Motoring news

48 Motoring

Motoring News

A Fully Electric Car Is the Best Choice for 1 in 5 Buyers An electric vehicle is the best option for nearly one-infive new car buyers in the UK, according to exclusive research. The What Car? What Fuel? calculator found a whopping 63.8% of new car buyers should opt for a hybrid or plug-in hybrid vehicle as their next car. Analysis of the daily mileage, driving habits and vehicle requirements for more than 8400 users of the What Fuel? Calculator shows 19.2% of drivers could use a fully electric vehicle (EV) as their daily vehicle without compromising their routine. Editor Steve Huntingford hopes that the more people learn about the benefits of running and owning an electric car, the faster the technology can reach its full potential. Volkswagen Delivers 100,000th e-GOLF The model was launched in 2014 as the brand’s second battery electric vehicle and is now one of the most successful electric vehicles in Europe.

The anniversary vehicle was painted in “Pure White” (pictured). The delivery milestone of 100,000 vehicles is confirmation of the eGolf’s success. Ford wins International Van of the Year award 2020 Ford of Europe scored a unique 1-2 in the International Van of the Year Award 2020 competition. It secured the title with its range of Transit Custom Hybrids, which won comprehensively, scoring 97 points, with its nearest challenger (coincidently from its own stable) the new Ford Transit EcoBlue Hybrid in second place on 54 points. Bentley turns 100 and plants 100 Trees Bentley Motors is planting 100 native British trees around it’s site in Crewe. As Bentley continues to focus on sustainablility, they feel this is a practical initiative for them to take as well as a fitting way to mark the end of their important centenary year. 100,000th e-Golf

through the door

Pets 49

In human health, vaccination has become such a routine word that we forget how powerful it can be. Thanks to vaccination smallpox has been eradicated and polio has almost been wiped out. A massive campaign of vaccination against rabies in stray dogs in India has already reduced the incidence of this terrible disease. However, over the past few years there has been a marked decline in vaccination uptake both in the human and animal world, leading to an alarming increase in preventable diseases such as measles and Rubella in people and parvovirus and distemper in dogs; many doctors and vets qualifying in the last 15 years had never previously seen these. The People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) have recently published a report quoting an 18% fall in the number of dogs, cats and rabbits getting vaccinated over the last three years (PDSA Animal Wellbeing report 2019). They also found that around a third of pets are not receiving regular booster vaccination. The PDSA describe this as a ‘ticking time bomb’! In order for vaccination to be fully effective at least 95% of individuals need to be vaccinated. As numbers drop below that we risk outbreaks of the disease Paws for thought Dr Julian Hoad Vaccinations

which is why we are now hearing about outbreaks of measles in children. When diseases fall to low levels - due to successful vaccination programmes, it is very easy to forget the threat of those illnesses, and the misery they can cause. Vaccination offers the most effective way of protecting pets from infectious diseases such as canine parvovirus, canine distemper, infectious canine hepatitis, canine parainfluenza and leptospirosis, cat flu, feline infectious enteritis, feline leukaemia virus and chlamydophila and myxomatosis in rabbits. Every vaccine lasts for different lengths of time, depending on the disease it is protecting against. Most animals require regular boosters to “remind” the immune system and enhance the level of protection. Don’t forget that if you are taking your pet abroad the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) means that, before travelling, your pet needs to be vaccinated against rabies; if Brexit happens then this process may change so please check the government website www.gov.uk/ take-pet-abroad. Your veterinary team will be able to advise you on all aspects of vaccination. Crossways Veterinary Group, School Hill, Storrington, 01903 743040 www.crosswaysvets.co.uk