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The Sony Vision-S concept car has been unveiled at CES to showcase the firm’s latest vehicle safety and infotainment innovations.

SONY stuns with all-electric car at CES Las Vegas

If you thought that SONY was just going to announce the new PlayStation 5 at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas…you’d be right, along with millions of others.

What no-one expected was SONY’s reveal of its concept Vision S prototype car, built to showcase what SONY can do for the cars of tomorrow. 

The electronics brand has dipped its toes in everything from cameras to 8K televisions and everything in between, so it actually isn’t all that surprising that they would decide to use CES to jump into the auto industry.

Looking remarkably similar to the Tesla Model 3 with hints of Porsche in the front, the four-door Vision S rolled silently onto the stage. The Vision S packs 33 sensors, including radar, LiDAR and cameras, but SONY says its real innovation is infusing the data collected from all those things to produce cleaner data with fewer errors.

Although it’s not widely known, SONY isn’t entirely new to this game: Its CMOS sensors, like those used in its cameras, are already used in vehicles like the Toyota Corolla and Lexus NX.

SONY’s foray into LiDAR — the ‘eyes’ of an autonomous car that allow it to sense how far it is from obstacles around it – comes as a bigger surprise. The race to build cheaper, more reliable LiDAR has become one of the hottest contests in automotive technology and SONY will face upstarts like Quanergy and LeddarTech, along with established players like Velodyne and Bosch.

Inside, the Vision S looks like what you would expect from a company that built its reputation on televisions, with a massive panoramic dash screen that stretches below the entire windshield. The rear seats both have screens of their own and SONY says the car provides a 360-degree panoramic audio experience.

“We believe that the evolution of mobility will also redefine cars as a new entertainment space,” said Sony CEO Kenichiro Yoshida.

The EV chassis the car rides on was built by Magna Steyr, a Canadian manufacturer that also supplies GM, Ford, Mercedes and yes, Tesla. Not surprisingly, SONY had help from a number of other partners, including Qualcomm, Continental, and Nvidia.

Few technical details of the prototype were made available at the reveal, but we know it’s powered by a pair of 268hp electric motors (one per axle), which give it a 0-62mph time of 4.8 seconds and a top speed of 149mph.

SONY will show the Vision S concept at its CES 2020 booth, but don’t expect SONY dealerships to spring up anytime soon – it’s merely a demonstration to get other automakers interested in Sony’s automotive-related technologies.

For traditional petrol and diesel vehicle drivers, it’s usually a fairly simple choice to decide where to fill up your motor; generally it’s the nearest petrol station. But for electric vehicle drivers the choice is not so simple; largely due to the multitude of different charging options available.

The first choice to make is how quickly you need your vehicle to charge up. For example, if it’s the end of the day and you don’t need the car until the next morning, then a slow overnight charge would be suitable. However, if you’re en-route and need to fill up quickly, then a much faster (and generally more expensive option) will probably be the one to go for.

Electric vehicle chargers come in three different speed ratings: Rapid, Fast and Slow. This represents how power is outputted and hence directly affects the speed the connected vehicle is charged.

There are two types of Rapid charger: Alternating Current (AC) or Direct Current (DC). Currently, AC chargers have a 43kW (kilowatt) rating. DC chargers tend to be 50kW or more, meaning they can charge most Electric Vehicles (EVs) to 80% in under 60 minutes. Most rapid chargers tend to be Direct Current.

Tesla’s use Tesla Superchargers, which are Rapid DC and can charge at high speeds, utilising power of 120kW. This is certainly one of the benefits of opting for a Tesla, but of course, you’ll pay for it, as Tesla’s don’t tend to come cheap. Check out our exclusive review of the Tesla Model 3.

Fast charging usually has output between 7kW and 22kW. As the power output is so much less than rapid chargers, it naturally takes longer to charge a vehicle. As a result, a full charge takes around 3-4 hours.

It does get slower though... and slow chargers are charging units that have a power output of up to 3.7kW and are designed really for overnight charging. This is because it can take a good 6-12 hours to charge an electric vehicle; and sometimes more. Even with a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) - where a battery is used in conjunction with a traditional petrol or diesel engine - it can take a 2-4 hours to charge the battery. Connection to a slow charger is made using a standard 3-pin plug socket.

Nothing is ever simple, and as such, there are a number of different types of charger available. None will be compatible with every vehicle, so before buying or leasing an electric vehicle, or getting a home charger installed, make sure you have the correct type of charger.

This is the slowest, least efficient way of charging your vehicle and should only be used as a last resort. EVs will allow you to charge your vehicle at home using a standard 3-pin plug socket, but be warned it will charge at a painstakingly slow rate, giving you roughly 8 miles of range per hour of charging. However, if you are happy charging your vehicle overnight, then it can be a very convenient and cheap way to add some juice to your car.

Most European manufacturers are favouring this type of charger. The Type 2 has a 7-pin socket and is used for both Slow and Fast charging. It also has an in-built locking mechanism, which makes connecting and recharging easier and safer.

UK Home charger installations will tend to come with this option so you can recharge much faster than if you only had a standard 3-pin plug socket. A Type 2 connection at home (with 3.7kW single-phase power) will give you approximately 12.5 miles of range per hour. However, you may be able to have the higher powered 7kW installed (like most public charging stations in the UK) and so you can charge up to 25miles of range per hour.

Some public charging stations may have the Type 2 Combo (CCS) socket that is used for Rapid charging. This is great as it can have a higher power rating and can charge your vehicle much more quickly; at roughly 75 miles per hour of charging.

Over in Europe, research has begun on the next-generation of Type 2 chargers. The plan is to install a network of Rapid chargers capable of 350kW output. With this power output, you can expect to gain up to 525 miles of range per hour.

Obvious from its name, but Tesla Type 2 is the connection used by all Tesla Vehicles. These are the only Direct Current (DC) chargers that use a Type 2 connector. All others are Alternating Current (AC). These Tesla Superchargers will give a vehicle approximately 180miles of range per hour.

Essentially, this is the US format of the Type 2 / CCS setup. In the US, Type 1 is used for Slow and Fast charging and CHAdeMO is for Rapid Charging. The Type 1 connector has a 5-pin socket and does not feature a locking mechanism.

Charging rates for Type 1 are pretty much the same as for Type 2.

Depending on your vehicle, the connection type will vary - just like smartphones all tend to come with different charging cables. Your vehicle’s battery size plays an important role in how fast your vehicle may charge. Larger EV's tend to have larger batteries, and these are usually more capable of the fastest (Rapid) charging.

Currently, there are around 17,000 public charging points in the UK. Thanks to new legislation, it is now a compulsory requirement for all large petrol stations and motorway services to provide charging points. So as time moves on, there will be more and more of these appearing up and down the country. They also tend to be capable of either Fast or Rapid charging.

Tesla has its own network of ‘Superchargers’. In the UK these can dispense power up to a massive 145kW, although currently Tesla cars themselves are limited to a meagre 120kW.

Currently, when topping up your electric vehicle, you’re most likely to see one of the following installations: BP Chargemaster (Polar), Ecotricity, Pod Point and Charge Your Car.

Depending on which one you use, the payment methods available will vary. Some may take traditional bank cards, some an RFID card, and some of the more advanced may connect to your account via a smartphone app.

Before you can charge your vehicle, you’ll need to sign up to whichever company manufacturers the charging network and create your own account. Usually this is free, but double check as some require a membership sign-on fee.

Once signed up and connected, you’ll be charged in one of the following ways:

We recommend choosing one that charges per kWh as it’s easier to calculate how much you’ll be paying. Also bear in mind, some will also charge an initial connection fee each time you connect your vehicle. So it’s worth checking beforehand if you’re planning on just putting in a small amount to keep you going. In addition, like traditional petrol stations, actual price will vary dramatically, so be sure you’re happy with the price before connecting.

Ecotricity, for example, charges roughly £6 for a 45 minute charge from a Rapid Charger. In the Nissan Leaf, this will get the battery up to 80%. Check out our exclusive review of the Nissan Leaf e+.

If you’re lucky enough to have off-street parking, then a home installation of an EV charging point could very well be the most practical, convenient and cheapest way of regularly charging your electric car. 

To keep things simple, many companies offer a fully installed package for a fixed price. The cost is usually around £1,000 and you may be eligible for a Government grant of up to £500 to help with the installation cost; that is if you own or lease your vehicle. You may also be able to get an additional £300 from the Energy Saving Trust (EST). So the resulting outlay could very well be minuscule; especially when compared to how much you’ll be saving on running costs.

You’ll find the majority of home charging setups have a power output of around 3.7kW or 7kW. The 7kW packages are the wall-mounted high power ones, and will cost more to install, but they will charge your vehicle much faster.

The installation will be done on its own separate circuit (to save your car shorting out your entire house), and you’ll be able to monitor your electricity use either by your traditional meter, or by a smartphone app.

If you buy an electric car from new, you may be offered a free home installation as part of the deal. This is because many vehicle manufacturers now have deals with some of the charging companies, so it’s worth haggling to see if you can get this included.

Unfortunately, if you don’t have off-street parking, you’re unlikely to be able to benefit from having your own charging point. This is because most councils won’t allow cables trailing across the street or pavement, for obvious safety reasons. Having said that, there are new technologies being researched to enable this, such as electric pads that sit underneath your vehicle to charge it wirelessly, and possibly using the power from lampposts. This is because since their switch to LED, there is a lot of leftover power that can be harnessed.

One possible alternative to home charging is charging at work. An increasing number of workplaces are having charging points fitted. They are a very practical way of charging your vehicle, as you can do it while you’re busy and your vehicle is stationary for hours at a time, rather than having to wait around at a service station.

These charging points are generally for both employees and visitors, and are being fitted often as a way to attract new workers as a staff perk and also to attract new visitors and customers.

Unlike home chargers though, work-place chargers generally have a higher electricity output, 7kW to 22kW. They often come double-socketed too, so two vehicles can be connected at once. Like home installations, workplace grants are available as well as capital allowances to incentivise companies to have the EV points fitted. Depending on the company, they may even offer free charging if they want an even greater attraction for staff and visitors.

Whilst the charging network is not yet ready for the whole of the UK to instantly adopt an electric vehicle, it’s huge rate of expansion means it won’t be long before it is. For more information about the UK charging infrastructure, check out our article Can Britain's Charging Infrastructure Support the Growth of Electric Vehicles?.

Few electric cars have caused as much of a furore as the Tesla Model 3. It’s been teased and talked about, previewed and – not least – plagued by production issues that have seen the European launch date pushed back repeatedly.

If this be our automotive future, beam me down, Scotty!

Now a common sight on US roads for over a year, Tesla’s more affordable and long-awaited Model 3 has finally arrived in the UK. It brings competitive performance, a practical EV range and stunning technology to the mainstream executive class.

Pricewise and with a premium badge, the closest rival to the Model 3 is the BMW i3 at £35,350. Other less premium EVs include the KIA e-Niro (£32,995), VW e-Golf (£33,785) and Hyundai Kona Electric (£26,900).

Lower down the EV price scale are the Renault Zoe, KIA Soul, Nissan Leaf and MINI Electric, all of which continue to appeal as our driving habits adapt to a new automotive world order.

In the non-EV arena, Tesla has its sights set on sales conquests from traditional ICE-powered executive saloons such as the venerable BMW 3 Series, Audi A4, Jaguar XE, Mercedes C-Class and Volvo S60.

The Model 3 is smaller, cuter and imbued with a style cheekiness missing from the bigger, heavier-looking Tesla S and X models. The front end is short thanks to the extended cabin area and the car is unlocked with a credit card waved against the B-pillar – or you can set up your smartphone to work just like Tesla’s card key by unlocking the car as you approach.

When unlocked, push the left side of the flush door handles to open the door. The handles don’t pop out as they do on the Model S and are a tad awkward to use with one hand if you’re holding anything else.

Inside, you’ll find that space is pretty similar to that in a BMW 3 Series. There’s the added bonus of a flat floor with no transmission hump, but rear headroom might be a little tight for taller adults who could have their heads brushing the sloped, full-length glass roof that the Model 3 gets as standard.

It certainly feels airy and spacious and is quite comfortable throughout and you’ve got a choice of front and rear boots with a combined 542 litres of storage space.

Access to the rear luggage space is good by class standards and the boot lid is hinged to lift higher than most saloons. Meanwhile, the rear seats split and fold to reveal the surprisingly large luggage area.

Slide into the front seats and you are enveloped in openness. It’s a perfect example of just how well ‘minimalism’ can work in a car. Steering wheel aside, there is nothing directly in front of the driver and even the vents are hidden in a single, slim crease that stretches the full width of the dashboard and looks like a design feature rather than a vent.

The dash is dominated by a slim, 15-inch landscape touchscreen. It controls absolutely everything, including the air-flow direction from those vents, steering wheel adjustment, external mirrors – and more.

You may think that having everything on the screen could be problematic, and although Tesla has put the most important driver information as close to the driver as possible, you do have to look further away from the road to check your speed than you would usually.

A head-up display would be a welcome addition and go some way to solving this problem. Otherwise, it doesn’t take much time to become familiar with the screen’s menu layouts and how to use the two switches on the steering wheel.

In practice, it's these wheel-mounted controls that you use to control most functions, including the audio functions, cruise control and the like. 

There are no conventional trim grades as such. Instead, the three available variants of Tesla Model 3 are based more on electric motor power output and battery range.

In the UK, the line-up consists of the ‘Standard Plus’ with its 254 mile range as tested here, ‘Long Range’ (348 miles) and ‘Performance’ (329 miles). The Standard Plus has just one electric motor driving the rear wheels, while the Long Range and Performance models have two motors driving all four wheels. Be warned: the battery range will plummet if you drive the car like you stole it.

The equipment list is pretty much standard throughout the Model 3 range: 18- or 20-inch alloys, electric front seats, heated mirrors, heated seats, parking sensors, navigation, etc.

It might be the least expensive Tesla currently available but, even in range-entry guise few are likely to be disappointed – as even the base model packs a claimed 254-mile range and the ability to sprint from 0-60mph in just 5.3sec. It even comes with Tesla’s ‘Autopilot Drive Assistance’ system, which takes the edge off long trips and brings added space-age feel.

A dual-motor version with all-wheel drive and increased range is available as well; it can cover a claimed 329 miles and serves up a supercar-rivalling 0-60mph time of 3.2sec.

One thing strikes you as soon as you take the wheel of a Tesla Model 3: its steering is surprisingly fast-geared, giving the wheel an immediate response. At first some drivers may find this disconcerting, as it makes the car respond to inputs in a heartbeat, but you’ll quickly learn to enjoy the agility this imparts, and its quick turn-in becomes second nature.

It's quite a heavy car, with a kerb weight stretching from 1645kg to 1,847kg depending on the size of batteries fitted, but it doesn’t really feel it when you thread it along your favourite back road.

The suspension keeps the EV composed through corners, with just a little body roll when you’re really pushing hard. Despite this agility and keen handling, the Model 3 still soaks up the worst road lumps and bumps. If ride comfort is your priority, we would recommend sticking with a smaller choice of alloy wheels, however.

Like most EVs, the Model 3 features a regenerative braking system that helps top up the battery when you’re driving. There are two modes; in ‘standard’, the car slows significantly when you lift off the accelerator, which feeds more energy back to the battery. The ‘low’ mode is less severe and is probably best for most driving conditions. Drive the Model 3 with a measured degree of attentiveness and it’s very possible to match the claimed range in the real world.

Of course, you don't necessarily have to do all of the driving. In the UK, the Model 3 comes with Autopilot as standard, with adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping. You still have to rest a hand on the steering wheel just so the system knows you’re conscious, but the Model 3 will accelerate, brake and steer while monitoring the vehicles around you.

Indicate left or right and Autopilot will also judge if it's safe to change lanes and complete the manoeuvre for you. It's the most intuitive semi-autonomous tech driving available right now and regularly gets better thanks to live, over-the-air updates from Tesla.

Investing in a Model 3 gives you access to Tesla’s own network of Superchargers that allow you to charge the battery (from 10-80%) in as little as 30 minutes. In Tesla UK’s early days, recharging was free but now you have to pay each time, but at around £14, the price is still reasonable.

You can also charge at any public CCS charging point. This method takes longer (around 1hr 15min) for the same 10-80% top-up, whereas a full 0-100% charge at home using a 7kW type 2 charger takes 11hr 45min – or overnight at home or at the office during the day – which is little hardship, to be honest.

The Model 3 has been on sale for some time in the US, where it appears to have been largely reliable but plagued by quality control issues like poor paintwork, large gaps between panels and poorly fitted trim.

In the media, this is often attributed to Tesla's relative inexperience in mass producing cars compared with manufacturers like Mercedes, but Tesla is also keen to show it offers great customer service by rectifying issues quickly under warranty.

The Model 3 has yet to prove itself in the fiercely competitive European market. If it can hold a candle to the century-old, fossil fuel-drinking proletariat here, it can be deemed a success.

Euro NCAP has now crash-tested the Model 3 and it scored the highest-ever figure in the safety assist category, with an impressive 94 per cent. Its overall five-star score includes excellent ratings for adult and child occupant protection, and it scored well in the vulnerable road user category too.

The Tesla Model 3 is one of the safest cars on sale and the manufacturer claims the Model 3 is particularly safe thanks to its compact electric powertrain, which allows for large crumple zones and a rigid passenger compartment.

Thanks to its semi-autonomous Autopilot technology, the Model 3 is also covered in myriad sensors and cameras that can help protect occupants by alerting them to danger and even braking or steering itself around obstacles.

Several reasons: If your lifestyle supports an electric car, the Tesla Model 3 is as good as it gets. Tesla needed to introduce a brand-entry product that is more affordable and available in bigger numbers, and while the Model 3 is by no means a cheap option, it is definitely closer to the mark than what came before. 

Progress with electric cars is really gathering momentum and this car is a good indicator of the state of the art. None of the premium marques (Audi, BMW and Jaguar) come close to matching the Model 3's all-round efficiency as well as the convenience of its own-brand Supercharger network.

If you’re after the cheapest Tesla Model 3 on offer, then a £38,100 Standard Range Plus in two-wheel drive form (as tested) is where you need to head. Bragging right aside, it produces a very green 0g/km of CO2 and capable of a claimed range of 258 miles (WLTP) on a full charge.

“Finally, an EV I would spend my own money on.”

With rivals like the Audi e-tron, Jaguar I-Pace and Mercedes EQC lining up to take a slice of the executive electric class, Tesla has never faced so much competition. And yet, despite very publicly reported company difficulties and that growing competition, the Model 3 still feels like a trailblazer…different, but in all the right ways.

The car is great to drive, packed full of tech, is fast and even quite practical. Sure, the ride is more firm than some of its rivals, but it’s never uncomfortable even over our crusty UK roads. Factor in a competitive price, especially given its sheer pace and it’s in a prime position to steal punters away from both EV and non-EV rivals.

It's been a long time coming but electric vehicles are finally here - but should you buy an EV or stick with petrol or diesel? DriverBuddy discusses the pros and cons.

It's been a long time coming but electric vehicles are finally here - and the question on everyone's lips is: "Should I buy one?". Sadly, the answer isn't a simple yes or no.

Once-upon-a-time electric vehicles (EVs) were heavy, ugly and very, very expensive. These days, however, they are a lot better looking, and are actually perceived of as being a premium product over their petrol and diesel counterparts.

Even now, EVs do not come cheap. In fact, they're still considerably more expensive than petrol and diesel vehicles. That said they have come down a lot over the years and for the first time they are within touching distance of non-electric models, and finally within reach of the average car consumer.

At the top end we have the Teslas. The high-end, premium electric vehicles founded by Elon Musk - the billionaire entrepeneur who co-founded PayPal; among many other ventures. Tesla are several years ahead of most of the other vehicle manufacturers when it comes to electric vehicle technology, especially the charging infrastructure they have in place. The good news, though, is that the mainstream manufacturers are catching up fast.

Even with a mammoth price tag of over £65,000, the Tesla Model S was the best selling electric car in 2016. The cheapest EV these days will still set you back over £25,000, but prices are falling.

There is an upside once you have purchased one though. Running an EV at today's electricity prices will cost several times less per mile than a petrol vehicle. So if you rack up a lot of miles in your current vehicle, it may well pay off in the long run to switch to electric sooner rather than later.

In addition to cheaper running costs, you'll find that the tax is cheaper. A LOT cheaper. In fact, there is no tax to pay on fully electric vehicles. Also, servicing tends to be cheaper too as batteries are a lot less complicated than engines, and there are fewer moving parts. This also means there is less that can go wrong, meaning fewer repairs throughout the lifetime of the vehicle. Ever had to replace a clutch, gearbox or have an engine rebuilt? These may soon be a thing of the past.

What are the different types of electric vehicle?

There are three main types of electric vehicle:

Plug-in electric - This is essentially a fully electric vehicle with no internal-combustion engine of any sort. It requires charging before it can be driven

Plug-in hybrid - This uses an electric battery - like above - but has a petrol or diesel engine as well for when the battery runs out

Hybrid - Uses a combination of electricity and petrol/diesel and alternates between the two depending on whether the driver wants better economy or performance

It's true that there are currently not enough charging stations, which could be a concern for some buyers. And with average range of most EVs being around 200 miles (less than half the range of a similar-priced petrol or diesel vehicle), suddenly this starts to look like a serious issue.

It's not actually quite that simple, because you can't fill up your petrol or diesel vehicle at home, or at work. Whereas you could with an EV. Drivers who purchase EVs may be elligible for government grants to have charging ports fitted at their property. This means if you drive less than 200 miles on your average journey (which most people do), it's less relevant that there aren't enough charging stations because you can just recharge your vehicle when you get home. Simple.

Forget to do so, however, and you could find yourself rushing to a faraway superfast EV charging station on your way to work... 

I've heard it takes an age to charge an electric vehicle?

This is both true, and false. Any EV can be charged directly from your 3-pin plug socket at home. Sound great? Until you realise that it will charge at a painfully slow rate of 6 miles per hour, meaning a full charge can take up to two days... So realistically for this to work you will need to have a proper charging port fitted, which means you could charge your vehicle in just a few hours. For most people this would just be an overnight job.

At services the charging stations are supercharged and the charge from empty to full comes down to around 45 minutes on average; just enough time to grab a coffee and read the paper (sorry I mean BBC News App on the iPad Pro in your tech-savvy palms...) And if that's not quick enough for you they're already releasing the next generation of EV chargers that will recharge your vehicle in just 7 minutes. That's not really much slower than filling up with crude-oil like we all do now. And in a few years I'm pretty sure there will be little difference.

How many people really buy electric vehicles?

According to Next Green Car, as of July 2019 there were already 230,000 registered EVs in the UK, with nearly 25,000 charging points. And that figure is growing fast.

Electric vehicles are coming. Fact. The government are currently aiming to ban petrol and diesel vehicle purchases completely from 2040, and there is much debate about whether this should be brought forward. As the deadline approaches I would also expect a significant increase in tax for these vehicles too.

So, it's time to start thinking about when, not if, your first EV purchase will be.

Tag: tesla

Sony Vision-S All-Electric Concept Car

Electric Vehicle Charging Guide

Review: Tesla Model 3

Is it time to buy an electric vehicle?

Tag: tesla

Sony Vision-S All-Electric Concept Car

Electric Vehicle Charging Guide

Review: Tesla Model 3

Is it time to buy an electric vehicle?

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