Practical articles for drivers

You plug your electric car into a 250 or 350 kW fast charger, yet the screen shows only 55, 78 or 102 kW. Is the charger faulty, is the battery already degraded, or did the manufacturer exaggerate the car's charging capability? We explain 9 common reasons why DC fast charging can be slower than expected: high battery SOC, a battery that is too cold or too hot, battery preconditioning that was not activated, the vehicle's own DC charging limit, the charging curve, differences between 400 and 800 V architectures, power sharing at the station, cable and charger limitations, and protective restrictions imposed by the BMS. We also explain why a 350 kW label on the charger does not mean 350 kW will reach your battery, how to distinguish a normal charging curve from a genuine problem and how to perform a simple test before blaming the battery or booking a workshop visit.

Learn practical tips to reduce fuel consumption, save money, and drive more environmentally friendly.

Many drivers do not touch the A/C button for months during winter because the logic seems obvious: if it is already cold outside, why switch on a system designed to cool the cabin? But a car's air-conditioning system does much more than provide cool air in summer. We explain how A/C helps remove moisture and clear fogged windows, whether it can be used together with heating, why the compressor may not actually run in very cold weather and whether using A/C in winter noticeably increases fuel consumption.

Learn why fuel prices often rise very quickly but fall much more slowly. We explain the role of oil prices, old stock, logistics, taxes, and market psychology in simple language.

Fuel prices in Latvia have started fluctuating again. Global oil markets, geopolitics and seasonal demand are driving changes. We analyze what drivers should expect in the coming days.

Why does the windscreen fog up only minutes after a journey begins, why can it freeze on the inside during winter and how should the heater, air conditioning and recirculation mode be used correctly? This comprehensive guide explains how to restore visibility quickly, distinguish wet carpets and a blocked cabin filter from leaking doors, sunroof drains or a heater matrix, and understand when the vehicle should be inspected by a workshop.

Learn what causes car engine overheating, how to spot it early, and what to do if the temperature starts rising quickly. Common causes, dangerous mistakes, and practical advice for drivers.

A hybrid can be a very fuel-efficient car, but only if you drive it in the way this technology works best. In this article, we explain why a hybrid can use very little fuel in the city but may not always impress on the highway, how to use regenerative braking properly, when not to overuse EV mode and which mistakes make even an economical hybrid consume more fuel. Practical tips, tables, a mini test and a 7-day experiment will help you understand whether you are using your hybrid’s full potential.

A tyre still has 6 mm of tread, shows no obvious damage and looks almost new — but the DOT date code reveals that it was manufactured seven or eight years ago. Is it still safe to drive on? We explain how tyre rubber ages, how to read the DOT date code, why tread depth is not the only safety factor and which warning signs suggest that it is time to replace the tyres.

What do squeaking brakes, metallic grinding, steering-wheel vibration, a soft pedal or the car pulling to one side mean? This comprehensive guide explains how brake pads, discs, callipers, brake fluid, ABS and the parking brake work, the most dangerous warning signs, checks to perform before driving, common maintenance mistakes and the situations in which the vehicle should no longer be driven to a workshop under its own power.

A diesel car can be very economical on longer journeys, but in the city and on short trips it often starts living in a completely different operating mode. A cold engine, frequent stopping, unfinished DPF regeneration, higher fuel consumption and expensive repairs can turn a “fuel-saving diesel” into an unexpectedly costly everyday car. In this detailed and practical guide, we explain what happens to a diesel in city driving, why the particulate filter becomes clogged, how to recognise warning signs, what to do when the DPF light appears and how to understand whether your driving profile is actually suitable for a diesel car.