Electric Car, Electric Vehicles

UK’s largest electric vehicle and clean energy event set for new transport era

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  • Every electric car on sale in the UK on show – more than 100 vehicles
  • 150+ exhibitors covering the EV, clean energy and related sectors
  • Electric car test drive area – enabling thousands to experience the latest EVs
  • 50+ live theatre sessions with hundreds of expert panellists

This week (3-5 September) will see the UK’s largest event for electric vehicles and clean technologies usher in a new era of transport. As the UK looks ahead to the government’s 2030 ban on petrol and diesel cars, Fully Charged OUTSIDE will host thousands of visitors looking to make the shift to clean mobility and more sustainable lifestyles.

Held at the Farnborough International Exhibition Centre, the three-day outdoor show will exhibit every electric car on sale in the UK (more than 100 vehicles) with thousands of test drives offered to showgoers. More than 150 exhibitors covering the EV, clean energy and related sectors will be on hand to help visitors to navigate the switch to electric vehicles and greener living.

Dan Caesar, Fully Charged joint CEO: “The world as we know it is changing fast. We’re proud to be playing a part in the transition to cleaner cars, more efficient homes and ultimately to a future where we significantly reduce our carbon emissions. After the challenges of the past year, we can’t wait to see real people, test drive real cars and learn about real solutions to our climate change emergency.”

The show will see the UK debut of the all-new Nissan Ariya electric crossover, the first public viewing of a new electric commercial vehicle, and the launch of a new government strategy; plus, electric motorcycles, e-bikes, e-scooters and classic electric car conversions.

Since the last time the Fully Charged LIVE event was held in June 2019, electric vehicle uptake has rocketed alongside the UK charging infrastructure’s rapid growth. Pure electric cars have seen their market share double since this point last year and for the past two months, more new electric cars were sold than diesel cars.

The show will also tackle every conceivable electric vehicle and clean energy topic with more than 50 live theatre sessions that range from choosing an electric vehicle and how to charge it, to climate change, air quality and eco-living. Sessions will be hosted by the Fully Charged team, including Robert Llewellyn, Jack Scarlett, Maddie Moate, Helen Czerski and Dan Caesar, each bringing their knowledge and fun-loving exploration to each topic alongside hundreds of expert panellists.

Fully Charged OUTSIDE runs from 3-5 September 2021 at the Farnborough International Exhibition Centre. Further information about the show is available here, and tickets to the event can be purchased here.

I’ll be there on the 5 September, so I look forward to seeing you on the day!

Cars, Electric Car, Electric Vehicles

Surges in Electric Vehicle sales and what this means for combustion engine vehicles

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Recently, the sales of EVs have surged. Electric vehicles are becoming more and more popular.

Electric cars have important advantages

Plug-in cars are generally cheaper to run, and drivers don’t need to pay as much road tax. Of course, there are also many important environmental benefits, which makes driving an EV a great choice.

Environment

Zero tailpipe emissions and similar factors support the environment and help upgrade the living conditions for future generations.

Charging

Cars that are powered by electric motors are becoming more appealing to buyers and there are many charging points available throughout the UK. They can be found at supermarkets, service stations, hotels, shopping centres and other public places and often offer free charges.

Driving

The driving experience is also improved. “Electric cars accelerate faster than vehicles with traditional fuel engines – so they feel lighter to drive”, EDF says.

Sales of electric and hybrid cars boom in March

March was an especially productive month for car dealers selling hybrid and electric cars. Traditionally, car sales are especially high in March – more than during any other month of the year. But in March 2021 car dealers experienced record-breaking sales of EVs. Lockdowns and restrictions due to COVID-19 didn’t slow down the sales and it was a huge win for the electric car industry. According to The Guardian, “plug-in vehicle sales account for almost 14% of all new car sales in March”.

Among the top 10 cars that were sold in March 2021, the Toyota Yaris which is a hybrid car was the most popular amongst the eco-friendly vehicles. Volkswagen Golf and Mercedes-Benz A-Class which can be bought as a hybrid car were also on the list as was the fully electric Hyundai Kona (also available as a hybrid car), Driving Electric explains.

What does this mean for combustion engine vehicles?

The high demand for fully electric cars as well as hybrid cars may have an impact on the typical combustion engine vehicles. The forces of supply and demand are expected to impact the prices of combustion engine vehicles.

The increase in demand for EVs will undoubtedly reduce the demand for standard cars, especially used ones – which will ultimately result in their value falling much quicker than in the past. This means that you could be owing a lot more on your car than what it’s worth and could leave you in a tough financial situation should anything happen to it. Especially for preloved cars, a Gap Insurance can cover expenses in the case of an unexpected breakdown and can save you hundreds of pounds.

With EV sales surging, it is only a matter of time until electric cars become more popular than combustion engine vehicles.

Data, Internet Security, Security

Ways To Protect Your Businesses Data

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Whatever sized business you have, whether it’s a one-man-band or a multinational, you have to invest in protecting your data. The web is filled with malware and cyber criminals all looking for a way into your precious data gold mine. If they are successful, then this could cause you a lot of problems. You are also vulnerable to powercuts or other such breaks in the normal running of things. Data is precious, yet at the same time quite vulnerable. Threats can come in many forms, and the consequences of this may be enough to put a business, especially a small one, out of business. However, with the right procedures and security, you can protect your business from this ever-growing threat.

Ways To Protect Your Businesses Data
Ways To Protect Your Businesses Data

Security Audit

It may be in your best interests to work with a professional and audit all your IT infrastructure. You need to know exactly what needs to be protected, so you are able to secure it appropriately. Think about the computers, backup system, any mobiles devices you may use, and the network. All this needs to be assessed in order to protect it fully.

Encryption

In the event that you have something stolen, encryption is a valuable asset. That is because no one will be able to access the data on a hard disk or thumb drive. You may lose the physical hardware but the data will be safe a secure. 

Outsource Security

If you do not have the capabilities to have a fully comprehensive security solution in-house, it is wise to outsource. Firstly you will know that your data is being properly protected by professionals who do this day in and day out. You will not have to worry that something was set up incorrectly. If there are any problems, you know they will be able to come and fix them straight away. Also, in the long run, it will save you time, money, and a lot of potential stress.

Use multiple-security solutions.

To protect against cybercrime, aka hackers, and their ever more sophisticated techniques, you need multi-layered protection on all the devices you have. A multi-security solution will be able to block attacks targeting your network, and it will notify you of this issue, so you are able to take immediate action. If you implement the right solutions, a hacker will see that your security is more trouble than it is worth. 

Server Protection

If you don’t have a server room with the associated backup, your data requires you may experience a whole range of issues. A server room keeps things at an ambient temperature to avoid the problem of over-heating, for example. They can also provide additional power should you suffer from a blackout which could result in the loss of a lot of data. You should consider data centre ups solutions. In an age where energy reduction is paramount, you should be thinking about ways to reduce your carbon foot front too. With this sort of solution, there is scope for you to balance your power output and make it more cost-effective.  

Crypto Currency

Why is the Crypto Market so Volatile?

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In many ways, the cryptocurrency market is a bundle of contradictions, with this borne out by the space’s current and historical capitalisation values.

More specifically, while the current crypto market capitalisation value of $1.39 trillion may appear impressive at first glance, we should remember that this number peaked above $2 trillion as recently as Bitcoin’s (BTC’s) price broke through the $60,000 barrier in mid-April.

This highlights the innate volatility that underpins the crypto space, but what causes this and how will this impact on the asset class going forward?

What are Cryptocurrency Assets so Volatile?

A further examination of Bitcoin’s recent price trajectory further highlights the volatility of the crypto space, particularly with BTC having achieved a record high valuation of $63,246.79 on April 16th, 2021.

To provide further context, a single BTC token was priced at just $29,333.61 on New Years’ Day, while it has subsequently fallen back to $33,117.75 as of July 24th.

So, having seen its price increase by more than 100% during Q1 of this year, BTC has shelved nearly 50% of its value in the three months since April 16th.

But what exactly is behind this volatility? Well, the main factor here is market sentiment and the varying perceptions of cryptocurrency (and especially BTC) as a viable store of value, while price points are also impacted by Bitcoin’s reputation as a method of value transfer.

In terms of the former, this refers to the ease with which an underlying asset can be useful in the future, either as a sellable item or a method of exchange.

These factors have played a key role in BTC’s rise and fall recently, as demand soared and cryptocurrencies emerged as potential safe-haven assets (which were largely immune from macroeconomic pressures) against the backdrop of the Covid pandemic in 2020.

Similarly, its decline has come as regulators have begun to crack down in China and Europe, while the often unfavourable opinions of influencers like Bill Gates and Elon Musk have undermined the perception of BTC as a store of value.

Is the Future Bright for the Crypto Market?

Of course, it can be argued that the recent crypto bear run simply represents a market correction, while the viability of BTC as an asset class can also be supported by its overall rise in value during the last 12 months.

For example, a BTC token was worth just $9,708.95 on July 26th, 2020, while it’s now priced at $34,014.62. So, despite its wild fluctuation in the intervening period, Bitcoin is now nearly four times more valuable than it was just one year ago.

What’s more, the wider demand remains high for crypto and BTC, especially with forex brokers like Tickmill now introducing digital assets for trading. Given this and the fact that Bitcoin retains a finite supply of 18.77 million, it’s clearly capable of maintaining an inflated price well in excess of $30,000 going forward.

This also increases liquidity and the ease with which BTC can be bought and sold, establishing it as an increasingly mainstream method of value transfer.

On a final note, we should consider the emergence of third-generation blockchains and how they continue to change the crypto marketplace.

More specifically, such networks are tackling long-standing issues like scalability and inflated transaction fees, increasing the likelihood of mainstream adoption rates and potentially minimising volatility in the longer term.

Car Restoration, Dos and Don'ts Guides

The Dos & Don’ts of Classic Car Restoration

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Classic car restoration has become a popular hobby in recent times and it is easy to see why. It can be incredibly rewarding restoring and improving a beautiful classic car as well as a fun and interesting process to go through along with the obvious benefit of having a classic to drive upon completion. Classic car restoration can certainly be an expensive hobby, but there are ways to make it more affordable too. There are also some important dos and don’t of classic car restoration – read on to find out more.

DO Choose the Right Restoration Type

Perhaps most important is choosing the right type of restoration. If this is your first project, you should always start off with driver restoration where you simply make it operational and make cosmetic upgrades. This is followed by street show restoration, show car restoration and finally concourse restoration.

DON’T Skip Making a Budget

Another common mistake that people make when it comes to car restoration is not setting themselves a budget. You need to work out how much you can afford to spend right at the start otherwise the costs can very quickly spiral out of control. If you know roughly how much you can afford, you can then find a vehicle, restoration level, tools and equipment and materials to fit within this budget.

DO Read the Owner’s Manual

Once you have found the right car to restore, you should then spend time reading through the owner’s manual. Skipping this step would be like working on the car with your eyes closed, so you need to get to know the vehicle first and re-read this if you are ever confused about anything.

DON’T Underestimate Time Required

Another common mistake that people make when it comes to classic car restoration is underestimating the time required to complete the work. Even a basic restoration will require a lot of time and effort, so you need to make sure that this is something that you can fit into your life and around your responsibilities. Without this, it is likely that this becomes a project that never gets completed.

DO Take Out Classic Car Insurance

There is no feeling like completing a classic car restoration, but before you get behind the wheel, you need to make sure that you have classic car insurance in place. Classic car insurance will provide you with financial protection if you encounter any issues as well as peace of mind knowing that your investment is protected.

Hopefully, this post will help anyone considering classic car restoration and stop you from making a few of the more common mistakes that people make. This can be a fun, rewarding and interesting hobby to start, but it is also a big commitment to make.

Electric Car, Electric Vehicles, EV, Hybrid

3 Reasons Why Electric Cars Are The Future

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Conserving the environment has been a goal that is continually dropped down in importance. Why? Well, many people are focused on what is happening in the present, not the future. But with more and more natural disasters occurring, it has become time for people to pay closer attention. 

Global warming is starting to become a major problem for the entire world. How humans slow down this warming is still up for discussion, but one decided way is through the use of electric vehicles. Some may scoff at that idea, but in all reality, electric cars and vehicles are the future of the modern world, whether you want to believe it or not. Just check out below the three reasons why electric vehicles will be around sooner rather than later:

The Global Impact Of Gas Powered Cars

The fossil fuel emissions made by humans and their vehicles have a really nasty effect on the environment. For example, across the pond in the United States of America, The U.S. transportation sector is responsible for about a third of the country’s climate-damaging emissions. 

On the United Kingdom side of things, Transportation is the most polluting sector in the United Kingdom, producing the equivalent of 122 million metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2019. So, with all that being said, it’s obvious people need to find a more efficient and environmentally friendly way to travel. Electric vehicles may be the answer.

There Is A Better Built Support System

For a long time, electric cars were not thoroughly supported. For instance, electric cars have to be charged using charging stations. With that being the case, you would expect gas stations to put in some type of charging station for cars to pull up and recharge their battery; but that is why we never assume. 

Installing the required charging stations costs a lot of money, more money than those gas stations were willing to pay. Now, with global warming becoming an increasing problem, the infrastructure surrounding electric vehicles has gotten a lot stronger. 

And no, that does not mean that there is more availability to call IT support. It means that people are supporting the initiative of moving to electric cars more than ever, creating a world that will soon get used to having all electric vehicles on the road. 

More and More Options are Becoming Available

With a much-improved infrastructure of electric vehicles, competitiveness within the electric vehicle marketplace has grown. There used to be just the Prius, but now large-scale corporations like Tesla, Ford, Jaguar, and Nissan are all putting in strong efforts to take over the market. Now that may be due to the new requirements and goals of whatever country (the United States wants all vehicles on the road to be electric by 2030), but the point still stands. Electric vehicles are growing, and it is easy to see why they are the future of our society. 

Virtual Office

5 Things to Consider Before Setting up Your Virtual Office

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With the ever-changing job market, it is becoming more and more important for people to be able to work from anywhere. Virtual offices are one of the best ways to do this because they allow work and life to coexist. The costs associated with these virtual offices can be surprisingly low because they offer a lot of value for those who use them. They provide a high level of privacy in a professional setting and allows you to have an office without actually having an office.

Although they must be set up on your own, there are a few companies that offer virtual address services for lower rates than others; this is certainly worth looking into if you’re strapped for cash or just want some peace of mind while working remotely. 

It is not uncommon now to see people working remotely and from home. In a recent study, it was found that nearly half of the people in the US work remotely or from home. This could be because many people are trying to live a healthier lifestyle. It could also be due to the fact that work these days is more available online than in-person. Here are five things you need to consider before setting up your virtual office. 

  1. Location

These offices offer all the perks of working from home without the need to travel. Whether it is a coworking space or virtual office, these businesses provide more flexibility in terms of location and hours.

  1. Workplace Culture

The first step in building a virtual office is figuring out what type of environment you want to be in. For example, if you are new to the workforce or just starting out as an individual, it may be best for you to have a more casual work environment. 

  1. Communication Tools

Nowadays, many people are working remotely. This has led to the rise in the use of communication software and tools. Communication tools have been developed over time to facilitate communication among remote workers. The introduction of these tools has led to changes in the workplace culture as well. It is important to note that virtual offices also have their share of problems like distractions and lack of focus. However, these tools can help to reduce the distraction and get the work done effectively.

  1. Technology

If you are a busy individual, then you already know the importance of having an efficient office. Therefore, we can expect more and more technology to be introduced in the workplace. This is good for the virtual office because we can use this technology to work from anywhere.

Movement of work from the physical location to remote locations will continue as it becomes more feasible and easier. In addition to this, because remote teams are able to work simultaneously with people located in different time zones, they are able to get things done at a faster pace.

  1. Virtual Assistant 

Virtual assistants can help companies navigate all the tasks that come with a modern business. Virtual assistants are also known as chatbots, who are living online and respond to different queries through text-based chats on various websites. The most popular platforms for this service are Facebook Messenger and Telegram, where many companies have their own bots. Adding them with virtual offices means that companies can have their own automation system to help with customers. 

Google Home, High-End Speakers, Smart Speakers

Braun LE03 – High End Smart Audio for Your Home

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This month I have been reviewing the LE03 Speaker from Braun Audio and I was very pleasantly surprised!

I have used quite a few smart speakers over the years, so when I received the Braun LE03 Speaker, I was intrigued to find out more. Out of the box, you can see that the speaker isn’t aimed at the smart assistant market as it is both high end and reassuringly weighty, but it also retains the smart speaker functionality with its minimalist design approach.

Braun Audio LE03
Braun Audio LE03

The speaker is controlled by either Google Voice (configured from your Android or iPhone), play pause, volume and ‘privacy’ button (which switches off the listening function). It can also be connected by Bluetooth pairing.

The speaker connects to the internet by WiFi, this pairing is set up by the Google Home app, which once set up, seamlessly sits alongside your other Google Devices ready to answer questions, play music or connect to Chromecast compatible TV’s.  If you are looking for finer tuning, you can also install the Braun app which gives greater control.

Braun Audio LE03
Braun Audio LE03

Set up is very straightforward, and once up and running, I was happily playing my favourite tunes and my daughter was equally happy to ask Google plenty of questions. Everything works in a similar fashion to using Google Assistant on your phone or indeed Alexa.

For the audiophiles amongst you, the LE03 contains a custom-designed 3.5” ‘high-excursion fast-transient’ woofer with NdFe motor, a Full-range 1.5“ Balanced Mode Radiator drive unit, a Race track/quadratic 5” x 3” Customised passive radiator all powered by a Monolithic class-D power amplifier. (I did say this was for the audiophiles).

Braun Audio LE03
Braun Audio LE03

The speaker can also be paired with further LE range speakers to give you a full multiroom experience.

The sound quality was mind-blowing, the bass was there when you needed it and vocals were clear. It really is a very good system and probably warrants the price tag of £349

The Braun LE03 is really worth a look if you are on the hunt for a capable speaker and want to spend a little bit more for the added quality.

Highly recommended!!

Internet of Things, Internet Security, IoT

Is IoT Right for Your Business?

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IoT, or the internet of things, has taken the world by storm. In 2018, the smart devices market value is estimated at a whopping $164 billion and will grow exponentially in the next few years.

Every discerning business owner might be wondering whether IoT is ideal for their business and what they stand to lose by not investing in it. 

Well, here is all the information you need to decide whether to invest in IoT. 

What Is the Internet of Things?

Simply put, IoT refers to all the devices that collect and transmit data over the internet. Also known as smart devices, these appliances help to make life more convenient for users. 

For example, IoT devices include smart fridges that regulate temperature independently and smartwatches that double as health devices.

What Are the IoT Advantages for Business Owners?

IoT use is highly prominent in the personal sphere. However, the past few years have seen increased use of this technology in the corporate and manufacturing world. Some of the benefits that organisations enjoy by employing this technology include:

Lower Operational Costs

Smart devices can help businesses save a lot on their utilities. An innovative HVAC system, for instance, maintains a building’s temperature to a suitable degree. This minimises unnecessary heating or cooling that often leads to energy wastage. Over time, you will end up saving a substantial amount of money.

Additionally, you can use IoT devices to reduce your labour costs. For instance, voice assistants can competently accomplish most tasks that assistants do, like organising your calendars, connecting with customers on live chat video software and reminding you of when projects are due. 

Offers More Convenience

IoT devices make life much easier for everyone at the office. Take a smart printer, for example. Rather than deal with disgruntled employees inconvenienced by a lack of ink in the printer, you can have smart printers that detect ink levels and inform you when you are running low. 

Some devices even pinpoint issues as they arise, thus giving you ample time to rectify them. This can save your company a lot of inconvenience and worry. 

Smart locks are yet another IoT device that offers incredible convenience. With them, you don’t need to carry keys around all day. Additionally, since you can use an app to open the door, it is easier to access buildings when you are in a hurry.

Improve Your Competitiveness

There is no denying that the IoT is the future of business. Therefore, a company that fails to take advantage of this new technology will lose its competitive edge in the coming decade.

For instance, in the manufacturing field, IoT for automation can tremendously improve a company’s efficiency. The more efficient an organisation is, the better it will be at handling its customer’s needs. This enables it to retain its current customers and attract new ones. 

IoT Concerns

Granted, IoT has its fair share of concerns. However, the most prominent one is the security risk the devices pose due to their susceptibility to hackers.

However, you can quickly mitigate these risks by investing in solid security infrastructure.

So, Should You Invest in IoT?

By and large, the pros of using IoT in your company far outweigh the cons. However, before you decide to invest in it, ensure that it will help you meet your company goals. If it will, do not hesitate to incorporate it into your entity.

Internet Security

Bitdefender BOX 2 – Protection For Your Home Network and Internet of Things

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Connecting to the internet securely at home is no longer a matter of just enabling your antivirus and firewall software. We no longer connect using our PCs. Instead, many devices are connected to our networks, including smartphones, TVs, smart assistants, streaming boxes, games consoles, and even lightbulbs. I even have internet-connected curtains!

PCs and Smartphones have additional security enabled, but once you start looking at these other devices, you soon find that there are limitations. Hence, a home network security solution out of the box is a welcome product.

Wouldn’t it be fantastic if a box you could install on your network would help secure your internet connection before it even touches these devices? Well, it appears there are indeed such devices.

Enter the Bitdefender BOX, a device (or security hub) that protects all of our internet-connected devices from one single place. The BOX uses machine learning to pick up potential threats and filter unsafe data. It ensures that everything connected to your network is protected from intrusion as new threats are detected.

The Bitdefender BOX also includes software that you can install on your Windows, Mac OS, Android, and iOS devices. It works alongside the hub.

All of this is achieved by replacing your existing WiFi network with a new, highly secure version run from the hub. There is a short process where you will need to connect your devices to this new network. The most straightforward option I found was to disable my existing WiFi network on my ISP’s router and then click the hub via the Ethernet Port.

Suppose you have any network extensions such as a powerline ethernet connector. In that case, you also need to unplug this from your router and connect them to the Bitdefender BOX.

The app takes you through the process in a simple, step-by-step process, which is straightforward to follow. You should be able to keep it up and running. Further, it allows you to monitor threats and warnings moving forward efficiently. If you do get stuck, there is a free setup hotline that you can call 24 hours a day.

One of the things that caught my attention was the protection for younger internet users, including filtering and parental control. It includes ‘predator detection’ options which will come as a relief for parents of young children.

What Bitdefender is offering is not just a simple firewall for your home network. It is much more than a dedicated device protecting your home PCs and Laptops. It is also an IoT security platform protecting the smart devices that you might well have plugged in and forgotten.

The first year of updates is included in the price. However, you will need to subscribe after this to continue to receive updates.

Currently, the Bitdefender Box is priced at £129 and can be purchased directly from their website by clicking here.

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