Freda Lewis-Stempel - Motoring Reporter

Freda Lewis-Stempel joined MailOnline and ThisisMoney as Motoring Reporter with a wealth of experience across the automotive industry. Freda has written and presented both in-house and freelance across the sector - for luxury EV companies, e-commerce car dealers including cinch and Cazoo, OEMs and household magazines such as Country Life Magazine. She specialises in electric cars and sustainability.

Coverage: Cars Electric Cars

MOST RECENT ARTICLES FROM FREDA LEWIS-STEMPEL

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Nico Rosberg picks up the keys to his £2.5m AMG One hypercar powered by his championship winning F1 engine

18/07/24 03:53

This is Money gets an exclusive preview as F1 World Champion Nico Rosberg drives his AMG One F1-engined £2.5m hypercar for the first time. The road-legal racing car is powered by the world championship winning 2015 W06 1.6-lite V6 hybrid engine. Only 275 cars have been made....read

Barely an electric car in sight: The areas with the slowest uptake of plug-in vehicles
18/07/24 08:34
Parts of the UK are at risk of being left behind in the electric car transition, and not all of them are remote areas of the country, new research shows.
Electric cars that can charge in under 20 minutes: The 11 EVs with the fastest charging times
17/07/24 06:00
As well as an EV with long range, drivers want an electric car that can recharge in a short time. So which EVs can charge the fastest? Here's our top 11 picks.
Jaguar culls all but ONE model as it axes four petrol and diesel cars and I-Pace in major acceleration to EVs
16/07/24 11:59
Jaguar is culling five models before its 2025 EV-only rebrand. The I-Pace EV is the latest victim, with only one combustion car avoiding the chopping block for now.
Complaints about hire purchase car financing balloon in the past year
16/07/24 10:55
HP complaints almost doubled between 2023/4 and the preceding year, with almost 21,500 unhappy customers contacting the FOS.
- 2 comments
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EVs are now FREE to run for the rest of 2024 compared to petrol cars, study claims
15/07/24 11:56
Dubbed 'Electric Car Day', it's been suggested that EV owners now have the rest of the year with 'free' running costs compared to those who drive combustion-engine models.
- 276 comments
- 30 shares
Lotus debuts its one-off £2million hypercar at Goodwood Festival of Speed - then immediately crashes it
12/07/24 01:22
The one-off Lotus hypercar crashed a few yards into its 'dynamic debut' at Goodwood Festival of Speed's hill climb on Thursday.
Dacia Spring EV review: We test drive the UK's CHEAPEST new electric car that costs less than £15k
12/07/24 07:00
The all-new Dacia Spring is the cheapest EV in the UK by almost £10k. We test drove it to find out if this budget EV really can put the country on cheap electric wheels...
MG unveils Cyber GTS concept that looks set to be the electric spiritual successor to the MGB GT
11/07/24 01:35
The Cyber GTS is a hardtop coupe version of its new Cyberster EV roadster. And like the cult B GT launched in 1965, it offers two-plus-two seating and rakish good looks.
Best-selling cars of 2024 so far: Is your car one of Britain's most loved motors?
07/07/24 06:00
Registrations data collated by the SMMT lists the top models by sales figures in Britain so far this year - and among the 10 most in-demand motors are seven SUVs.
What does Labour's election win mean for drivers and motoring costs?
05/07/24 07:43
What should motorists taking to the road under a Keir Starmer led government expect once the dust settles?
- 231 comments
- 10 shares
Lorry, van and taxi drivers are having more crashes by miles driven
05/07/24 05:00
New data shows the number of miles driven by professional drivers before a collision has alarmingly decreased compared to 2023.
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What does Labour's election win mean for your money? From tax, to pensions and homes, what Keir Starmer's government plans to do
05/07/24 04:32
The manifesto was notably light on detail, but now the votes are in we will finally find out what Labour intends to do on regaining power after 14 years.
- 247 comments
- 9 shares
New car sales exceed 1m in 2024 at the halfway point - but private EV demand falls
04/07/24 01:40
A 1.1% rise in registrations in June has pushed 2024's half-year sales to 1,006,763 - the first time it has eclipsed 1m by the half-year point since the pandemic.
- 229 comments
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Would you buy a used car from THIS candidate to be Prime Minister?
04/07/24 12:33
A 1960 Democratic Party US Presidential election poster famously used the slogan 'Would YOU buy a used car from this man?' with a photo of Nixon. Britons are now being asked the same...
- 22 comments
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New Low Emission Zones in major Scottish cities results in huge uptick in motorists looking to scrap their cars
04/07/24 08:02
There has seen a 64% increase in motorists wanting to scrap their cars between May and June 2024, compared to the same period of 2023.
- 60 comments
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New cars are 400kg heavier than seven years ago thanks to this vehicle type...
02/07/24 01:57
Autocar analysed vehicles weight it road tested from 2016 to 2023 and the mean average kerbweight has risen from 1,553kg to 1,947kg.
Electric car drivers will be forced to pay London's £15-a-day Congestion Charge from Christmas 2025
02/07/24 11:37
One expert dubbed the decision 'puzzling' while others suggest the London Mayor Sadiq Khan is attempting to make up for a shortfall in revenue generated by ULEZ.
- 631 comments
- 553 shares
Five ways to save money charging your EV this summer
02/07/24 11:16
Charging an EV can offer great savings. And here are three of the latest offers to save even more money - whether home or public charging.
- 50 comments
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Should graduated driving licences be introduced to clampdown on young motorists?
02/07/24 06:00
Ahead of the General Election, the AA is calling for the elected government to introduce Graduated Driving Licences to reduce teen driver deaths.
- 65 comments
- 14 shares
Are electric cars responsible for Britain's pothole problem?
30/06/24 07:53
A leading road surface company wants to put an end to speculation as to whether electric vehicles are the cause of an increase in potholes plighting the nation's roads.
MG Cyberster review - convertible EV costs £60k and is fun to drive
29/06/24 06:00
MG's all-new Cyberster roadster is here and the EV costs less than £60,000. Will it recharge summer motoring in the electric era? We find out.
FREDA LEWIS-STEMPEL did a 1,000 mile road trip in the new Tesla Model 3 using only green energy - is range anxiety over?
28/06/24 06:00
She took a road trip from London to Scotland to see if you can beat range anxiety and only charge with renewable energy.
Porsche issues global recall for its £90,000 electric Taycan sports car over brake issue
27/06/24 12:43
Porsche has been forced to issue a global recall for its Taycan electric sports cars due to a brake system issue. It is said to affect only a small number of cars, but they're all being called back.
Faster than an Uber! A hypercar maker has just launched its own robotaxi service - and it's coming to the UK soon
26/06/24 03:05
The Croatian electric hypercar brand has unveiled its new Verne robotaxi which will launch in 2026. You'll be able to hail the autonomous EV via an app.
Ford Explorer review: Is the £40k electric SUV a good buy for Britain's drivers and families?
25/06/24 12:54
We've been testing Ford's world record setting new Explorer EV to see it's a long range family road tripper worth buying.
Bugatti's new £3.2m hypercar: Tourbillon to arrive in 2026 with 1,800hp HYBRID power
21/06/24 07:24
Bugatti has unveiled its new hybrid hypercar, the Tourbillon. Only 250 cars will be made and only the most wealthy can have one. How green is it? Here's how far it can go in electric-only mode.
Here's why your classic car is at risk of being slapped with a Q-plate
20/06/24 09:01
Classic cars are being wrongly slapped with Q-plates due to DVLA registration issues - but there is an opportunity to fix it. Here's how...
- 102 comments
- 54 shares
EV brand Fisker files for bankruptcy following a plague of problems with its Ocean SUV
19/06/24 03:14
American electric vehicle (EV) brand Fisker - maker of the Ocean SUV - filed for bankruptcy late on Monday after months of rescue talks failed.
The motorist's guide to the election: What the parties promise drivers
18/06/24 05:49
We look through Labour, Conservative, Reform, Liberal Democrat and Green manifestos' to see what your vote as a motorist will mean
- 292 comments
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What it's like to drive a hydrogen car: We test the fuel cell Ineos Grenadier
15/06/24 06:00
Freda Lewis-Stempel visited Millbrook Proving Ground to put the prototype hydrogen fuel cell Ineos Grenadier through its paces on the off-road course.
Fiat reveals a new Panda in homage to its cult classic compact car
14/06/24 03:49
To celebrate Fiat's 125th anniversary, the Italian brand has revealed a new Panda - the first of a fresh range of models designed after the much-loved 1980s model.
Alpine A290 is proof there's life in hot hatches in an EV era - could it be the first fun electric car?
13/06/24 01:18
The new A290 hot hatch promises compact proportions and driving thrills that will spark warmth under the collars of petrol heads - and without an emission from a tailpipe.
Young drivers can't afford used cars as supply of motors under £5k plummets
13/06/24 05:00
New research from Auto Trader shows young drivers are being squeezed out of the market because supply of cheap cars under £11k and £4k has plummeted.
- 26 comments
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What really happens to EV batteries at the end of their vehicle life?
11/06/24 11:40
Is the picture of an EV battery graveyard true? We look at second life EV battery initiatives, recycling developments and battery passports.
- 201 comments
- 6 shares
Disabled drivers overlooked in EV transition as just 2% of on-street chargers meet accessibility guidelines
11/06/24 10:48
New research by car manufacturer Vauxhall has found that just 2% of on-street council-logged EV chargers are accessible for the UK's 16million disabled population.
- 40 comments
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We review the new £75k Polestar 3 - could the Tesla Model Y now have a real fight on its hands?
10/06/24 08:03
Polestar - the Swedish racing-inspired EV brand - has finally got more than one car to offer buyers. We review the new Polestar 3 in Madrid, to see if it's worth the £75k+ price tag.
The trick to charge an EV for just £218 a year
07/06/24 11:32
By using a system that allows them to charge at the cheapest possible time, drivers of a typical EV could end up paying just £18 a month to do 1,000 miles.
- 385 comments
- 3 shares
Lotus Eletre is an electric Lamborghini Urus rival - but is it any good? We put the hyper-SUV to the test
01/06/24 06:00
The Lotus Eletre S is the new hyper-SUV from the British-now-Chinese-owned-brand. It starts Lotus' electric era, taking driving dynamism into the SUV world.
Cars that drivers ditch quickest: One very popular EV brand tops the list...
31/05/24 08:46
Keepers of one EV brand own them on average for less than two years, while keepers of a particular supercar company ditch them after 24 months.
- 428 comments
- 46 shares
EVs are cheaper to run than frugal petrol cars - but only if you can charge at home
30/05/24 05:00
On average middle-aged EV drivers between 45 and 54 years old save an average of £525 a year on running costs, compared to their age equivalent petrol drivers.
- 366 comments
- 8 shares
Have you noticed driving standards getting worse? A shocking 55% of motorists admit to this one dangerous action behind the wheel
29/05/24 01:19
More than half of drivers tailgate, a new study by the AA has found. And it's not the only type of bad behaviour behind the wheel that's on the rise...
- 270 comments
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Volkswagen to take on China in the cheap EV race with a low-cost small electric car due in 2027
29/05/24 12:59
Volkswagen has announced it will take on cheap Chinese EV imports with its own European bargain EV, the ID.1.It is due to be unveiled in 2027 with a bargain price.
Buying a new EV: Men prioritise price and range, but women are safety first
28/05/24 06:00
Price is top of the list, but men and women have varying levels of range anxiety, and women are more safety-conscious.
- 121 comments
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Driving test pass rates are HIGHER than pre-pandemic - here are the places you don't want to take your test...
27/05/24 06:00
Learners are more likely to pass their driving test today than before the Covid pandemic. But there are still some test centres they will want to avoid.
- 134 comments
- 33 shares
Thieves target EV charging cables at rapid charging sites in latest wave of car-related crime
25/05/24 02:00
Experts are warning that thieves are after the copper in cables at rapid and ultra-rapid charger sites, in a spate of criminality dating back to November.
Kia's £30,000 electric family car: New EV3 revealed and the 372-mile SUV could be one of the cheapest in Britain
23/05/24 01:11
Kia have revealed what is set to be its cheapest electric car yet - the EV3 SUV. The five-seater family car offers 372 miles of range, ultra-rapid charging, and a flexi-interior, all for £30k.
Pothole probe exposes tactics used by different councils to say they are too small to fix
22/05/24 11:01
What makes a pothole worth fixing? Councils have wildly different criteria for what makes potholes worthy of repair, and most of them keep it secret new research finds.
EVs face road tax charges from next year - here's what's changing and how much you'll have to pay
22/05/24 10:34
Until now electric vehicles and low emission cars have been exempt from paying road tax (or VED). But from 1 April 2025 that'll change. Here's a guide to tax changes.
- 384 comments
- 53 shares
Your guide to Scotland's new Low Emission Zones - how to make sure you don't get stung
21/05/24 09:52
Four Low Emission Zones (LEZ) are coming into force in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee and Aberdeen in the next few weeks. Here's our guide to avoid being fined.
Four inventions that changed motoring - and the battles behind some life changing laws
20/05/24 10:44
The automobile has transformed history, and so too have motoring innovations and laws. Here are four motoring inventions that changed driving for the better.
- 58 comments
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Ineos Quartermaster review: There's a new premium pick-up truck in town - but you'll need deep pockets
18/05/24 11:01
Ineos' new 4x4 pick-up is here - but will lifestyle buyers be persuaded to part with so much cash for world-class off-roading'? We review the new Grenadier Quartermaster.
Government considers rules to prevent cash-strapped councils using new powers to overzealously fine drivers
17/05/24 09:55
Some 52 councils have successfully gained these powers, though MPs are concerned they could be using £70 fines for a 'profit motive' to bolster their threadbare budgets.
Do you live in a car theft hotspot? We reveal the UK's most active regions for motor crime
17/05/24 07:09
A new study has revealed the regions of the UK where car theft is rife. HPI compiled a list of the most stolen cars per county, but where did your region rank?
- 280 comments
- 26 shares
New drivers face six-month graduate licences as new bill is introduced into Parliament
13/05/24 11:33
Labour MP Kim Leadbeater has introduced a new bill into Parliament to introduced Graduated Driving Licences.
- 365 comments
- 29 shares
The government is asking motoring enthusiasts for help shaping future classic car policy and future-proofing the industry
11/05/24 05:00
The Government has launched a call for evidence to gather views on how classic and historic cars can be preserved for future generations. It'll run until 4 July 2024.
- 76 comments
- 24 shares
Car makers slash EV sales forecast for 2024 as public demand plummets
07/05/24 11:24
Shrinking appetite for EVs means the UK automotive sector has been forced to revise its sales forecasts for 2024, downgrading electric car market share to fewer than one in five (19.8%).
- 499 comments
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Renault reveals new Symbioz mid-sized SUV - and it'll cost less than £30k
07/05/24 06:00
Renault is coming for the Nissan Qashqai with its latest unveil: The new Symbioz. The hybrid five-seater family car becomes the eighth SUV from the French brand.
- 50 comments
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Consumption of diesel is down almost a billion litres in a year as petrol demand shoots up
06/05/24 02:00
The AA attributes the drop to high costs coinciding with effective anti-diesel campaigns in towns and cities, leading to drivers switching from diesel to petrol, hybrid and electric cars.
- 210 comments
- 10 shares
EV charging rates remain flat while petrol soars - and live charging prices get added to forecourt boards
04/05/24 06:00
Electric vehicle charging prices remained stable in the last month, while petrol prices soared. And some forecourts have started adding live charging rates to pricing boards.
- 1088 comments
- 24 shares
No Time To Buy: We reveal which film characters could ACTUALLY afford their car - and Bond's got saving to do
03/05/24 02:00
AA Car Finance has revealed Bond would need to save for 244 years to afford his Aston Martin DB5. So which famous cinematic characters can and can't afford their iconic cars?
Councils aren't supporting the switch to EVs, voters say as elections arrive
02/05/24 10:17
As England and Wales =go to the polls, it's been revealed that UK motorists don't feel their local council is doing enough to help the switch to electric vehicles.
- 230 comments
- 13 shares
The Jaguar XJS is reborn as a £225k supercar - but TWR will make just 88
30/04/24 10:04
Reborn racing legend TWR has unveiled its debut 21st century road car today, and will catch the eye of enthusiasts with deep pockets and a taste for classic Jags.
- 156 comments
- 25 shares
Major carmaker to offer £10,000 worth of parking this May bank holiday - find out how you can apply
29/04/24 11:01
Car brand Dacia, and JustPark have combined to offer UK drivers £10,000 worth of parking across the early May bank holiday. Drivers can get £20 off their parking costs.
- 6 comments
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Used cars now selling almost twice as quickly as 2023
26/04/24 04:55
Used cars are now selling almost twice as quickly as in 2023, in the strongest sign yet that the market's bounced back from last year's crash. Good condition models across the board are selling fast.
- 14 comments
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Tesla cuts membership prices across its Supercharger network
25/04/24 03:43
Tesla has opened up its Supercharger Membership to all EV drivers. Membership rates have been slashed from £10.99/month to £8.99/month for all current and new members too.
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Tesla cuts membership prices across its Supercharger network and opens membership up to all EV drivers
25/04/24 03:18
Tesla has opened up its Supercharger Membership to all EV drivers. Membership rates have been slashed from £10.99/month to £8.99/month for all current and new members too.
- 63 comments
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Mini's electric ace up its sleeve: New Aceman EV has a 250-mile range - but its price tag isn't mini
24/04/24 04:23
Mini latest electric offering - the Aceman - has been unveiled at the Beijing International Automotive Exhibition. It will start from just over £31,000 and be delivered this autumn.
New Tesla Model 3 Performance has arrived: Here's when you can get your hands on the fastest version of Britain's best-selling electric saloon
24/04/24 02:46
The new Tesla Model Performance model will accelerate from 0-60mph in 2.9 seconds. It'll cost £59,990 and is available to order now. Deliveries are expected in the summer.
Mercedes G-Wagen - famed for its military background and popularity with celebrities - has officially gone electric
24/04/24 01:34
Mercedes has unveiled its new electric G-Class - the 'G580 with EQ Technology'. Mercedes says the electric luxury 4x4 is set to be its best off-roader yet, and comes with 293 miles of range.
Petrol surpasses 150p a litre - cost of filling up is now at a five-month high
23/04/24 12:12
Petrol has hit 150p a litre for the first time since November, the AA reports. Diesel has also reached 158.3p a litre, with drivers facing five-month highs to fill up a tank with fuel.
- 250 comments
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Pothole-related breakdowns up 10 per cent in a year as Britain's road condition crisis continues
22/04/24 11:01
The UK's pothole epidemic is intensifying with the RAC attending 10% more breakdowns resulting from motorists driving through potholes than a year ago.
Third of UK motorists say buying a new CAR is a bigger priority than a home - as property ladder feels out of reach
22/04/24 07:17
Over a third of UK drivers told Auto Trader that buying a brand-new car is now a bigger milestone than purchasing a property, mainly because it's more attainable.
- 191 comments
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Britain sees surge in EVs - but how many cars on the road are electric? New study reveals all
20/04/24 01:52
New data from Motorparc, published by the SMMT showed more than 41 million vehicles on Britain's roads last year - here's how they are powered.
- 208 comments
- 1 share
Britain is better suited to a switch to EVs than any European neighbours
19/04/24 10:43
Two-thirds of UK cars and vans currently used by private owners and public sector organisations are said to be ready to go electric.
- 245 comments
- 11 shares
Almost a quarter of forecourts are already charging more than 150p a litre for petrol
18/04/24 11:01
Only 11 supermarkets were charging below 140p a litre for petrol earlier this week, according to the AA's study of pump price data from forecourts across the UK.
- 108 comments
- 3 shares
Ford's new electric car and adventurer Lexie Limitless set a world record by circumnavigating the globe
18/04/24 05:00
Ford Explorer EV, driven by adventurer Lexie Limitless, becomes the first EV to circumnavigate the globe, following in the steps of Aloha Wanderwell. All-new Explorer goes on sale.
Nissan Qashqai upgraded for 2024: What's changed on the UK's favourite family car?
17/04/24 08:02
Nissan's decided the Qashqai - its extremely popular SUV - needs a bit of refresh. And so today it's unveiled the facelifted 2024 version. We reveal what buyers get.
Paul McCartney's psychedelic Wings 1972 double-decker tour bus goes up for auction - here's how much it could sell for
16/04/24 11:01
The famed psychedelic Wings tour bus that housed rock legend Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney, his family and the band is heading for auction 22nd April.
What are the 10 best and cheapest used cars for young drivers to buy?
16/04/24 08:46
The Citroen C1 has been crowned the best second hand car for Gen Z drivers (those aged 17-27), according to a new study. Cars were ranked on cost, insurance, safety and mpg.
- 64 comments
- 49 shares

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