The idea is to show that renewable energy and electric mobility can provide a solution to our fossil fuel crisis.

This time there will be four other teams racing him around the world — from Germany, Switzerland, Australia and South Korea.

The aim of the race is to show that electric vehicles are practical for everyday use and they plan to cover over 18,000 miles, stopping off at the U.N climate change meetings in Cancun this November.

Who knows if they’ll be offering lifts to passengers on the trip, if so let’s hope they have their taxi insurance!

As you can imagine, the classic Routemaster or bendy bus just doesn’t cut it when there’s so many people that whant to get around — Shanghai alone is home to twice as many people as London. That’s where the rather impressive “3D Express Coach” comes in — we wouldn’t like to think how much the bus and coach insurance costs for this thing!

Pictures of the vehicle can be seen on the engadget website — the bus appears to contain a hollow lower-level that allows it to literally drive over traffic. Passengers sit suspended above other road uses on an elevated platform. The bus also appears to be much longer than any current road vehicles . It seems the bus runs on rails rather than wheels, meaning it’s supporting columns are thin enough to fit between standard vehicles on the road.

Huashi, the firm that designed the bus will begin constructing the track for the 3D Express Coach at the end of the year in Bijing’s Mentougou district.

The BBC reports that Bristol City Council asked that all public hire hackney carriages be painted blue so that the public would be able to recognise them more easily.

However, some cab drivers are less than pleased with the scheme. A respray would cost between £1,500 and £4,000. With all the other costs that taxi drivers pay —  including taxi insurance — this does seem a little pricey!

A spokesman for the council said that if a respray is too expensive, drivers could purchase blue plastic covering that is more affordable.

Whilst it makes sense that the public should know that the the public hire vehicle they choose to use is full licensed, it seems unfair to place the cost on drivers that are operating within the law, rather than punishing the drivers that are not.

In comparison to July ‘09, July ‘10 saw a sales drop of nearly 15 per cent. Dealerships are blaming the fact that the scrappage scheme is over and that the economy is still struggling.

According to Paul Everitt, of the SMMT, the drop in sales is to be expected due to the lack of consumer confidence. However, most dealerships are still on target to reach forecasted sales.

The drop in new car sales isn’t exclusive the the UK. In fact, across the whole of Western Europe, new car sales in July fell by nearly 20 per cent in comparison to the previous year. Germany was hit particularly hard, with a percentile drop more than twice the size of the UK’s.

Dealerships and traders will do best if they watch their costs over the course of the year; the Quotiva Network can help you find great quotes for traders insurance — just use our quick online form to compare specialised deals.

However, as an article on the BBC website shows, the Lotus taxi is unique. It is the first hydrogen-powered black cab, which releases absolutely no emissions into the air.

Bizarrely, the vehicle is much quicker than the standard Hackney carriage. Whilst most petrol-heads worry that new fuel sources may mean a good-bye to the speedy cars we’ve come to know and love, this Lotus proves the opposite. Whilst, the car takes 15.5 seconds to reach 60mph (we know that’s not quick, but it does weigh two and a half tonnes!), it is seven seconds quicker than most London black cabs!

The taxi’s exterior is identical to most black cabs, but it is in fact powered by two electric motors attached to the rear wheels. However, the main source of the vehicle’s power comes from hydrogen fuel cells stored in the car’s bonnet. Lord knows how much the black cab insurance for this vehicle is! It is the energy from these cells that is converted to electricity. It is possible to power the motor using these fuel cells or by using a standard lithium polymer battery. The battery is charged via reused breaking energy– both kinetic and surplus electrical energy.

Whilst the manufacturer is better know for its sports cars, it hopes that a vehicle with zero emissions will capture the imagination of transport authorities, cab drivers and the public

The Freight Transport Association have stated that when it comes to moving goods around London during the Olympics ‘difficult is an understatement of the century. It will be pretty hellish’.

The main concern for the haulage industry is fresh produce. Along the Olympic Route Network, there are various meat and fish markets that will not be accessible between 6am and midnight due to roads being reserved for Olympics-related vehicles and persons.

This of course means that butchers and fish mongers will be struggling to get stocked up at convenient times.

The changes will be  tough on business owners as well as hauliers and drivers. Truck drivers will have to operate quietly and there reversing warning systems will have to be modified so as not to wake up residents. Whilst the tasks ahead are great, the Olympic Delivery Authority have already began working with the FTA and local businesses in order to ensure as little disruption as possible takes place.

If you are a HGV or haulage firm looking for haulage insurance, take a look at Quotiva’s truck page — one short form can lead to various great quotes from expert brokers.

The reasons are plentiful — family cars these days are just not large enough to carry a whole family and their luggage on a long trip.

Of course, any van drivers planning on doing this much make sure that their van insurance policy, covers them not only for business use, but social domestic and pleasure.

There are of course a few safety measures to take too — it’s important that vans offer enough seating for all passengers and seats and seat belts are not shared.

Quotiva can help van drivers and other commercial vehicle users find insurance — be it for electricians, plumbers, couriers, hauliers and more.

A decision has been made to place signs on private hire taxis, explaining that they cannot be hailed unless they are booked in advance.

Chairman of the Hackney Carriage Association, Mathab Khan has stated ‘We have a problem with private hire cars picking up people without pre-booking in Cardiff — which has been going on for many years and we want to clamp down on them’.

Naturally, private hire firms are less than happy about the proposed change. The director of Dragon Taxis has claimed that the sings will takeaway the discreetness of a private hire vehicle — some passengers are unlikely to use a vehicle with a sign on its door if they want to make an impression.

Discussions are currently taking place as to what the signs should say.

Quotiva has helped thousands of taxi drivers find cover for their vehicles, we can help with both public and private hire insurance.

Various manufacturers have already extended warranties on new vehicles — Hyundai, Toyota and Chevrolet offer a five year warranty; and Kia have extended their warranty to seven years on new vehicles purchased in 2010.

Pinewood notes that a five year warranty will lead to a customer returning to the garage numerous times for warranty work. If this is the case, then it makes sense for garages to offer service plans to the customer to promote a long-term relationships and future business — this applies to any additional car owners, should the car be sold within the first five years.

Whilst the motor industry is still expecting hard times later in the year, new cars are currently selling well despite the end of the scrappage scheme. If you are a motor trader, remember it’s important to have the appropriate motortrade insurance cover to protect your business.

Moneysupermarket.com recommends that any home owner planning on doing this takes out a suitable landlords insurance policy as renting to a tenant can be a risky business — not everyone is as reliable as you!

There are many different kinds of landlord policy, offering varying levels of cover. Some policies will protect you from loss of rent, whilst other more comprehensive policies will offer money towards legal expenses and other unplanned and costly procedures.

Quotiva has helped 1000s of property owners find buy-to-let cover — our panel of expert brokers will help to find cover that is right for you.