Latest news with #MAM
Daily Mail
10-06-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Driving licence rule change TODAY allows millions to legally take to the wheel of larger cars... with a catch
A major change to driving licence rules from today now allows millions of motorists to legally take to the wheel of larger, heavier cars... but there's one significant catch. An updated weight restriction for category B driving licences - which are by far the most common type held by tens of millions of motorists in the UK - has been introduced by the Government on 10 June. It allows these licence holders to get behind the wheel of vehicles with a heavier maximum authorised mass (MAM) of up to 4,250kg, having previously been limited to 3,500kg. However, the new rules apply to electric vehicles only. The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) confirms that the higher weight classification for category B licences applies for 'zero-emission cars' - meaning EVs and hydrogen-powered models only, though there are currently fewer than 300 hydrogen fuel cell cars registered in Britain today. For petrol, diesel and hybrid cars, the 3.5-tonne MAM restriction remains. The 750kg additional allowance specifically for EVs from today has been implemented to help shield motorists from needing to pass another driving test to legally take to the wheel of a battery-powered family car. This is because the latest hulking electric SUVs - which are laden with weighty battery packs to deliver long ranges on a full charge - are now teetering dangerously close to the previous MAM restriction. MAM refers to the total weight of a vehicle with a maximum load onboard, including passengers and a full boot. Drivers of vehicles of all fuel types with category B licences - of which there are around 35 million in the UK - had been restricted to transporting no more than eight seated occupants (including themselves) up to a total weight of 3,500kg. However, some of the biggest EVs on sale today have unladen 'kerb weights' of almost 3 tonnes. With the addition of passengers and luggage, it means some drivers already had been unwittingly close to exceeding the maximum limit for a category B licence. Without changes to the rules and an additional 750kg allowance, drivers of these cars would need to gain a 'C1' licence in order to legally use it. A C1 licence is for heavy goods vehicles (HGV) and requires a unique theory and practical test to prove a driver is capable of operating lorry-sized vehicles up to a weight of 7,500kg. However, this isn't the case for older motorists - notably those who passed their test over 28 years ago. Anyone who attained their licence before January 1997 have automatic rights - known as 'grandfather rights' - to drive vehicles up to 7.5 tonnes. This is because they were granted the C1 entitlement when they originally sat their driving tests. It means any category B licence holder younger than 45 at the wheel of one of the largest and heaviest EVs would have been susceptible to breaching the previous 3.5-tonne weight limit. Which EVs were close to cat B licence weight limits? There are a number of large electric SUVs that were teetering incredibly close to the former 3.5-tonne category B licence weight restriction. Mercedes' range-topping electric EQS SUV - which costs from £130k - has a kerb weight of up 3,081kg, without taking into account the extra bulk of up to seven seated passengers as well as their luggage. Its maximum laden weight is 3,410kg, which was 90kg shy of the previous category B threshold. The premium Maybach version had a max laden weight of 3,500kg. Volvo's new seven-seat EX90 has a quoted kerb weight of 2,780kg for its £90,000 'Twin-Motor' specification. The maximum laden weight is 3,390kg - just 110kg below the previous EV weight limit for full licence holders. Also nudging close to the previous 3.5-tonne limit is BMW's £110,000 XM, with a 2,795kg kerb weight and max weight of 3,300kg, Kia's £65,000 EV9, which has a kerb weight of 2,664kg and a maximum load weight 3,240kg. But there are already some battery vehicles on UK roads that are well over both the old and new category B licence weight thresholds for EVs. The Hummer EV, which is not an official UK model but can be imported from the US by specialist London dealerships, has a kerb weight in excess of 4.1 tonnes, meaning it already breached the previous category B weight restriction and likely exceeds the new one too The £320k electric GMC Hummer, which is not officially sold in Britain but can imported on request by specialist London car retailers, rings in at a staggering 4,103kg unladen. With passengers and luggage, it would ultimately breach the new category B MAM restriction. Tesla's Cybertruck, which is banned in the UK due to failing to meet required safety standards, also has a maximum laden weight in excess of 4 tonnes. Will drivers need to get a new licence photocard? Despite the new MAM rule change for electric vehicles, drivers do not need to request an updated version of their photocard licence. The entitlement will be applied automatically and recognised without a new card being issued, OZEV says. However, motorists are encouraged to check their driving licence information online to understand exactly what they are now allowed to drive. The new rules also provides greater flexibility for towing. Drivers will be allowed to tow a trailer as long as the combined MAM of the vehicle and trailer does not exceed 7,000kg. For instance, if the vehicle weighs 4,250kg, the trailer must be no more than 2,750kg. These adjustments are particularly beneficial for tradespeople and those transporting goods or equipment who might be considering switching to EVs, which come with huge business tax benefits.
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Business Standard
08-06-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Midwest set to lead India's rare earth magnet charge from December
Hyderabad-based MAM to start 500-tonne annual rare earth magnet output by December and invest ₹1,000 crore in three years to scale capacity and secure raw material premium Shine Jacob Chennai Listen to This Article India's solution to the ongoing crisis on rare earth magnets may well be on track, as Hyderabad-based Midwest Advanced Materials (MAM) is all set to produce the country's first rare earth magnets by December from its 500-tonne-per-annum facility in Hyderabad, a top company executive told Business Standard on Sunday. The Kollareddy-family-owned company is also mulling investments to the tune of ₹1,000 crore over a period of three years to expand its capacity to around 5,000 tonnes per annum, in addition to backward integration. Midwest Ltd (a sister concern of MAM) has secured mines containing monazite (feedstock for rare earths) strategically
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Business Standard
06-06-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Govt plans ₹1,500 crore incentive scheme to recycle critical minerals
Midwest Advanced Materials to produce rare earth magnets as India eyes local recycling of critical minerals following China's supply curbs Puja Das New Delhi Listen to This Article Following the disruption in the supply of rare earths and permanent magnets after China's notification on 4 April, the mines ministry is planning to introduce a ₹1,500 crore incentive scheme to recycle critical minerals, according to a top official. In parallel, Midwest Advanced Materials Pvt Ltd (MAM), a Hyderabad-based company specialising in advanced materials and rare earth magnets, is in talks with the Non-Ferrous Materials Technology Development Centre (NFTDC), Hyderabad, to acquire its technology for extracting and processing rare earth magnets, the official said. The incentive scheme will focus on critical minerals such as neodymium (a rare-earth element from the
Time of India
06-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Centre plans speeding up MMDR amendments to boost critical mineral availability
India is expediting steps to boost domestic availability of critical minerals. Changes to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act are being fast-tracked. The move comes close on the heels of China putting curbs on supplies of permanent magnets derived out of rare earth elements (REEs). Besides regulatory tweaks, the centre is also expecting commercially viable domestic production of rare earth permanent magnets in small quantities later this year. Addressing a gathering of industry professionals and academicians during the critical minerals processing seminar, Union Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy said, 'The demand for critical minerals will increase four to six times by 2040. Global supply chains are concentrated in a few countries.' Referring to the ongoing concerns regarding supplies of Rare Earth magnets from China, Reddy said, 'Geopolitical tensions, trade restrictions, and increasing trend of resource nationalism can cause supply chain disruptions. India is currently almost 100% import dependent for critical minerals. We see this as a major challenge.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like War Thunder - Register now for free and play against over 75 Million real Players War Thunder Play Now The Minister said India recognises the pivotal role of these minerals in driving economic growth. Commenting on the way ahead, Mines Secretary, V L Kantha Rao said tweaks are underway to support domestic critical mineral ecosystems. 'We are planning to amend the (MMDR) act to support the critical mineral mission,' he said. Live Events Rao also said Indian research institutions have found solutions for producing rare earth magnets. 'This has enabled one of the companies in India to produce rare earth magnets in the next three-four months,' he said. The secretary was referring to government sanctioned funding for Midwest Advanced Materials Private Limited (MAM), Hyderabad. The Nonferrous Materials Technology Development Centre (NFTDC), a research and development (R&D) institution under the Mines Ministry , has also transferred advanced technology to MAM. These supports have paved the way for commercial production of Neodymium (NdFeB) materials and Rare Earth Permanent Magnets. Neodymium permanent magnets are vital for propulsion systems in electric vehicles and generators in renewable energy infrastructure.
North Wales Live
06-06-2025
- Health
- North Wales Live
'I was about to feed my baby when the bottle exploded - now I might be scarred for life'
A first-time mum fears she'll be scarred for life after a baby bottle 'exploded' on her tummy and thighs - spraying her with scalding formula. Megan Elston says she was preparing her seven-month-old Koah Keidel's evening feed on May 1 using a MAM Baby bottle that she had been using for the last three months. After waiting 20 minutes for the boiled kettle water to cool down she says she filled the 9oz bottle and added the milk formula. But just before the 23-year-old went to shake the cup to mix the solution, she claims the bottle exploded at both ends - spilling liquid over her thighs and lower tummy. Shocking photos show the full-time mum's inner thighs with large red burns on them, which then developed into blisters. After taking a 15-minute shower to try and cool her wounds, Megan went to North Devon District Hospital in Barnstaple, North Devon, where she claims her left leg felt like it was "on fire". There, she had the blisters popped and bandaged and was prescribed antibiotics before being discharged to recover at home. Now healing, Megan says she fears she will be left scarred for life and feels self-conscious about wearing shorts and dresses this summer. The mum-of-three is raising awareness about what happened to her to stop it from happening to other parents. Megan, from Westward Ho! in Devon, said: "I was just sterilising bottles like I normally do. "I boiled the kettle and waited 20 minutes and then put the water in the bottle and put the powder in. I put the lid on and I hadn't even shook it yet and the lid just popped off. Both the top and bottom popped off and it kind of exploded. "I waited for 20 minutes because any longer than 30 minutes and the water wouldn't be warm enough to kill the bacteria. The formula went over both of my thighs and some of my belly. Luckily my baby was in the other room when this happened. "The blisters all started coming up. At the hospital they popped the blisters on one leg and dressed them. "When they started to blister it felt like my leg was on fire. I then went to the doctors the following day as I had woken up and the other leg had started to blister too. "It wasn't painful getting them popped but getting the burns dressed was painful as it was sore to touch. I was worried that I'd be left scarred for life. It's such a big area and summer is coming up too." Since the accident, Megan says she has been back to the doctors and hospital a few times to have her burns cleaned and re-dressed. Megan is now raising awareness about what happened to her as she claims she followed the correct procedure when making Koah's milk formula. Megan said: "Koah is seven months old and I have been using MAM bottles since he was born. I used the smaller bottles and now I have moved up to the 9oz ones. "I moved onto this bottle about three months ago and have never had any issues before with them. Koah has a bottle at least five or six times a day so I am very used to doing this procedure. "All I can say is make sure you're not holding your baby when you're putting the bottles together. It's left me feeling self-conscious and quite rubbish. I'm quite conscious of going out in little dresses and shorts now." Megan says she has since reached out to MAM about her burns. She says they have told her to send the bottle back to them so they can investigate further. A MAM spokesman said: "The safety of our customers and their babies is at the forefront of everything we do and MAM is committed to ensuring the highest quality standards. "All of our products are rigorously tested and meet applicable safety standards. The bottle type in question is certified to EN standard 14350:2020. "We are very concerned about Megan's injury and have requested that we collect her bottle to enable us to thoroughly test it and investigate the circumstances around the accident. Clear instructions on safe use are supplied with every bottle. "These include never pouring boiling water into the bottle and allowing boiled water to cool for at least 20 minutes before introducing it to a bottle to reduce the risk of scalding. While preparing a bottle, we recommend that you never do it with a baby close by. "You should always wrap it in a towel or cloth to ensure the base is tightly screwed on and any shaking should be done gently over a sink with the base facing away from you."
