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These EVs are the worst when it comes to depreciation

The Renault Fluence Z.E. tops the list of the worst depreciating cars according to a ranking compiled by Glass' Information Services, holding just 27.21 percent of its value after a year of ownership and 12,000 miles on the clock. Just as well that you can't buy the sedan anymore in either electric or ICE versions, since it was discontinued last year. This car took a particularly rough hit when Better Place declared bankrutpcy, since the electric Fluence was a specific fit for the aspirations of the battery-swapping company. The Citroen C-Zero hits the list at number four, the Nissan Leaf E at number five, both holding onto just a third of their value after a year. The C-Zero is a rebadged Mitsubishi i-MiEV, and if you bought one stock for the full UK on-the-road price of 26,766 pounds, you'd have a car worth 8,583.86 pounds twelve months later, according to Glass. We're not sure about the wording of the press release, though - it states that those three cars "lost more than three-quarters of their value." Yet the Fluence E Z.E. is the worst offender, and it doesn't dip below 25 percent of its original value. As with those electrics, the rest of the list is made up of aged or barebones ICE models, some of them touted elsewhere for their popularity. You can find the full list and the valuations in the press release below. ELECTRIC CARS AMONG WORST FIRST YEAR DEPRECIATORS Fluence, C-Zero and LEAF all lose more than three-quarters of their value 15/07/15 - Three electric cars are among the worst first year depreciators in a "Bottom 10" released by motor trade valuation market leaders Glass's. The Renault Fluence, Citroen C-Zero and Nissan LEAF E have all lost more than three-quarters of their value after covering 12,000 miles during the last 12 months. Rupert Pontin, head of valuations at Glass, said: "The motor trade and the used car buying public remain interested in electric cars but are still reticent to actually buy them in numbers – and these depreciation figures reflect that fact. "To be fair, these three EVs are among some of the least attractive on the market – the Fluence and C-Zero both have a 'last generation' feel while the LEAF E is on the bottom rung of the LEAF range – but their presence does reflect the fact that the EV sector remains sluggish." Other models in the list include the lowest-powered, entry level versions of some generally popular but aging models such as the Vauxhall Insignia and Renault Megane.

Nissan NV200 Mobility Taxi adds a dose of accessibility to the new-look cab

Nissan has been making hay with its NV200 light commercial vehicle in New York. We've known since last year that the van will see service as a taxi in the Big Apple, and more recently, we learned that a variant will be kicking around to rescue ailing Gibson guitars. At its press conference this year, Nissan continued the onslaught with a wheelchair-accessible version of its NV200 Taxi.
The automaker has teamed with BraunAbility - a company that styles itself as the world's largest maker of wheelchair-accessible vans - to create this NV200 Mobility Taxi. The cab features a fold-flat ramp for rearward wheelchair accessibility, as well as a restraint system to keep said chair snugly in place at speed.
In addition to showing off the Mobility Taxi, Nissan announced at its press conference that it will be making both hybrid and fully electric versions of the NV200 Taxi available, as well. Scroll down for the Nissan press release, or take some time with our extensive live and stock image galleries of the NV200 Mobility Taxi.

Cadillac tops Tesla in Consumer Reports semi-automated driving test

General Motors' Cadillac outscored Tesla in a new ranking of partially automated driving systems tested by Consumer Reports and released on Thursday. The highly influential nonprofit organization, which tests and rates a variety of consumer products from appliances to vehicles, said it compared Cadillac's Super Cruise and Tesla's Autopilot with similar systems from Nissan and Volvo. Nissan's ProPilot Assist was ranked third and Volvo's Pilot Assist fourth. Consumer Reports said it has been testing partially automated driving systems for several years but elected to conduct a formal study intended for publication, because "we are at a tipping point where they are now going mainstream," according to Jake Fisher, director of auto testing. The organization said its tests, conducted on a private track and on public roads in Connecticut, were designed to measure the systems' ability to automatically control steering and speed in certain situations, while helping drivers pay attention and regain manual control of the vehicle when required. CR noted that any of these systems can increase driving risk if used in inappropriate situations, or if drivers become inattentive or over-reliant on them. While they can help relieve driver stress and fatigue, Consumer Reports said, the partially automated systems are "not intended to be self-driving features." The systems typically use cameras, radar and other sensors, as well as mapping data, to monitor location and traffic conditions and help keep a vehicle centered in the lane at a safe distance behind other cars. Each system has limitations. Cadillac's Super Cruise, for instance, only functions on divided highways that have been mapped by GM. In contrast, Tesla's Autopilot can be used even on small, curvy roads with poor lane markings, but "operates erratically in those situations," Consumer Reports said.The organization tested Super Cruise on the Cadillac CT6; Autopilot on the Tesla Model 3, Model X and Model S; ProPilot Assist on the Nissan Leaf and Infiniti QX50; and Pilot Assist on the Volvo XC40 and XC60. Consumer Reports said Cadillac's Super Cruise did "the best job of balancing high-tech capabilities with ensuring the car is operated safely and the driver is paying attention." Tesla's Autopilot was cited for its capability and ease of use, while Nissan's ProPilot Assist did a better job than Autopilot or Volvo's Pilot Assist in keeping drivers engaged.