Oliver Kent – Transportation, Automotive and Logistics

September 1, 2025September 1, 2025 by Oliver Kent

Abandonment issues – how a lack of regulation is leading to an increase in the dumping of dockless rental e-bikes across London

As recently reported by the BBC, decisions by Hounslow and Richmond councils to license competing dockless e-bike rental companies in their areas have led to the creation of what comedian Dara Ó Briain described as a modern day Checkpoint Charlie. Hounslow council has licensed Forest and Voi, but on the other side of the Thames, Richmond council has given permission to rival Lime.

Under an agreement between the councils, the electric motors in Lime’s e-bikes are programmed to cut out when they are ridden over the threshold between the two London Boroughs, rendering them heavy and very difficult to ride. This has caused riders to dump their Lime bikes at crossings on the Richmond side of the Thames, with Forest and Voi users abandoning their bikes on the other (Hounslow) end.

With the situation worsening, there are a growing number of voices joining the call for new legislation to be urgently introduced to regulate the sector.

August 4, 2025August 4, 2025 by Oliver Kent

English court gives green light for public to access unredacted pleadings in Pan-NOx emissions litigation group actions

The English High Court has authorised public access to unredacted pleadings concerning the parameters and values used by OEMs to regulate vehicle emissions control systems, following a judgment by Mr. Justice Constable. He concluded there was “no proper justification” for retaining the redactions.

In October, the Court will hear arguments on the liability of five OEMs, Ford, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Peugeot-Citroen, and Renault (the “Lead Defendants”), in the ongoing Pan-NOx emissions group litigation, arising from the Dieselgate scandal (the “Liability Trial”). The group actions involve allegations that these manufacturers employed prohibited defeat devices (“PDDs”) in their vehicles and are brought on behalf of a cohort of over one million claimants.

A key issue before the Court was the extent to which information over which the Lead Defendants asserted confidentiality should be de-designated and made accessible, which would necessitate removing redactions from pleadings for the upcoming Liability Trial.

This issue was resolved with Mr. Justice Constable’s decision in Various Claimants v Mercedes-Benz Group AG & Others [2025] EWHC 1931 (KB), which resulted in the prior confidentiality measures being removed.

March 29, 2023March 31, 2023 by Oliver Kent

EU agrees last minute e-fuels exemption to future ICE vehicles ban

In a twist for EU leaders and Member States, it became apparent earlier this month that Germany was not going to approve a previously agreed deadline for the total phase-out of the sale of new vehicles with traditional internal combustion engines (ICEs).

Earlier this year in February, the EU Parliament voted in favour of a proposal to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles across the EU, with effect from 2035. That ban would have coincided with similar proposals from other jurisdictions, including the UK (proposed ban to come into effect from 2030), and plans from OEMs themselves to discontinue entire petrol and diesel product lines. However, an effort, spearheaded by Germany, has changed all that.

Read the full post on the Duane Morris London Blog here.