Quentin Willson

He was a passionate voice for motoring and consumer rights. Quentin dedicated his life to sharing his love for cars and helping people understand them, from classic combustion to modern electric. His kindness, intelligence, wit, and warmth will always be missed. Rest in peace, Q we love you.

@dailytelegraphnews.bsky.social story on electric car fires fails to mention that as a percentage, 242 EV fires out of 1.4 million EVs on U.K roads is 0.016%. Hardly an epidemic…..

Car crash: Musk and Tesla Podcast Episode · The Slow Newscast · 20/05/2025 · 30m

Great insights into what went wrong at Tesla from @observeruk.bsky.social podcasts. Engaging reporting from Giles Whittall and contributions from yours truly.

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/c...

ZEV mandate shake-up: Dan Caesar and Quentin Willson on hybrids, policy U-turns, and why EVs still win Everything EV · Episode

open.spotify.com/episode/65EV...

The UK is one of the most important markets for EVs, we've now overtaken France and Germany, so we need to push hard and recognise that all that distressed capital from America could come here, @quentinwillson.bsky.social tells Wilfred Frost on @news.sky.com

The UK’s growth of high speed electric car charging super hubs is impressive with size, scale, customer facilities and a hybrid mix of power sources, solar, battery and grid. All built with private capital without government subsidy.

In Europe sales of EVs are up 26.1% since February last year but, critically, sales of petrol and diesel cars have fallen 10% across the bloc in the same period. U.K. Germany and France are now the major EV markets in the region.

Tesla's February market share in Europe drops despite EV pickup Tesla's market share in Europe continued to shrink year-on-year in February, data showed on Tuesday, as sales of the all-electric car maker dropped for a second consecutive month despite rising overall EV registrations on the continent.

www.reuters.com/business/aut...

Global sales of combustion engine cars have already peaked Cost of EV batteries have crossed ‘tipping point’ that makes manufacturing them cheaper than fossil fuel-burning vehicles

🚗🌬️ New data shows combustion engine car sales peaked in 2018.

Separate research found the cost of EV batteries have crossed a “tipping point” that makes manufacturing them cheaper than fossil fuel-burning vehicles.

www.independent.co.uk/tech/electri...

In the U.K. in February combined new EV and hybrids outsold petrol. Consumer behaviour is beginning to change.

Mercedes-Benz tests world's first solid-state battery EV with +621 miles range The race for the “holy grail” of EV batteries is heating up. Mercedes-Benz is testing the world’s first production EV...

electrek.co/2025/02/24/m...
Mercedes is on road testing an EQS prototype with a solid state battery that promises over 600 miles of range. Make it at scale and the range of an EV becomes similar to combustion cars - even diesels.

EV ownership costs now said to be 50% lower than for equivalent petrol car | theenergyst.com The cost of running an EV is £1,154 per annum, which is 50.2% less than the £2,316 cost to run a petrol-driven car over the same period

theenergyst.com/ev-ownership...

We know, and we have already made them aware. Thanks for reaching out.

New study by Science Direct shows that EV regenerative brakes reduce particulate matter by two thirds compared to ICE braking pollutants and dust from pads and discs.

This is born out in real-world experiences. As @quentinwillson.bsky.social points out, the brake pads on Teslas will regularly go beyond 100,000miles before they need replacing

And there are plenty of stories of the brake pads in EVs rusting, and the pistons seizing, through a lack of use

EV drivers spend extra £85m on VAT when using public chargers. I’ve written to the Treasury to cut the VAT on public chargers (again) for those EV drivers without driveways. The ‘Pavement Tax’ makes no policy sense when the U.K. is electrifying

Used EV sales in U.K. up 57.4% and secondhand battery electric is now one of the fastest selling fuel types. Used EV affordability and choice in United Kingdom has never been better thanks to strong Govt policies.

VW have teased photos of its $20,000 small EV due in Europe in 2027. Get the looks, tech, interface and image right and it could become the China EV challenger that everyone has been waiting for.

In the U.K. January saw record breaking sales of new EVs. In a month when auto sales are usually slow this was the best January ever for battery electric cars.

Right-wing wokeism can’t stop green tech winning the global energy war Trump can slow things down with executive orders – but it is the customer who buys, not the White House

A positive look at how markets decide on the pace of energy transition - not Presidents. www.telegraph.co.uk/business/202...

This really is one report you must read. Toyota’s long-term funding of climate-denying politicians is jaw dropping. Once you read this you’ll understand the reason why the Japanese don’t buy EVs…..

Ben Kilbey on LinkedIn: #opinion #potholes An excellent #opinion piece in The Telegraph by 'Friend of the Trend' and founder of FairCharge, Quentin Willson - looking at the scourge of #potholes and why…

#potholes - screw that - Roads that Last, please 🙏🏼

🥊🥊🥊

@linkedin.com article here from @quentinwillson.bsky.social

www.linkedin.com/posts/ben-ki...

@telegraphnews.bsky.social article here: www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/01...

Great to see @thetimes.com reporting on the fact that credits to hit the ZEV mandate can be earned by selling EVs AND selling large numbers of low CO2 emitting ICE cars

Which is why, far from struggling with the mandate in 2024, the car industry as a whole hit its targets

Car giant @stellantis.bsky.social has hit the ZEV mandate for this year selling 39,000 electric cars and vans - up 59% on 2023. They warn that the govt needs to support private buyers and make it easier for them to transition to EVs.

Charge-point surge heralds UK ‘electric car revolution’ More than 120 planning applications for plug-in stations for EVs have been approved

Charge-point surge heralds UK ‘electric car revolution’. I’m quoted in @thetimes.com in piece by @benclatworthy.bsky.social on how DNOs must speed up grid connections or risk slowing down the energy transition. An important issue now.

www.thetimes.com/article/fe62...

We’re now the most successful market for electric vehicles in Europe. Full story here: lnkd.in/ds55yrmf

Wind is biggest source of UK electricity for first time Gas-fired power plants replaced as main provider last year

Wind is biggest source of UK electricity for first time

www.thetimes.com/article/54ca...

Why you never see road signs for EV charge points There are more stations than you might think, but strict laws on the size of motorway signs mean they go unnoticed — and fuel anxiety about going electric

I’m quoted in @thetimes.com in a piece by the excellent Nicholas Hellen on why you never see road signs for EV charge points. @nationalhighways.bsky.social @heidialexander.bsky.social please change this absurd legislation.

www.thetimes.com/article/7cc6...

December’s car sales figures show 31% were EVs - a record where nearly one in three cars bought was electric. But industry claims too many of buyers were fleet or company, yet record PCP, lease, Salary Sacrifice and Motability as fleet when end users are actually private people. This should change.