehicles, with almost three-quarters (73%) of the nation believing that electric cars are only suitable for short distance driving.4

Nearly two-thirds of the nation (62%) also believe that petrol cars give a better driving experience than electric cars.

The biggest barriers to ownership of an electric car is the limited availability of charging points, with 72% of respondents believing that there will not be enough docking stations for electric cars to become mainstream. However, there are currently around 12,194 connectors for electric vehicles, in over 4,303 locations across the UK.

Following the news that the British government has pledged to ban the sale of new diesel and petrol cars by 2040, manufacturers will now have to completely change the way they produce cars and drivers will have little choice but to go electric.

Dominic Gaynor, Managing Director at TeamSport, said: “The uptake of electric cars is already increasing at an impressive rate in Britain. The UK Government has done its bit to help increase the popularity of electric cars, committing to provide £35 million to improve the nation’s EV infrastructure. The next step is to convince British motorists.

“We have four tracks across the UK that feature electric karts; having a go in one may be just what you need to change your opinion on electric vehicles. We’ve had some serious petrolheads comment on how good the driving experience is in an electric kart.”

Sylvain Filippi, Chief Technology Officer at DS Virgin Racing, said: “Electric vehicle technology is still not understood by the public, which is ironic as in the early 1900s, all the best vehicles were electric. Cheap oil meant the beginning of affordable petrol cars for the masses, and we never looked back, until now. Internal combustion engines have been the norm for decades, whereas credible EVs have only been brought back to market in the past five years, hence the lack of understanding of the technology.

“Statistics show that, once someone tries an electric vehicle, the feedback is very positive most of the time. On a personal level, I drive a high performance electric car that definitely provides a fantastic driving experience. Instant torque is addictive, even compared to high performance petrol cars, and EVs designed from the ground up with the batteries under the floor provide excellent chassis dynamics as well.

“Formula E has been growing exceptionally rapidly since its creation, and this is due to many factors. Firstly, the quality of racing is very high, the races are unpredictable and the experience is very entertaining for fans, who can’t predict which driver is going to win. Even though all cars now have different EV technology powering them, the performance of the field is still very close, allowing many overtakes and on-track action.

“Secondly, the EV technology being developed is highly relevant to the road car industry, which means that almost all the major car manufacturers are now joining or interested in joining the championship. The best drivers in the world are also joining, so the level of competition is very high.

“By providing fast and exciting racing, the FIA Formula E Championship will hopefully change perceptions and make people realise that EVs can be fast and fun to drive.”

Sam Bird, a professional driver at Formula E said: “Electric vehicles are the future. It’s exciting to think where technology might be in 10 years, and being involved in Formula E means we’re part of that journey.”

In an age where many of us have satnavs built into our cars or smartphones, one may presume that getting lost while driving is now a thing of the past. But British drivers collectively spend more than seven million* hours lost while driving every month, according to new research from Enterprise Rent-A-Car, released ahead of the August bank holiday, when around 13m cars are expected to be on the roads to enjoy the long weekend.

While 84% of UK motorists have a satnav (up from 54% ten years ago) the research found that in total, a huge 38% admit that they have been lost while driving in the past month – for an average of 28 minutes. And many admit they only have themselves to blame – 60% say they got lost because they weren’t paying attention, 30% say they tried to beat the satnav by trying to take a better route to avoid congestion and 24% just didn’t follow the satnav’s instructions.

The research, which was conducted among 4,500 motorists from the UK, Spain, France, Germany, and Ireland, found that British drivers were the most likely to get lost. And when drivers from the UK do get lost, they’re not comfortable asking for help. Just 42% say that they are prepared to ask for directions when they find they don’t know where they are going.

In most instances, getting lost is little more than an inconvenience, but the consequences can be more serious. One in 20 British drivers (5%) say that they have even called 999 after getting severely lost in their car. And not knowing the way can lead to missing important events and dealing with the unexpected – 5% say they have missed a flight or a wedding, while 4% have had to camp in the car for the night after getting lost.

Given that getting lost can lead to sudden overnight stays and changes of plans, UK motorists may perhaps need to prepare more for the possibility that they may lose their way. In fact, when heading off on a long journey, drivers from the UK are more likely to check that they have a pair of sunglasses in the car (40%) than they are to take extra clothes and blankets (22%) or carry a first aid kit (34%).

Ben Lawson, Vice President of Rental for Europe, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, says: “Even with all the technology at our fingertips, getting lost while driving is still something we all have to deal with. Over the summer, many of us drive abroad on holiday, and in many cases on roads that we are unfamiliar with.  Being prepared in case you do get lost on the road is important, especially as, on average, our research shows that people driving to or during their holidays this summer will be covering more than 500 miles. Closer to home, millions of Brits will be hitting the roads to get away during the bank holiday – and no one wants to start their break off by not being able to find their destination.

“We would advise anyone renting a vehicle to ask the team at the counter for help. If you don’t have a map or your own GPS, companies like Enterprise can rent you one by the day. You can also access our roadside assistance for help in any country, or reach out to one of our local branches if you are lost. In the UK, for example, we have around 450 locations around the country, so we’re never far away and we’re happy to help.”

There are 40% more supercars on UK roads than there were five years ago, according to research by car buying comparison site Motorway.co.uk. Slowing consumer spending and a declining car market - down 9.3% in September vs September 2016 - haven’t stalled the rise of the supercar, as the numbers registered to drive on UK roads has increased by almost 8% (7.7%) in the past year alone.

Pensions Minister Steve Webb joked in 2014 that retirees should be free to spend their pension pots on a Lamborghini if they wanted to. While it’s unlikely many pensioners did spend big on a new Lambo, numbers have risen from less than 800 in 2013 to more than 1,300 on the road in 2017 - an increase of 54%.

And if you thought an electric supercar would never take off, think again. The BMW i8, the world’s first petrol-electric hybrid supercar, has proved a huge success if UK registrations are anything to go by. There are 1,747 currently registered in the UK in 2017; that’s 14.6% more than last year, and over six times (526%) more than in 2014 (its year of release).

It's almost time to polish those bikes and head to Daytona Beach for the 25th Anniversary of Biketoberfest® October 19-22, 2017! Organizers are preparing to welcome up to 150,000 riders and visitors from around the world to the four-day motorcycle rally.

At the Official Biketoberfest® Welcome Center on Beach Street, staff will be passing out free (while supplies last) 25th Anniversary collectible Official Biketoberfest® posters, pocket guides and pins, and encouraging visitors to mark their home town on world maps.

“We have a core audience that's been attending this event since the start,” said Lori Campbell Baker, executive director of the Daytona Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), “and it's not uncommon to see Brazil, Canada, Germany and the UK pinned on the maps. It's amazing to see the international crowd this rally draws, as well as the increase in women riders and sportbikes over the years, and the youth drawn to the rally's signature racing events at Daytona International Speedway.”

Biketoberfest® officially kicks off with a press conference to be held at Daytona International Speedway on Thursday, October 19, at 10 a.m. and is open to the public. Held on the Harley-Davidson Thunder Alley Stage next to the FPL Solar Pavilion in the Midway, this fan-friendly area is also a major hub of Biketoberfest® activity. The rally tradition will continue along Main Street, Riverfront Park and Midtown in Daytona Beach, as well as at Destination Daytona and US1 in Ormond Beach, and throughout Volusia County in nearby New Smyrna Beach and DeLand.

As new data shows the number of vehicles stolen has risen by nearly a third in the past three years, a simple plug in device working with a smartphone app will tell a motorist the exact location of their car at any given time, aiding its speedy recovery by the Police.   The Smartplug from connected car service, Smartdriverclub, slots in under the dashboard enabling a range of services, from accident assistance to stolen vehicle tracking as well as insurance.

Penny Searles, CEO of Smartdriverclub says: “The number of vehicles on the road with tracking capabilities is growing exponentially as a by-product of telematics insurance and the growth of connected cars, eliminating much of the work required by the Police in locating stolen vehicles with this technology. We know Police resource is under severe pressure, so being able to take advantage of this technology at zero cost to them, works in everyone’s interests.

“Sadly many stolen vehicles are used in other acts of crime and are usually driven at speed and without care so it is vital the car is recovered quickly.  A simple piece of tech that the driver can add themselves to their car will identify the exact location of the vehicle so that we can alert the Police.  It’s free to insurance customers along with services such as accident support, alerts to mechanical issues and fuel monitoring and has already aided a number of vehicle theft recoveries for our customers.

“The Government has challenged the insurance industry to use technology to de-risk driving and incentivise safer driving.  Smartdriverclub has more than met this challenge. Connected technology in cars can cut accidents, support theft tracking and reduce insurance premiums.  The more motorists that have tracking capabilities, the more chance we have of bringing motor insurance costs down for all.”

Smartdriverclub comprises the following services in one package:

My Mechanic - This will alert a motorist if a car problem crops up, suggest what they can do about it and find a local dealer they can talk to.  This includes TAX and MOT reminders

Crash Assistance - If the customer is in a collision and Smartdriverclub can’t reach the customer on their mobile phone, they will contact the emergency services and direct them to the location.

Stolen Car - An in-car tracker activated by the customer means that if it’s stolen, the Police should know exactly where to look.

My Driving - Motorists can save money on fuel costs by seeing how efficiently their car performs on each journey with a smart driving history that helps them manage fuel use.

My Deals - Customers can save money on everything from servicing to new tyres. Just tap through the app for the latest deal from their dealership.

Value My Car - Smartdriverclub provides a valuation of the customer’s car that’s actually based on their car so that they can use this instant price for better deals and finance.

Where Did I Park? - A handy little map is provided to those that have forgotten where they parked

Business Miles – Business drivers can accurately record their business vs personal miles and download the information directly into their expense forms, confident that it is validated information for mileage claims

Club Insurance –  Preferential rates for good drivers based on their driving behaviour, to ensure customers are not paying for the poor behaviour of others.

Harley-Davidson's big 115th Anniversary is all planned for August 29 - September 2, 2018 in Milwaukee. The event is a call to all motorcycle enthusiasts from around the world to join in the grand, citywide celebration.

The party is not just about a landmark anniversary of a brand that began in a wooden shed over 100 years but a chance for a great party attended by tens of thousands of motorcyclists.

Judging by past events, there will be headliner music, racing, foods of international flavor, museum tours, custom bike shows, marriage ceremony packages, bike parade (which drew 6,000 motorcyclists for the 110th), probably dancing and extreme camaraderie.

The line-up has yet to be announced but at the 110th Anniversary the likes of Kid Rock, Aerosmith, ZZ Top and the Blue Oyster Cult were a few of the 28 headliner acts and 60 bands.