Category: News Type

When cars and solar energy meet

Lex Hoefsloot — Co-Founder

Energy is the ability to do work. It is the reason why we have progressed into a highly prosperous society within 200 years. Energy veteran Gregg Maryniak showed me this graph that puts the whole story into perspective. Looking at this timescale, it suddenly becomes clear that fossil fuels are just a blip in history. In a very short time, fossil fuels gave us prosperity and the ability to accelerate all aspects of human development. Sadly, we all know that these energy sources came with a dark-side. We will inevitably switch to a new energy source.

Fossil fuels are just a blip in history. source

Despite the fact that this ‘blip’ is associated with massive amounts of energy, scientists are in fact quite certain that we can produce the same amount of energy using solar and wind power. Isn’t it fascinating how we are heading towards a future in which we can produce many times more energy using solar and wind power than mother nature has been ca..

Lightyear wins €100 000 in Postcode Lottery Green Challenge

Martijn Lammers — Co-Founder

We have joined the finalists on stage at the Postcode Lottery Green Challenge. The four other finalists came from all over the world to pitch their companies in front of an international jury (http://www.greenchallenge.info/info/juries). Lightyear will use the 100,000 euro cash prize to accelerate the development of their first car, the Lightyear One. Several preliminary rounds preceded the finals. Out of a total of over 500 companies the five finalists remained.

“All the problems we have had with zero emissions vehicles, those belong to the past now.” – Lex Hoefsloot, CEO of Lightyear during his pitch at the Green Challenge finals.

On June 29, 2017 the Dutch startup Lightyear officially announced their plans to bring a commercial solar car to the market in 2019. The first vehicle, the Lightyear One, is an electric four-wheel drive car that can handle rough terrain and has a battery range of 800 kilometers, charged by the sun. Production of th..

We are Lightyear, we’re on a mission

Martijn Lammers — Co-Founder

We love electric cars…

But they’re only the first step, what if they could generate their own energy?

That’s a business opportunity!

Lightyear was founded by 5 Solar Team Eindhoven alumni. With Solar Team Eindhoven, we built the revolutionary solar cars Stella & Stella Lux. Both cars are 4 seaters, road legal, solar powered and built to win the World Solar Challenge cruiser class. After two world championships, we decided that it is time for the next step.

Our story started back in 2012. All we had was a blank canvas, no experience, no network and no money. We took our enthusiasm, a healthy dose of naivety and common sense to start an endeavour that still continues today. Looking back, it is easy to forget the times we worked until the sun came up or the problems that kept us from working at all. Like the time our cars’ transport to the competition in Australia was cancelled a week before we left. Or the desperate attempts removing a crucial ..

Asset finance new business down 6% in quieter September

9 November 2017
New figures released today by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that asset finance new business (primarily leasing and hire purchase) fell by 6% in September, compared with the same month last year. In Q3 2017, new business fell by 2% compared with the same quarter in 2016.
While new finance for business equipment grew in September by 4% compared with the same month in 2016, new finance for plant and machinery fell by 8% over the same period.
Commenting on the figures, Geraldine Kilkelly, Head of Research and Chief Economist at the FLA, said:
“September was a quieter month for the business car and plant and machinery finance sectors. Nevertheless, the asset finance market has returned a strong performance so far in 2017, with new business overall 6% higher than in the previous year. Over the same period, UK business investment is forecast to have grown by only 2.3%.
“Recent data revisions by the Office for National Statistics suggest that the asset finance industry’s contribution to supporting business investment is even greater than previously thought. FLA calculations show that the industry financed more than 35% of UK investment in machinery, equipment and purchased software in the twelve months to June 2017 – an eight-year high.”
Sep 2017
% change on prev. year
3 months to Sep
2017
% change on prev. year
12 months to Sep
2017
% change on prev. year
Total FLA asset finance (£m)
2,750
-6
7,574
-2
31,611
+5
Total excluding high value (£m)
2,740
-2
7,381
+3
30,579
+6
Data Extracts:
By asset:
Plant and machinery finance (£m)
494
-8
1,537
+5
6,505
+12
Commercial vehicle finance (£m)
711
+1
1,764
-2
7,488
+2
IT equipment finance (£m)
212
-4
549
-5
2,214
-3
Business equipment finance (£m)
219
+4
632
+8
2,567
+12
Car finance (£m)
888
-8
2,396
+2
9,763
+5
Aircraft, ships and rolling stock finance (£m)
20
+24
34
-77
615
+20
By channel:
Direct finance (£m)
1,283
-5
3,711
0
15,506
+4
Broker-introduced finance (£m)
520
-4
1,423
+3
5,723
+12
Sales finance (£m)
937
+3
2,248
+6
9,350
+6
By product:
Finance leasing (£m)
344
-3
941
0
4,000
-3
Operating leasing (£m)
655
-6
1,658
0
7,063
+6
Lease/Hire purchase (£m)
1,434
-2
4,045
+3
16,589
+9
Other finance (£m)
316
-24
930
-21
3,959
-4
Note to editors:
In 2016, FLA members provided £118 billion of new finance to UK businesses and households. £30 billion of finance was provided to businesses and the public sector. FLA members financed more than a third of UK investment in machinery, equipment and purchased software in the UK in 2016.For media enquiries, please contact the FLA press office on 020 7420 9656.

Consumer new car finance volumes down 8% in November

11 January 2018
New figures released today by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that new business volumes in the point of sale (POS) consumer new car finance market fell by 8% in November, compared with the same month in 2016, while the value of new business increased by 2% over the same period.
The percentage of private new car sales financed by FLA members through the POS was 85.9% in the twelve months to November, compared with 86.1% in the same period to October.
The POS consumer used car finance market reported new business in November up 16% by value and 10% by volume, compared with the same month in 2016.
Commenting on the figures, Geraldine Kilkelly, Head of Research and Chief Economist at the FLA, said:
“The POS consumer car finance market remains on target to report new business volumes of 2.3 million in 2017 as a whole, a similar level to 2016.
“The performance of the POS consumer new car finance market in November continued to reflect trends in private new car sales. FLA members’ penetration of this market has held steady over the past year at around 86%.”
Table 1: Cars bought on finance by consumers through dealerships
New business
Nov 2017
% change on prev. year
3 months to Nov 2017
% change on prev. year
12 months to Nov 2017
% change on prev. year
New cars
Value of advances (£m)
1,385
+2
5,627
+1
18,413
+2
Number of cars
69,287
-8
284,432
-9
974,049
-7
Used cars
Value of advances (£m)
1,237
+16
3,866
+13
15,003
+11
Number of cars
104,683
+10
331,601
+7
1,322,786
+6
Table 2: Cars bought on finance by businesses
New business
Nov 2017
% change on prev. year
3 months to Nov 2017
% change on prev. year
12 months to Nov 2017
% change on prev. year
New cars
Number of cars
33,630
-17
121,649
-9
504,374
-1
Used cars
Number of cars
5,006
+1
13,395
-2
58,617
+24
Note to editors:
In 2016, FLA members provided £118 billion of new finance to UK businesses and households. £88 billion of this was in the form of consumer credit, over a third of total new consumer credit written in the UK in 2016. £41 billion of it supported the purchase of new and used cars, including over 86% of private new car registrations.For media enquiries, please contact the FLA press office on 020 7420 9656.

Second charge mortgage market down 2% in September

9 November 2017
Commenting on the September 2017 new business figures for the second charge mortgage market, Fiona Hoyle, Head of Consumer and Mortgage Finance at the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA), said:
“The fall in new business volumes in September comes amid subdued consumer confidence which has affected the housing market as a whole. It follows six consecutive months of growth in second charge mortgage new business volumes which grew by 11% in the first nine months of 2017 to 16,043.
“Lenders are continuing to embed the new regulatory regime which puts first and second charge mortgage regulation on the same footing.”
Table 1: New second charge mortgage lending
Sep 2017
% change on prev. year
3 months to Sep 2017
% change on prev. year
12 months to Sep 2017
% change on prev. year
Value of new business (£m)
77
0
259
+16
979
+10
Number of new agreements (No.)
1,693
-2
5,594
+11
20,951
+4
Note to editors:
FLA members in the consumer finance sector include banks, credit card providers, store card providers, second-charge mortgage lenders, motor finance providers, personal loan and instalment credit providers.In 2016, FLA members provided £118 billion of new finance to UK businesses and households. £88 billion of this was in the form of consumer credit, representing over a third of total new consumer credit written in the UK in 2016.For media enquiries, please contact the FLA press office on 020 7420 9656.

Second charge mortgage new business grows in November

11 January 2018
Commenting on the November 2017 new business figures for the second charge mortgage market, Fiona Hoyle, Head of Consumer and Mortgage Finance at the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA), said:
“The second charge mortgage market reported further modest growth in November, and in the first 11 months of 2017, new business volumes increased by 11% compared with the same period in 2016.
“Lenders remain focused on fully embedding the new regime, which sees first and second charge mortgages regulated on the same basis.”
Table 1: New second charge mortgage lending
Nov 2017
% change on prev. year
3 months to Nov 2017
% change on prev. year
12 months to Nov 2017
% change on prev. year
Value of new business (£m)
80
+3
242
+8
996
+13
Number of new agreements (No.)
1,815
+2
5,388
+6
21,288
+9
Note to editors:
FLA members in the consumer finance sector include banks, credit card providers, store card providers, second-charge mortgage lenders, motor finance providers, personal loan and instalment credit providers.In 2016, FLA members provided £118 billion of new finance to UK businesses and households. £88 billion of this was in the form of consumer credit, representing over a third of total new consumer credit written in the UK in 2016.For media enquiries, please contact the FLA press office on 020 7420 9656.

Consumer finance up 3% in September

9 November 2017
New figures released today by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show growth of 3% in consumer finance new business in September, compared with the same month last year. In Q3 2017, new business grew by 6% compared with the same quarter in 2016.
In September, credit card and personal loan new business together grew by 3% compared with the same month in 2016, while retail store and online credit new business increased by 6%. The value of second charge mortgage new business was similar to September 2016, while new business volumes fell by 2% over the same period.
Commenting on the figures, Geraldine Kilkelly, Head of Research and Chief Economist at the FLA, said:
“September saw consumer finance new business grow at its slowest rate since April. With consumer confidence subdued, UK new consumer credit is expected to grow by 3.3% in 2017 as a whole, down from 6.3% in 2016.”
Table 1: New consumer credit lending
Sep 2017
% change on prev. year
3 months to Sep 2017
% change on prev. year
12 months to Sep 2017
% change on prev. year
Total FLA consumer finance (£m)
9,009
+3
23,771
+6
91,821
+6
Data extracts:
Retail store and online credit (£m)
565
+6
1,623
+8
6,702
+3
Credit cards & personal loans (£m)
3,858
+3
11,957
+8
46,993
+6
Second charge mortgages (£m)
77
0
259
+16
979
+10
Car finance (£m)
4,146
+2
8,748
+5
33,021
+6
Note to editors:
FLA members in the consumer finance sector include banks, credit card providers, store card providers, second-charge mortgage lenders, motor finance providers, personal loan and instalment credit providers.In 2016, FLA members provided £118 billion of new finance to UK businesses and households. £88 billion of this was in the form of consumer credit representing over a third of total new consumer credit written in the UK in 2016.For media enquiries, please contact the FLA press office on 020 7420 9656.

Consumer finance up by 5% in November

11 January 2018
New figures released today by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show consumer finance new business grew in November by 5%, compared with the same month in 2016.
Credit card and personal loan new business together grew by 3% compared with November 2016, while retail store and online credit new business increased by 13%. Second charge mortgage new business increased 3% by value and 2% by volume over the same period.
Commenting on the figures, Geraldine Kilkelly, Head of Research and Chief Economist at the FLA, said:
“Growth in retail store and online credit new business in November in part reflects the increase in retail sales reported by household goods stores following Black Friday and Cyber Monday events.
“The growth in consumer finance new business overall in November is in line with the performance of this market over the past twelve months.”
Table 1: New consumer credit lending
Nov 2017
% change on prev. year
3 months to Nov 2017
% change on prev. year
12 months to Nov 2017
% change on prev. year
Total FLA consumer finance (£m)
8,073
+5
24,913
+6
92,921
+6
Data extracts:
Retail store and online credit (£m)
831
+13
2,009
+8
6,814
+3
Credit cards & personal loans (£m)
4,242
+3
12,175
+6
47,581
+6
Second charge mortgages (£m)
80
+3
242
+8
996
+13
Car finance (£m)
2,621
+8
9,494
+5
33,416
+6
Note to editors:
FLA members in the consumer finance sector include banks, credit card providers, store card providers, second-charge mortgage lenders, motor finance providers, personal loan and instalment credit providers.In 2016, FLA members provided £118 billion of new finance to UK businesses and households. £88 billion of this was in the form of consumer credit representing over a third of total new consumer credit written in the UK in 2016.For media enquiries, please contact the FLA press office on 020 7420 9656.

Asset finance new business holds steady

11 January 2018
New figures released today by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that asset finance new business (primarily leasing and hire purchase) in November was £2.5 billion, a similar level to the same month in 2016.
The commercial vehicle finance and IT equipment finance sectors reported new business up in November by 5% and 1% respectively, compared with the same month in 2016, while new finance for plant and machinery fell by 3% over the same period.
Commenting on the figures, Geraldine Kilkelly, Head of Research and Chief Economist at the FLA, said:
“The asset finance market reported a broadly stable picture across the main asset sectors in November, and remains on course to report a record level of annual new business in 2017 of around £32 billion. This would represent new business growth of 6% compared with 2016, in line with expectations.”
Nov 2017
% change on prev. year
3 months to Nov
2017
% change on prev. year
12 months to Nov
2017
% change on prev. year
Total FLA asset finance (£m)
2,541
0
7,962
0
31,804
+4
Total excluding high value (£m)
2,531
+4
7,936
+3
30,919
+6
Data Extracts:
By asset:
Plant and machinery finance (£m)
481
-3
1,464
-2
6,506
+10
Commercial vehicle finance (£m)
691
+5
2,061
+4
7,574
+2
IT equipment finance (£m)
235
+1
642
+5
2,246
-4
Business equipment finance (£m)
209
-4
624
+4
2,566
+9
Car finance (£m)
738
-2
2,538
-1
9,854
+5
Aircraft, ships and rolling stock finance (£m)
8
-60
45
-45
574
+18
By channel:
Direct finance (£m)
1,186
-2
3,864
0
15,595
+3
Broker-introduced finance (£m)
526
+14
1,551
+7
5,868
+13
Sales finance (£m)
818
+9
2,521
+7
9,456
+7
By product:
Finance leasing (£m)
286
-9
959
-2
3,948
-4
Operating leasing (£m)
607
+3
1,816
-2
7,143
+6
Lease/Hire purchase (£m)
1,371
-2
4,325
+3
16,745
+7
Other finance (£m)
276
+11
862
-9
3,968
-4
Note to editors:
In 2016, FLA members provided £118 billion of new finance to UK businesses and households. £30 billion of finance was provided to businesses and the public sector. FLA members financed more than a third of UK investment in machinery, equipment and purchased software in the UK in 2016.For media enquiries, please contact the FLA press office on 020 7420 9656.