Motor Trade Articles

Fire Cloak™ has a new home..

View our new website: firecloak.co.uk. to discover the latest product information, and see how our EV Fire Blankets achieved DIN SPEC 91489:2024-11 certification. Fast, simple, and proven to bring lithium battery fires under control. Certified fire containment for vehicles, people, and critical assets — worldwide. Designed and manufactured in the UK. Fire Cloak™ EV Fire […]

Prosol UK achieves DIN SPEC 91489:2024-11 for the Fire Cloak™ EV Fire Limitation Blanket

We are pleased to announce that our world-renowned Fire Cloak™ EV Fire Limitation Blanket has passed all aspects of the new DIN SPEC 91489:2024-11. What is the DIN SPEC 91489:2024-11 and why is it important for fire blanket and EV safety? This specification standard was developed in Germany over several months and published in November […]

Red Diesel – Not for use as road fuel “HMRC”

Red Diesel – Not for use as road fuel, contains Butyl Phenyl Ether – warning and safety sign. HMRC requires a warning and safety sign to be displayed at all fuel forecourts that sell Red Diesel. Click here for more info

Fire Cloak Electric Vehicle Fire Blanket achieves Class 0 Fire Rating

We’re super proud to announce that our Fire Cloak Electric Vehicle Fire Blanket has achieved Class 0 fire rating! What’s more, we believe it’s the only electric vehicle fire blanket in the world to have gained this certification. The very highest certified standard relating to the fire-retardant properties of a product, achieving Class 0 underlines […]

Why should car parks have an electric vehicle fire blanket?

Why should car parks have an electric vehicle fire blanket? Car parks, by their very nature, are a location in which there will frequently be a high concentration of vehicles parked in close proximity to each other for extended periods of time. And car parks are one of the most common places for electric vehicle […]

Electric Vehicle Fire Blankets

Here at Prosol UK we’ve spent the last five years learning all about EV fires, not only because they directly relate to the products and equipment we supply to provide safe working with EVs, but also because it’s a very interesting topic! The main risks As more and more drivers choose to switch to electric […]

Safe working with EHVs

  Electric and hybrid vehicles (EHVs) are an increasing sight on UK roads. As their popularity continues to increase, so does the need for regular servicing, maintenance, roadside recovery and MOT tests on these types of vehicles.   Health & safety protocols   With this new professional demand on the motor industry comes a whole […]

Air conditioning servicing, expertly done

  Once regarded as a luxury, air conditioning systems are now standard in most vehicles. Not only do they keep us cool in the summer, they also help to filter out pollen, pollutants and airborne bacteria to improve the quality of the air inside our vehicles.   Air conditioning systems can, however, only deliver all […]

Defective brakes leading cause of accidents for sixth consecutive year

  According to data from the Department for Transport (DfT) published last autumn, defective brakes are the leading cause of Road Traffic Accidents (RTAs) for the sixth consecutive year.     Figures state that defective brakes contributed to 3,894 accidents from 2013 to 2018. During that six-year period, 64 fatalities were recorded due to defective […]

What are Electrical Insulating Safety Gloves?

  Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is a vital safety precaution for anyone working on electric and hybrid vehicles (EHVs) and electrical insulating safety gloves form a key component of this equipment.     Electrical hazards   In order to safely carry out work on all types of EHVs, technicians must protect themselves from the potential […]

EHV Maintenance: Easier and Greener All Round

  The surge in popularity of electric and hybrid vehicles (EHVs) continues. In the first eight months of 2019, more than 35,000 EHVs were sold in the UK and, as of September there were 240,000 plug-in-cars and 8,500 plug-in-vans registered. Total UK registrations of EHVs has risen from 2.7% in 2018 to 3.8% in 2019. […]

How far on a fiver?

  One of the biggest considerations for consumers choosing an electric or hybrid vehicle (EHV) is its range i.e. how far can each model travel on a single charge? Many people are under the impression that electric vehicles are far more expensive to run, and this can often prove a big barrier to purchase. So […]

Hydrofluoric acid: the chemical hazard hiding in electric and hybrid vehicle batteries

  Ever wondered what types of batteries are used to power electric and hybrid vehicles (EHVs)? Well, the majority of EHVs being driven on our roads today will use lithium-ion (Li-ion) or lithium polymer batteries.   These batteries offer high energy density in comparison to the relative weight, they can store several hours of electricity […]

What is a face shield with an electric arc flash visor?

  In order to understand what a face shield with an electric arc flash visor is and then appreciate its importance, you must first comprehend the term ‘arc flash’.   What is an arc flash? An arc flash is the heat and light produced as part of an arc fault, a type of electrical explosion […]

Honda speeds up switch to electric and hybrid vehicles

  Honda’s announcement late last year that it will only sell electric and hybrid vehicles (EHVs) in Europe from 2022, three years earlier than it had previously planned, will undoubtedly accelerate the adoption of EHVs here in the UK.   The Japanese car manufacturer is one of the world’s leading brands when it comes to […]

Government doubles funding for on-street chargepoints

  In a bid to make charging and driving an electric vehicle easier and cheaper, the government has doubled funding to £10 million for residential street chargepoints. It is also planning how it can improve providing drivers with real-time information on chargepoints.   At present, certain postcodes are better represented with chargepoints but the new […]

Could new company car tax regulations boost sales of electric cars?

  A change to UK company car tax regulations set to be implemented this year could result in a sales boom for electric vehicles.   Sales of electric cars have been steadily increasing with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders reporting that the number sold actually doubled in the second half of 2019 compared […]

The MOT and connected technology

  Connectivity is all around us in everyday life. It helps us do business more efficiently. It enables us to work anywhere we wish. It allows us to share data with friends and family, and even switch the heating on without even being at home via our smartphones. Now that connectivity is part of the […]

PM moves to ban the sale of new petrol, diesel or hybrid cars in the UK

  Boris Johnson has brought forward a ban on the sale of new petrol, diesel or hybrid vehicles in the UK from 2040 to 2035.   The PM announced the policy during a launch event for the United Nations climate summit that will be held in Glasgow in November and heralded 2020 as a “defining […]

The EV Professional Standard: A Tangible Milestone for the EHV Industry

  In a bid to ensure the safety of technicians working with the high voltages associated with electric and hybrid vehicles (EHVs), back in February last year, industry experts attended an Electric Vehicle Advisory Group meeting, hosted by the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) to begin the process of agreeing minimum training standards sanctioned […]

How much does it cost to charge an electric vehicle?

  As electric and hybrid vehicles (EHVs) continue to increase in popularity, one of the most frequently asked questions (aside from “how far can I travel on a single charge?”) is “how much does it cost to charge an electric vehicle?”   It’s a good, and very important, question. The answer is dependent on a […]

Game changing EHV technologies

  As sales of electric and hybrid vehicles (EHVs) is predicted to continue to rise, it’s fascinating to read about the new technologies being developed and introduced to tackle the biggest factors that prevent drivers from purchasing an electric vehicle (EV): a vehicle’s range and how it’s charged.   ‘Range anxiety’ Not a problem for […]

Don’t get caught out with your next MOT

  According to data from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), following the introduction of stricter rules 18 months ago, a third of vehicles have failed their MOT tests. That’s a 37 percent increase in failures compared to 2017 figures.   Introduced in May 2018, the new rules now categorise defaults as either minor, […]

Electric vehicle sales set to soar in 2020

  Electric cars were the stars of 2019. As sales of new cars fell by around 2.3 per cent, affected by uncertainty around Brexit, slower than anticipated economic growth and weak consumer confidence, sales of electric vehicles actually increased by 144 per cent.   Will 2020 be the Year of the Electric Car? The Society […]

Green number plates

  Could number plates ‘go green’?   Electric and hybrid vehicles (EHVs) could soon be fitted with green number plates following a consultation by the Department for Transport as part of the Government’s aim of reaching net zero emissions by 2050.   The Government consultation has also looked at which electric, hybrid and low-emission vehicles […]

Vehicle Exclusion Zone

  How to create an Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Exclusion Zone   Adopting a proactive approach to the technology associated with Electric & Hybrid vehicles (EHVs) is imperative when it comes to providing a safe working environment for technicians and warning others who may enter a garage or MOT centre. Every EHV should be classed […]

Preventing unauthorised access in EHV workshops

  No one can afford to take any risks in an electric and hybrid vehicle (EHV) workshop – this applies to technicians, workshop personnel and members of the public alike.   EHVs can deliver lethal voltages of up to 600V DC and when one is travelling at less than 20kph (12mph) it can barely be […]

What are dielectric boots?

  Dielectric boots, often referred to as insulating boots, are boots that offer the wearer electrical protection to prevent electric current from being grounded.   Risk of electrical shock If you are working in an environment where there is a risk of electrical shock from low, medium or high voltages, such as the MOT and […]

New Battery Tech could allow EHVs to travel over 3000 miles

  Over in the US, a team of scientists are testing a new type of car technology that could enable an EHV passenger car to travel more than 3000 miles with only a quick stop to refill battery fluid.   Led by professor John Cushman at Purdue University in Indianapolis, the team has combined both […]

Garage Supplies & Equipment for MOT Test Bays, Vehicle Repair and Car Service Garages/Workshops

For garage workshop equipment and supplies, Prosol offers a vast range of garage supplies at unbeatable prices. Browse our online store and find the supplies you need. Same day despatch available.

A History of Electric Vehicles

You may be forgiven for thinking that electric vehicles are a relatively modern invention. Not so. Thanks to innovators in Hungary, the Netherlands and America, the first small-scale electric cars made an appearance in 1828. These vehicles were both crude and impractical but they were the start of something that would change the way we travel forever.

A History of the MOT Test

The Minister of Transport, Earnest Marples, introduced the Ministry of Transport (MOT) test as a key component of the 1960 Road Traffic Act. The MOT test was designed to check the technical elements of a vehicle to make sure it was safe to drive.

MOT Fundamentals

At present, any car that is over three years-old must legally have an MOT test at an approved testing centre every year. The test is specifically designed to check a wide variety of technical elements of a vehicle.