Safety

How confidently can you drive on hardened snow, or in icy conditions? And what about electric vehicles (EVs)? Are they better or worse? The answers very much depend on the model of vehicle in question, as well as the level of advanced driver assistance technologies (ADAS) fitted. That’s because modern vehicles are immeasurably better at steering and braking control on very low grip surfaces, and are able to react far quicker than a human ever can. A high-grip or sticky road (usually dry and warm) has a high mu (denoted by the Greek letter m), while low mu represents a low-grip, low-friction surface like ice, snow or on a wet steel plate. Before the advent of safety aids like traction control, electronic stability control (ESC), anti-lock brakes, ADAS and all-wheel drive (AWD), vehicles in low mu situations required exceptional driving skills just to keep it from veering off uncontrollably into the scenery. Basically, the driver would often become the passenger. Now, in concert with advances in tyres and chassis engineering tuning, an electronic driving mode can be chosen according to the prevailing environment and conditions, for far-safer travel. It’s all the difference between progress and ploughing into something. Just as importantly, there are degrees of electronic intervention to allow for a variety of different ways to travel over low-mu surfaces, according to the level of driver skill. Here’s where Skoda steps into the picture. To demonstrate just how far modern vehicles have come, the Volkswagen Group brand organised a demonstration for a small number of Australian motoring media on a special closed circuit on an ice field in New Zealand. To keep it interesting, both vehicle types were performance-orientated grades of popular family-sized AWD SUVs that people might reasonably be expected to drive up to snowy regions during a ski season. Or navigate an ice-storm in on a freezing night on the other side of the globe. You never know. In this case, they were the 2026 Skoda Kodiaq RS 4x4 from $70,590 (all prices are before on-road costs) and a 2026 Skoda Enyaq RS 4x4 from $76,590 – with the latter being the go-faster EV version that is also known as the vRS in other markets. They wore winter tyres, a common addition in Europe, North America and other cold-climate regions, but not so in Australia due to our temperate climate. Several revealing demonstrations were prepared, and all on ice that looked like soft snow due to flurries but, in reality, revealed a mu surface as slippery as you’ll ever likely to experience out in the real world. Here we were shown the most basic level of ice-driving car control: attempting a low-speed cornering manoeuvre, without spearing off into a snowbank, and with limited ESC intervention. This introduced us to the three basic rules we would always have to adhere to: easing in intricate steering inputs, precise throttle control and very gentle tapping of the brake pedal, to allow momentum and the laws of physics to take the vehicle through the turn. Super difficult to achieve at first, and barely at walking pace initially, the speed was increased slowly over repeated exercises, until the balance and behaviour of driver and vehicle were in unison with the road and environmental conditions being negotiated. During these, we learned to importance of understanding and controlling ice-driving understeer (where the vehicle’s front wheels lose grip and then ploughs ahead whilst cornering regardless of steering angle) and ice-driving oversteer (where the rear wheels lose grip and the vehicle’s tail slides out to eventually spin out of control). After that, there was more of the same, but this time with a series of road twists and sharp turns combined with long straight pathways, with the goal of inducing controllable oversteer where possible in order to achieve the smoothest and cleanest route through a particular driving course. Note that understeer in such conditions is never desirable as it impedes progress. Sounds fun, is cool, but not as easy as the professionals on hand make it look. Especially at higher speeds Here’s the exception to the general rule of gently-gently car control. Sat in the Enyaq RS with nothing but icy snow behind, we were instructed to straighten the wheel, select reverse and floor the throttle, before tugging the wheel left or right once reaching 60km/h, then tapping the brake as the vehicle spins around 180 degrees backwards and slows to a momentary halt, before selecting drive and powering forward. The aim here is for a seamless transition turning the car from reverse to forward in a rapid getaway situation, as per every action movie involving a heist of some sort ever made. This was the highlight of the day. After countless exercises learning to control a vehicle better on ice than we ever thought possible thanks to the advances in electronic technologies like ADAS, we were driven to another location with two Skodas with all electronic systems switched off and instructed to temporarily forget about everything we had learned that day about smart, safe yet speedy ice driving. No ESC. No traction. No ADAS. And no safety net. Instead, we were told to drive around a point in the centre of a large field, but in a constant oversteer motion where the rear was sliding out to help pivot the vehicle around. In other words, we were told to drift our hearts out! With a cool and collected professional our only safety net in the seat next to us, the only instruction was full throttle and eyes fixed on the centre point. Doing that, with foot planted firmly down on the accelerator, resulted in a long, continuous circular drifting, yet within a chosen path and without losing control. This was the culmination of very particular steering and throttle inputs, designed to create spectacular drifting manoeuvres. Since these instructions require to do the very opposite of the extremely precise steering and throttle inputs that are the core of safe modern-vehicle ice-driving techniques, we do not recommend you try this on public roads. But, in the off-chance you have a private circuit away from danger for you or any other road user, it might be the most fun you’ll ever have on ice. And the Skodas behaved exactly as instructed, without missing a beat.

An elaborate EV battery fire safety measure is in the works. Stellantis, owner of Alfa Romero, Jeep, Ram and more, has filed a patent for a system that can eject a car’s high-voltage battery during an emergency. The car would then use a small 12-volt battery to allow the vehicle to drive just far enough away from the ejected battery. Stellantis’ new patent filed in the United States is called the “High-Voltage Battery Quick Release System For Vehicle”. Someone must manually activate the quick-release switch or lever located in the cabin or in the boot for the system to activate. This will disconnect the high-voltage battery and decouple it from the vehicle, but it’s unclear exactly how this will happen. There looks to be a sliding-frame mechanism and a small explosion (“pyrotechnic features”) to free the battery and drop it onto the surface below.  The system could be used in situations where there is a fire risk or an otherwise dangerously-damaged battery after a crash.  Once the main battery pack has detached from the car, a 12-volt battery will power the wheels to move the car just far enough away from the damaged battery.  It’s expected this system could be fitted to any vehicle, but there is no official news on whether Stellantis is actually planning to use it. EV battery fires are rare, but self-sustaining thermal runaway causes cells to ignite sequentially, making them difficult to extinguish and very dangerous. In September 2025, Chery showed off its iCar 03T SUV with a mechanism that shot the battery out to the side of the car. The system copped heavy criticism online from users, who pointed out the potential consequences for other road users hit by the fast-moving and heavy battery.  Stellantis’ system does not appear to shoot out of the car at the same speed, rather it just drops onto the floor, but this could still be problematic for any cars travelling behind. 

It’s such a sinking feeling. You go through an intersection and for whatever reason it was borderline red just as you crossed. How do you check to see if you were caught? Or maybe you were going a bit too quick and you could swear you saw a flash from the camera. Can you check to find out if you imagined it? Otherwise, you’ll spend the next few weeks wondering if a huge fine and loss of points is heading your way. And that waiting can feel like torture. So is there a way to find out if you've been caught by a red light camera or speed camera sooner? The answer is yes and no, depending which state of Australia you live in. Here’s how you can find out if you’ve been caught by a red light camera or speed camera in your state. New South Wales drivers you are in luck. When it comes to checking red light and speeding fines - the Service NSW app will let you check fines and demerits against your licence or a vehicle registered to you. Users of the app have reported super quick turnarounds with some saying they’d gone through a red light and within 24 hours the offence had appeared in the app, while others said that it was a week before the app updated with their fine. Either way that’s better than waiting weeks for the notice to arrive in the mail - which will still be sent out to you. Sorry Victorians, no fancy fine checking app for you. Nope, you’ll find out if you’ve been caught by a red light camera or speeding camera the old fashioned way - in the post. That can take from seven to 14 days and even up to a month if there’s a backlog. The fine will come from VicRoads. There’s also the Fines Victoria Portal which will allow you to search and pay existing fines but this doesn’t update until the offence is processed, although you might be able to see the infringement before the notice arrives in the mail. Queenslanders are a little better off than Victorians in that red light and speeding camera offences are updated in the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) My Infringements portal. That said, the turnaround isn’t instant, with anecdotes saying a fine appeared four days after the incident occurred. Still that's good news that Queenslanders can find out if they've been caught before the paper version arrives which can take up to three weeks. ACT drivers get a paper copy of the infringement posted to them and this is supposed to take five days.  The ACT does have the Rego-Infringment Lookup portal and you can check to see your fine here, but the catch is you need an infringement number and to get one of these you’ll need the paper version. Still, it looks as though ACT drivers don’t have to wait as long as most states to get their bad news.  Bad news South Australians, you can’t check to see if you've been caught by a red light or speed camera before the paper version is mailed out to you. The South Australian Government says fines are posted to the registered owner. The owner is able to check the offence photos online through South Australia Police but an expiation number recorded on the paper infringement notice is needed. Tasmanian drivers can’t find out if they’ve been caught by a red light camera or speeding any sooner than the infringement notice arriving in the post.  But get this - Tasmania Police says that the notice should arrive within four days of the offence. That sounds pretty fast - are there any Tassie drivers who can confirm this slightly unbelievable government efficiency?   Can Western Australian drivers find out quickly if they’ve been caught by a speed camera or red light camera? The answer is a big nope, you’ll have to wait until the infringement notice arrives. There is no officially published wait time for the notice to arrive.   Can drivers in the Northern Territory find out if they’ve been caught by a speed camera or red light camera? Unfortunately, no. You’ll have to wait for the infringement notice to arrive in the post much like the rest of the country.

BYD's new affordable SUV has fallen short of a five-star safety score in Australia. The BYD Sealion 5 plug-in hybrid SUV failed to achieve the maximum star rating under the Australiasian New Car Assessment Program's (ANCAP) protocols. ANCAP only awarded the Sealion 5 three stars, making it the first BYD model not to reach the five-star standard from the safety watchdog in Australia.  ANCAP Chief Executive Officer Carla Hoorweg said BYD has been proactive in bringing models forward for ANCAP testing, but opted not to with the Sealion 5.  “However, the Sealion 5 was a model the brand hadn’t actively pursued for testing, and was subsequently selected by ANCAP to ensure consumers have a clear picture of its safety performance," Hoorweg said. The Sealion 5 hit Aussie showrooms at the start of 2026 as a smaller and more affordable alternative to the Sealion 6 to rival the Toyota RAV4.  ANCAP described the Sealion 5’s crash protection as “respectable”. It achieved a 79 per cent Crash Protection rating, but ANCAP noted increased risk for the driver’s chest and lower legs, as well as the front passenger’s neck.  New ‘Virtual’ and ‘Sled’ predictive digital tests indicated reduced protection for larger occupants and at higher test severity.  The watchdog said the Sealion 5’s inability to detect the stature of occupants in the front seats as well as phone use or intervention for an unresponsive driver marked it down.  It also said central touchscreen control of the headlights and the climate control fan “did not meet its requirements.”  The Sealion 5’s speed sign recognition software “was not sufficiently accurate to earn full points”, and emergency lane keep assist did not intervene in road-edge scenarios. ANCAP stated the Sealion 5 does not have low-speed pedal-misapplication, which suppresses the engine when the accelerator is accidentally pressed with a pedestrian ahead.  The Sealion 5 launched in Australia this year, but it was already on sale overseas for several years and was designed to meet that standard. A spokesperson for BYD Australia said the brand would not make any retrospective safety updates to the Sealion 5. "ANCAP introduced an updated testing regime in 2026, with a strengthened assessment criteria compared to the 2023-2025 protocols, which were applicable to the Sealion 5 at the time of its global introduction," they said. "The current score reflects this new standard, not any change in BYD's commitment to safety." The Sealion 5 is one of the first vehicles to be tested under ANCAP's updated protocols, after ANCAP confirmed to CarsGuide in May 2026 the first vehicles rated under the new criteria were expected later in 2026. Toyota got caught out earlier this year by the changing standards after its new RAV4 was delayed from the initial 2025 launch. It wasn't crash tested this year, but it promised to update the vehicle to the 2026 standards and the vehicle will be tested once the changes were implemented. BYD’s incoming M9 plug-in hybrid people mover received a five-star rating from ANCAP, as the new Kia Carnival rival prepares to hit showrooms in late 2026.  The M9's driver monitoring system headlined the M9's 75 per cent Safe Driving rating, performing well in detecting common forms of distraction.  The people mover’s adaptive cruise control also performed well in detecting and responding to other vehicles and road users.  ANCAP said the M9’s post-crash features and capability “are of a high standard”, which is why it received a 100 per cent score for that category. 

Leapmotor has responded to alleged camera security risks in its cars in Australia.  An ABC Four Corners report revealed Leapmotor vehicles use Dahua cameras, which were removed from Australian federal and defence sites in 2023 and 2025 Cameras are a key component of the tech-focused electric car brands such as Leapmotor. They provide more visibility and greater safety for drivers, including features like a 360-degree view camera and are critical in the push for self-driving cars. Former national cybersecurity advisor Alastair MacGibbon told the ABC electric car microphones and cameras are an ideal surveillance device.  A spokesperson for Stellantis Australia, parent company of Leapmotor, confirmed to CarsGuide Dahua cameras are fitted in Leapmotor vehicles. They said the brand takes cybersecurity, customer privacy and data protection seriously. Dahua cameras fitted in Leapmotor vehicles are used exclusively to support functionality and safety related features. “The system is not designed to record or store footage as part of its normal operation, nor is it designed to upload camera data to the cloud or transmit it to third parties,” a Stellantis Australia spokesperson said. “Any video recording functionality is customer controlled, and storage requires the use of an external USB device.” Leapmotor vehicles undergo independent cybersecurity assessment and certification, according to the brand. In February 2023 an audit found more than 900 surveillance camera units built by Chinese government-linked companies Hikvision and Dahua were being used in government workplaces. The government said it removed these security cameras due to national security concerns because Dahua is partially owned by the Chinese government and has ties to intelligence laws.  The United States and United Kingdom also moved to remove Dahua cameras from its key government infrastructure. 

Hyundai's flagship family electric SUV is under investigation for a safety concern in Australia, following similar reports overseas.  The South Korean brand is looking into an issue on its Ioniq 9 in Australia over a potentially dangerous problem with the second-row power-folding seats. It relates to the seat assemblies failing to detect passengers or objects on the seats and continuing to close even when using excessive force. This can lead to the seats squashing occupants and cause serious injury or worse. The Ioniq 9 is Hyundai’s most expensive car on sale, and is its biggest electric SUV offering Down Under. Virtually every Ioniq 9 sold in Australia could be affected by the issue, with more than 100 vehicles being looked into. The issue is expected to be able to be fixed with an over-the-air software update like in other markets, or owners can option to have it resolved at a Hyundai dealer. Owners should take extra care during the folding of seats in the meantime, according to the brand.  In the United States, 5360 Ioniq 9 examples have been recalled, according to reports. The brand said all vehicles recalled have the fault.  It’s not just the Ioniq 9 impacted in the United States, with it also linked to power-folding seats in the Palisade and the Telluride SUVs.  At this stage, only the Ioniq 9 is under investigation in Australia.

Two Chinese carmakers have come under fire in Australia for alleged lax cyber security measures and questions over privacy, following investigations from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).  Technology in EVs bring an increased risk of surveillance and privacy breaches and potential hacking, with Four Corners showing how easy it was to allegedly hack a BYD Shark 6. BYD has now responded to the ABC's claims, stating the footage does not conclusively show its vehicles are open to hacking without first gaining physical access to the vehicle. "The footage from the Four Corners report does not provide conclusive evidence that a remote attack vulnerability exists without physical access to the vehicle. Once unrestricted physical access to the vehicle is established the need for passwords diminishes," a spokesperson said. An ABC investigation uncovered that BYD’s privacy policy said data could be collected "in connection with suspected illegal or improper activities" and that this could be done through "surveillance activities". This broad policy gave BYD significant powers to gather data on owners, and how it could disclose information. The carmaker has since removed all references to China and mentions of surveillance. A spokesperson for BYD Australia told CarsGuide privacy policy changes were not made due to the ABC's investigation. "Any inference that the policy was updated in response to the Four Corners investigation is strenuously denied," they said. The company's high-tech credentials mean its vehicles feature lots of camera and other monitoring equipment primarily to improve safety, combined with over-the-air connectivity technology.  BYD cars use a driver monitoring system that includes a camera pointed towards the driver to detect any drowsiness or a lack of attention.  These systems generate substantial amounts of information about those in the car, what they do and the conversations they have.  The Chinese government recently released a raft of new rules to tighten how its carmakers operate in overseas markets. Carmakers are now required to take necessary measures to ensure any data-processing, including collection, use and cross-border transfers must comply with applicable laws.  They must also adhere to personal information protection regulations and safeguard consumer privacy.  This move is designed to improve buyer trust in overseas markets, but there remains concerns about its application.  Australia’s privacy rules allow for data to be transferred to China, so theoretically owner data could be at risk.  BYD’s new policy states in the event of personal data transfers to other countries, it will comply with data protection laws regarding cross-border transfers.  "We haven't and would not transfer any data of Australians to the Chinese authorities," it said.  Companies must still cooperate with authorities when required under national Chinese security rules.  A spokesperson for BYD Australia said the brand cannot be compelled to provide owner information because Australian law governs its operations.  The ABC also published an article on cybersecurity concerns for new EVs.  Cybersecurity expert Dan Hreszczuk was able to remotely access some of a BYD Shark 6’s functions without even needing a password.  Hreszczuk said he unpicked the software programs controlling different functions, and could blast music over the speakers, remotely switch the car’s lights on and off, and operate the wipers, among other things.  “It’s a little bit scary how open … the BYD Shark is to a hacker,” Hreszczuk told the ABC.  A spokesperson for BYD Australia told CarsGuide it was working through its own investigation, and is querying claims made by the ABC. "We are taking full and immediate action in reviewing alleged claims and will respond in detail once we have completed our investigation," they said. They said BYD conducts its own simulated cyberattack testing to assess the effectiveness of protections and identify vulnerabilities. "In current versions of our infotainment system, third-part apps cannot be installed by users, which helps prevent unauthorised software and potential vulnerabilities being installed on the vehicle," they said. It’s not just BYD making headlines over its in-cabin surveillance. Leapmotor cars feature lots of cameras to provide increased vision and safety for owners, in line with many Chinese EVs. The ABC has reported some Leapmotor models use cameras removed from federal government buildings over surveillance concerns. The cameras in question are made by Dahua Technology, and in 2023, many were removed from federal buildings and defence sites. CarsGuide has contacted Leapmotor Australia for comment to find out which models have Dahua cameras installed in them. Leapmotor currently sells its B10 and C10 fully-electric or hybrid range-extender SUVs, and its B05 hatchback in Australia. It will soon introduce the smaller budget-focused B03X designed to rival some of the most affordable EVs on sale in Australia.

These are Victoria’s most dangerous roads according to a new survey by the RACV and we're keen to hear which roads in your state are known to be notoriously unsafe, too Potholes have been identified by Victorians as the No.1 safety concern in an RACV survey focusing on the state’s most dangerous regional roads and these are the highways on the public's “do-something-about-it” list. More than 6000 people took part in the RACV's 2026 My Country Road campaign with 71 percent of them saying the condition of Victoria’s roads was the greatest safety concern for them. Potholes and crumbling surfaces were named as urgent priorities that needed addressing and the roads which were the main culprits were named. While potholes were seen as the biggest safety issue plaguing Victoria's regional roads, the respondents identified other areas of concern. Narrow roads, poor shoulders and edges were identified by 12 per cent of respondents as being of greatest concern after pot holes; 10 per cent thought signage, line marking and visibility were the biggest safety issue; speed limits and driver behaviour also received 10 per cent of the vote; while limited overtaking opportunities also came in at 10 per cent. This year’s RACV campaign was regional Victoria's turn to nominate the worst roads. Alternating each year, in 2027 it will be city dwellers' chance to have their say in the My Melbourne Road campaign. This year’s My Country Road survey asked respondents to nominate the most dangerous road in regional Victoria from a shortlist of 52 which were identified as being safety concerns based on crash data. The RACV took the map of the state, broke it up into five different regions and identified the three most dangerous roads for each according to the participants. And here they are. Southwestern Victoria: Princes Highway West, Colac to Camperdown Princes Highway West, Portland to Port Fairy Henty Highway, Portland to Hamilton. Western Victoria: Midland Highway, Ballarat to Daylesford Western Highway, Ararat to Stawell Western Highway, Ballarat to Trawalla. Northwestern Victoria: Loddon Valley Highway, Bendigo to Kerang Northern Highway, Echuca to Heathcote Northern Highway and McIvor Highway, Wallan to Bendigo. Northeastern Victoria: Melba Highway, Yea to Dixons Creek Goulburn Valley Highway and Maroondah Highway, Yea to Mansfield Murray Valley Highway, Wodonga to Tallangatta. Eastern Victoria: Strzelecki Highway, Leongatha to Mirboo North Princes Highway East, Bairnsdale to Lakes Entrance South Gippsland Highway, Loch to Leongatha. Of these five regions, the three most dangerous roads in country Victoria are the following: Princes Highway West, Colac to Camperdown Princes Highway West, Portland to Port Fairy Loddon Valley Highway, Bendigo to Kerang. The RACV says it will use the results to advocate for targeted investment. The RACV’s head of public policy James Williams says the results send a clear message. “Victorians have told us that the State’s crumbling road network is what worries them most,” Mr Williams said. “Seven in 10 of the concerns raised through this campaign came back to potholes and deteriorating surfaces, and almost three-quarters of the fixes people asked for were as simple as resurfacing the road. “These are maintenance and design problems and they are the same in every corner of the state, from the Princes Highway West in the southwest to the Strzelecki Highway in Gippsland. “RACV will take these results to government and press for targeted investment in the roads that the Government’s own safety ratings and regional Victorians have identified.” This RACV survey only covered Victoria, of course, but Australia is a big place and we think nothing of driving hundred kilometres in a single stint. So which roads do you travel often that need attention now? Let us know in the comments below.

Ford has put out a recall notice and stop-sale order for some of its Mustang sports car examples in Australia.  The recall impacts 7724 units built between 2023 and 2026, across both its 2.3-litre four-cylinder and 5.0-litre V8 engine options.  The Mustang is one of the most popular choices for sports car buyers on the market. Nearly 500 vehicles in dealer stock will not be sold until the issue is rectified. Any stock built since the start of June is not affected by the issue as well as upcoming Mustang Dark Horse and Dark Horse T8 Spec Pack examples. The issue concerns potential vibrations causing the engine wiring harness to break loose. “Due to a manufacturing defect, the engine bay wiring harness ground terminal may become damaged due to vibrations,” the notice reads.  “This may cause the wiring harness to break, resulting in a loss of engine power. Additional safety functions such as the headlamps and windshield wipers may fail to operate as intended.  “A loss of motive power and safety functions whilst driving increases the risk of an accident, resulting in serious injury or death to vehicle occupants and other road users.”  A spokesperson for Ford Australia said there have been no reported instances of the issue occurring in Australia.     Ford will contact affected vehicle owners in writing to request they contact an authorised dealer to arrange inspection and repair, free of charge.  Owners can also contact Ford Australia for additional information. 

Car makers are constantly coming up with new features they think we need, from big screens to weird door handles. Often these cause more problems than they solve. We get it, since that very first person with a face full of mud 140 years ago said: “Geeze I wish my jalopy had some kind of screen to protect me from the wind”, manufacturers have been trying to wow us with newer and better features in the hope we’ll buy their product.  Who can argue with windscreens and wipers, air-conditioning and airbags, radios and sound systems? And we love proximity unlocking, head-up displays and heated seats.  Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are superb, blind spot warning and parking sensors have saved us from embarrassment and saved lives.  But then there are the other inventions that make you wonder what on Earth were they thinking? Vibrating seats? Door handles that disappear and are hard to use? Giant glass roofs in Aussie summers? Huge screens that have done away with all the real buttons? Safety alerts so distracting they’re possibly even dangerous?      We know what we want so here’s our list of features we’d like to see, and please jump in and tell us what you think cars need and maybe the message will get through to the carmakers. There are few features more disappointing than the voice command function in cars. The promise was a Chat GPT or Siri style helper that could not only carry out vehicle functions easily but also plan our journeys and organise our calendars. Well they couldn’t keep the promise, because the current versions in cars are next to useless.   Is it too much to ask for our real dials, switches and buttons back? Over the past five years we’ve watched them disappear before our eyes into touch screens, making the process of just turning the air-con temperature down an awkward process of finger swipes and stabs. The windscreen was a great idea, and combined with windscreen wipers, meant driving in all weather conditions was now possible. But are we not at the stage where a kind of smart chromatic glass can be used that adjusts to cut glare and brightness when driving into the sun.  Yes, there are sun visors and sun glasses, but there are many reasons why these aren’t perfect. While we’re at it is there a better way to keep windscreens clear in torrential rain? Windscreen wipers are fantastic but can a charged windscreen be developed where water doesn’t hit it in the first place? Just asking…  Full-sized spare wheels are heavy, take up space and are hard to change. But they’re better than space savers spare wheels, run flat tyres and repair kits. For years we’ve seen innovative tyre prototypes that aren’t filled with air and don’t puncture, but here we are a century later still driving around on balloons.  Cars dent and scratch way too easily. The cost of repairing metal panels and respraying is huge, and means the car is off the road for weeks sometimes.  Yes, the ultra high-strength steel and aluminium that’s used today is better than the steel we used to use, but why aren’t we using plant-based fibres and resins to build the bodies of our vehicles?  Steel is so last century. Actually it was last century in 1941 that Henry Ford patented his soybean car, which had a body made from plastics reinforced with hemp and flax fibres. The car was 500kg lighter than a regular steel car and up to 10 times stronger than steel.  So what happened? World War II seemed to derail the push for bioplastics and steel continued to rule the world.