January 2022 41 www.bahrainthismonth.com motoring news Increased charging capacity As EVs become more popular, people are going to need more places to charge. Still in its infancy, especially here in Bahrain, there’s a greater need for more charging ports. The sports car will live on Though it’s easy to imagine a demise in the humble sports car, there are several performance-orientated models that look to make their presence known on 2022’s roads. One big car to mention is the new Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS. It’s the first time that the RS badge has been put on the Cayman, showcasing that this is going to be one serious performance car. But there are others to look out for too, including the new Toyota GR86 and Mercedes-AMG SL. Eco-friendly mapping Where we drive and at what time can make a huge impact on how efficient our overall journeys are. It’s why Google Maps will soon be able to give drivers a proposed route based on efficiency rather than overall time. The system combines vehicle and road data to determine the number of emissions created over the length of the trip. It gives drivers an ecofriendly option while on the move, giving them another way of reducing emissions while driving. Increase in synthetic fuel development Synthetic fuels are seen by many people as the silver-bullet solution to mobility. Sometimes referred to as eFuels, they’re essentially no different from petrol and diesel, but rather than being produced from crude oil, they’re made from CO2 and hydrogen using renewable energy. Porsche is one manufacturer throwing its weight behind synthetic fuels. In fact, it has already broken ground on an eFuel plant in Punta Arenas, Chile. Shared mobility The idea of shared mobility, or transport sharing, is huge at the moment, with many companies tapping into the prospect of reducing emissions through this process. One manufacturer really pushing for this idea is Renault. It even has a dedicated arm – called Mobilise – which looks at not only shared mobility, but mobility solutions in general. One concept it has created is the Duo, which has seats for two people and a zero-emissions powertrain which makes it ideal for nipping around the city. Added crossover success The crossover has boomed significantly over recent years and this looks to show no signs of changing as we head into 2022. Many manufacturers have announced revised versions of their crossovers, or introduced entirely new versions. Highlights include Volkswagen’s Taigo and the compact Toyota Aygo X, alongside more left-field examples like the DS 4. As you can see, there’s a huge shift towards an eco-friendly, more sustainable future in the motoring industry. Whether all of the above comes to fruition or some steps are pushed back, the green tidal wave is inevitable. Regardless of whether your loyalties lie in the internal combustion engine or the electric battery, have a great 2022 on the roads! Charging vehicles The inauguration of Bahrain’s first electric charging station
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy Mjk0MTkxMQ==