A new private supply ship for the International Space Station remained stuck on the ground today after rocket engine trouble led to a last-second abort of the historic flight.

Francois Hollande became president of France today in a ceremony steeped in tradition, taking over a country worried about Europe's future and pledging to make it a fairer place.

More than 60 new charging points for electric cars will go live in Oxford today, making the city the "electric vehicle capital of Europe" with one charging point for every 2,400 people – the best ratio in Europe.

Extra charging points and new technology make it easier for motorists to go green

Citroën surprises with a car worthy of Côte d'Azur glitz

Engine: 3.0-litre in-line six-cylinder petrol engine paired with electric motor
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 306 PS at 5,800 rpm + 40kW (electric motor)
Torque: 400 Nm between 1,200 and 4,000 rpm
Fuel consumption (combined cycle): 44.1 mpg
CO2 emissions: 149 g/km
Top speed: 155 mph (artificially limited)
Acceleration (0-62 mph): 5.9 seconds
Price: £46,855

BMW and the London 2012 organising committee, Locog, yesterday revealed details of the 4,000-strong vehicle fleet the car-maker will be providing as Official Automotive Partner for this year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games.

When Bentley unveiled its EXP 9 F SUV concept car at the Geneva Motor Show, the reaction was largely negative. But the company is holding its nerve, and far from dropping the EXP 9 F, or at least rejigging it in order to meet some of the criticisms of its styling, Bentley has been pushing it again at the Beijing Motor Show, this time setting out the likely powertrain options.

Scientists are looking at a range of technologies that could reduce risk and improve confidence

For the first time, sales of diesel cars have stolen a 50 per cent share of the market. Petrol vehicles have for a long time dominated the motoring sector, but with increasing levels of fuel efficiency in diesel engines, this is rapidly changing.

No doors required. Renault reinvents the electric car

The Renault Twizy will be launched in the UK on 13 April. The radical tandem two-seater battery-powered vehicle will be much cheaper than full-sized electric cars, even though it doesn't benefit from the government's generous £5,000 plug-in car grant.

I like driving in my car, it's not quite a Jaguar. It certainly isn't. Cos it doesn't guzzle gas. Or petrol, as we have it in this alliteratively reticent country of ours. So what is this beast that isn't slurping down unleaded – which, incidentally, has just hit an all-time high of 137.44p per litre? That's right, it's an electric auto. And it's coming your way. At a pretty sedate pace, maybe, but it is coming... promise.