Category Archives: Motor Industry

Bridgend, Commercial Vehicles, Mental Health, Motor Industry, Motoring, News

Hawkstone Commercials Supports Men’s Mental Health with Vehicle Acquisition

Bridgend based multi award-winning commercial vehicle leasing broker Hawkstone Commercials acquires community use vehicle for a men’s mental health community interest company (CIC).

Lads & Dads Men’s Mental Wellbeing C.I.C has been gifted the use of a community outreach vehicle to continue its fight against the increasing challenges of men’s mental health in our communities. Launched in 2019, Lads & Dads focuses on walking, talking, thinking, and supporting. With over 2,000 members and 12 committee members.

Oliver Lewis, Co-director of Hawkstone Commercials said, “The work that Lads & Dads have done in recent years has been exceptional. They have helped so many individuals combat the struggles which we all face in life and make a real positive impact in our local community. For Lads & Dads to continue providing their support, it is vital they have the right tools available to them. As a business, we have invested heavily in supporting our own staff and their mental health, so it’s fantastic to be able to expand our reach to the wider community and play a very small part in the ongoing cause. I would like to thank the committee at Lads & Dads for allowing us the opportunity to support them on their journey”.

 

Lads and Dads have already reached thousands of people and is recommended to patients by doctors’ surgeries, local crisis teams and other community engagement groups. The group also have their own football team which plays against other mental health awareness teams across South Wales.

Rob Lester (chairman of Lads & Dads) said – “To watch our group grow over the past four years has been nothing short of amazing, however we feel that there is so much more to do. We rely heavily on our sponsors and supporters to keep our group running efficiently and to be able to offer the care our members need. This comes in the form of organised events and even counselling sessions. We are sincerely grateful for the support Hawkstone Commercials have shown us in recent months in the form of sponsorship, but for them to acquire a vehicle for us is just incredible. On behalf of the committee, and our 2000 members I would like to thank the Directors Oliver and Paul as well as their team for this generous donation. We are now able to put this van to work and help more of members and the wider community with the epidemic which is mental health”.

 

Over the last 18 months, Hawkstone Commercials has achieved some truly phenomenal goals. However, this is something that Hawkstone cherishes above all. As an organisation, their goal has been to give back to the community. This gesture will save and changes lives, something that is utterly priceless.

Climate, Climate Action, Motor Industry, News, Sport, Sustainability

Formula E and UNICEF set to auction unique sculpture made from broken race car parts, raising funds for climate emergency

  • Unique sculpture made from Formula E racing car parts will be auctioned to benefit children’s organisation’s climate programmes.
  • ‘Children’s Planet’ installation, created from previously used parts from Formula E race cars in Season 8, represents impact of climate change on young people.
  • Formula E is the first global sports organisation to partner with UNICEF’s global climate fund and nears target of benefitting 3 million children and young people in three years.
  • UNICEF’s climate programmes, as part of the Safe and Healthy Environment Fund, target those most affected by and at risk of climate change impacts.

A unique sculpture made from previously used Formula E race car parts is set to be auctioned by the partners. The installation was created to raise awareness of the impact of climate change on young people. 

Entitled Children’s Planet, the stunning piece measuring 2.5m in diameter was designed and made by British sculptor, Charles Elliot, using parts of the Formula E GEN2 race cars used in Season 8. It was unveiled at Formula E’s London E-Prix finale of Season 9 in the Championship.

Broken and damaged parts were gifted by all 11 Formula E teams as part of the Formula E Teams Manufacturing Association, with their reuse highlighting the importance of circularity in manufacturing and the teams’ collective support for the championship’s partner, UNICEF.

Formula E, the world’s first sport to be certified net zero carbon since inception, was the first international sports organisation to partner with UNICEF to tackle climate change through the support of its Safe and Healthy Environment Fund.

The money raised from the auction will directly contribute to the climate fund which helps create a planet where every child can live in a safe, clean and sustainable environment through providing educational and healthcare schemes that directly benefit those most affected by climate change.

The sculpture depicts an incomplete globe with 11 child-like figures in the centre, representing all teams of the championship while aiming to raise awareness of children and young people being disproportionately affected by the effects of climate change. By positioning them in the centre, the sculpture also highlights the leading role that children and young people play as powerful agents for change.

Since 2021, when Formula E and UNICEF established an innovative partnership, their work has benefited 2.5 million children and young people, through climate change programmes across the world. In 2022 alone, more than 1.8 million children and young people benefited through the partnership.

 

Jeff Dodds, CEO, Formula E, said:

“This stunning creation showcases the collective effort across the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship to support UNICEF’s vital work through its Safe and Healthy Environment Fund. As the world’s leading professional sport combining high-performance and sustainability without compromise, we are proud to be the first sport to partner with UNICEF on climate-related issues.”

 

Jon Sparkes, Chief Executive, The UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK), said: 

“Children and young people play a key role in addressing climate-related risks by promoting environmentally sustainable lifestyles and setting an example for their communities; they are at the centre of issues arising from climate change. It is wonderful to see Children’s Planet, position children and young people, in their rightful place, at the centre of the globe, to acknowledge them as active agents, taking action against climate change issues. I would like to thank our partner, Formula E, for helping UNICEF create a cleaner, safer environment.”

 

The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship returns in Season 10 with the 2024 Mexico City E-Prix on Saturday, 13 January 2024 and includes a debut Formula E race on the streets of Tokyo on Saturday, 30 March.

EVs and Automotive News, Motor Industry, News, Sport, Sustainability

Formula E Tops Global Sustainability in Sport Rankings

  • Formula E rated highest of more than 50 elite global sports by leading independent sustainability organisation
  • Rating announced as the new Gen3 – the world’s first net zero race car in the world’s first net zero sport – is on track for the first time at pre-season testing in Valencia  

Formula E has been ranked as the Best Total Performer from more than 300 global sports organisations in the 2022 Global Sustainability Benchmark in Sports (GSBS) annual report.

GSBS is an independent, global not-for-profit organisation, which analyses and benchmarks the sustainability performance of professional sports organisations through an unbiased, science-driven and data-based process.

The study analysed more than 50 elite sports organisations of more than 300 invited to take part.  Sports federations and leagues ranked in the report include the NFL, NBA, FIFA, Formula 1, UFC and WWE as well as clubs including the New York Yankees, FC Barcelona, LA Lakers, Dallas Cowboys, Paris Saint Germain and Manchester United.

Formula E achieved a record-breaking benchmark score to win Best Total Performance 2022. Formula E was also ranked highest in three of the remaining four categories: Best Corporate Performance, Best Environmental Performance, and Best Governance Performance. Italian football club Juventus won the Best Social Performance title.

 

Jamie Reigle, Chief Executive Officer, Formula E, stated: “Setting the global standard for sustainability in sport has been a core characteristic of Formula E since we began in 2014. We welcome the top ranking by GSBS as recognition for the dedication of our employees, teams and partners. We also acknowledge the efforts and achievements in sustainability by other major sports organisations around the world and welcome that progress. Together, we have the potential to engage billions of fans in the mission to combat climate change and make a positive difference to the lives of future generations.”

 

Now entering Season 9, the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship mission is to accelerate the uptake of electric vehicles. The championship also operates as a testbed to push the development of new technologies needed for an electric, low-carbon future. Leading international car brands including Jaguar, Maserati, McLaren, Mahindra, Nissan and Porsche are among the 11 teams in the championship.

Formula E is the only sport in the world to achieve net zero since inception and is a founding member of UNICEF’s Safe and Healthy Environment Fund, specifically designed to help and educate children affected by climate change.

Ahead of the first race of Season 9 in Mexico City on 14 January, pre-season testing is underway in Valencia this week where the all-new Gen3 race car is on track for the first time.

 

The Gen3 is the fastest, lightest, most powerful and efficient electric race car ever built. Key sustainability characteristics of the Gen3 include:

  • The carbon footprint of the Gen3 has been measured from the design phase to inform all reduction measures taken to reduce environmental impact, while all unavoidable emissions will be offset as part of Formula E’s net zero carbon commitment.
  • Linen and recycled carbon fibre are used in bodywork construction for the first time in a formula car featuring recycled carbon fibre from retired Gen2 cars and reducing the overall amount of virgin carbon fibre used. This reduces the carbon footprint of the production of the Gen3 bodywork more than 10%. All waste carbon fibre will be reused for new applications through adoption of an innovative process from the aviation industry.
  • Gen3 batteries are among the most advanced, sustainable batteries ever made consisting of sustainably-sourced minerals while battery cells will be reused and recycled at end of life.
  • Natural rubber and recycled fibres make up 26% of new Gen3 tyres and all tyres will be fully recycled after racing.
  • All Gen3 suppliers operate in line with top international standards to reduce environmental impacts of manufacturing (ISO 14001) and be FIA Environmental Accreditation 3-Star rated.
  • Fastest Formula E car yet with a top speed over 322 kph / 200 mph.
  • Most efficient formula racing car ever with more than 40% of the energy used within a race produced by regenerative braking.
  • Around 95% power efficiency from an electric motor delivering up to 350kW of power (470BHP), compared to approximately 40% for an internal combustion engine.
  • First-ever formula car with both front and rear powertrains. A new front powertrain adds 250kW to the 350kW at the rear, more than doubling the regenerative capability of the current Gen2 to a total of 600kW.
  • Ultra-high speed charging capability of 600kW for additional energy during a race, almost double the energy of the most advanced commercial chargers in the world.
  • The first formula car that will not feature rear hydraulic brakes with the addition of the front powertrain and its regenerative capability.