Guest Post: 120 days with a BMW i3
Transport
One of our customers and member of Climate Friendly Bradford on Avon shared his experience of driving an Electric Vehicle with us and we thought you might like to read it.
Things have moved on greatly since this blog started posting about EVs, not least Ecotricity’s national network of Electricity ‘Pumps’ – the Electric Highway – it’s great to read some real-world experiences of production cars.
Anyway, over to Adrian…
On Sunday I was listening to the relaxing hum of electricity filling my electric vehicle (EV) while thinking how much my motoring life had changed in the last 12 months. This time last year, I was standing at a petrol station in Canada filling my V8 Mustang with 60 litres of dirty fossil fuel. Now I am “filling” my car with green electricity at an Ecotricity fast charger. (more…)
Guest Post: Dave and the Nemesis
Transport, Wind Car
Here’s a guest post for you from Ecotricity staffer Dave. He was recently asked to put the Nemesis to the test as a commuter vehicle! Here’s his thoughts:
A few weeks ago I was asked if I would mind driving the Nemisis for a few weeks. We apparently needed to get a few miles on it and test it in ‘normal’ daily use – whatever that means?
I work in the Ecotricity offices in Stroud and live in Worcestershire, a daily commute of about 51 miles in each direction, assuming that I take no detours on the way home. My normal mode of transport is either a diesel VW or a motorcycle that each do around 50mpg for the journey (over £12 per day in fuel).
Well, the chance to drive a car like the Nemisis was too good an opportunity to miss so of course I welcomed it with open arms, I mean the chance to drive a super car that would do 0-100mph in 8 seconds doesn’t present itself every day! (more…)
2012 – the Year of the Electric Car..?
Transport
One Saturday, mid-November 1896, a small group of pioneering motorists set off in some of the first horseless carriages – their plan was to drive from the Metropole Hotel London to the Metropole Hotel Brighton. We know this now as the London to Brighton run.
Their aim was to demonstrate and promote the recently invented motor car. In addition, they celebrated the new Road Act, which that year raised the speed limit from 4mph to 14mph and removed the need for a man to walk in front of each motor vehicle waving a red flag. Quite a breakthrough for drivers of the day.
The cars taking part that day included those powered by electricity, steam and the internal combustion engine (petrol): back then it was a three horse race, technology wise. The internal combustion engine eventually won out of course. Fast forward to today and we take for granted the quite incredible travelling capability of modern cars. We Britons collectively drive 250 billion miles a year in our 30 million cars – all but 2,000 of which have internal combustion engines. (more…)
The Nemesis has landed
Transport, Wind Car
Finally. About two years after we started – the Nemesis is ‘finished’.
I’ve been meaning to post something before now, but the last few weeks have been a bit of a whirlwind. Here’s a quick heads up, some stuff you might know already from the news, some you probably won’t.
The car arrived in Stroud nearly three weeks ago now (Tuesday the 28th Oct) looking simply awesome. It was the first time I’d seen it in it’s finished form, complete with grey and black union jack paint job and all sorts of other bits and pieces – it really is transformed from the car that was here in the summer of 09 – for a few months.
Wind Car Update – 13 of 6
Transport, Wind Car
Video production: TWA Productions
A day at Bruntingthorpe
Two weeks ago now we took the Nemesis to Bruntingthorpe, for it’s first real track day.
We had two purposes, to test safety followed by speed.
Nemesis Latest
Transport, Wind Car
Sorry it’s been a few weeks since I posted anything on the car here, or anything at all on this site in fact, my bad – only excuse is there’s a lot going on. More of that next week I hope.
Meanwhile, on the car front:
The new lightweight rear end and rear diffusers are both fitted and fully functional.
The rear end is now stiffer, lighter and much easier to get on and off. Also we’ve got the new rear lights installed and wiring complete now as you can see from the picture. The back end of this car is def its best side.
The diffuser (the bit that wraps under the car at the back, with the number plate on) has its twin flaps, either side of the number plate, one for normal and one for fast charge connections.
Our guys have been working on something dubbed ‘the Lobster Claw’ which is a cable retract mechanism. Looks rather cool and is about 90% complete. Basically it allows you to pull a three pin plug (or whatever connection we choose) from the back of the car, pull out as much or as little cable as you need, plug in and when you’re done, snatch to retract – like a Hoover (or should I say Dyson these days). (more…)
The Wind Car – Episode 9 of 6
Transport, Wind CarVideo production: Tim Walter Associates Limited
This months highlights are;
Meeting the Sun’s environment correspondent – yes seriously. They’ve not had one very long but they do have one and he is serious about it – and:
That amazing machine at Leeds University – the one that looks like it belongs on a Sci Fi film, in fact I’m sure I’ve seen versions of it, recreating humans from DNA samples… In our case we used to make a ‘gear lever assembly’.
As you’ll see here we’re getting close to the end game now, in fact I’m ready to predict that episode 10 of 6 will see me driving the Wind Car for the first time… ! (more…)
The Wind Car – Episode 8 of 6
Transport, Wind CarVideo production: Tim Walter Associates Limited
Here’s our latest video. The big focus of this episode is design and, as you’ll see, it’s definitely taking shape.
I’m off to Norfolk next week to meet the Sun, they love the idea BTW, and nail down a few questions on detail (with the A team).
Couple more weeks after that I hope we might be having our first test drive, perhaps in episode 9 of 6 – but let’s see…. 🙂
Some really cool names keep coming in. Though I’m back to thinking maybe zero. But as somebody said here, I reckon I’ll need to see the finished thing and drive it – then I’ll know its name.
There’s been a lot of electric car stuff in the news lately, particularly today with the Government’s announcement of a £5k bung to EV buyers and other initiatives.
The thing that excites me most of all though is the fact that the government has come out and said we all need to be driving electric cars, they even use terms like ‘green revolution’ these days – that’s just amazing, so far from where we’ve been.
It makes me think the changes we need to make are all the more likely. We know the technology exists or will exist and we know we need to live sustainably – now we seem to have political will behind us.
Just need to re invent capitalism to be orientated to social and environmental outcomes rather than monetary ones – and we’re there…..
Cheers.
The car with no name
Transport, Wind CarVideo production: Tim Walter Associates Limited
I was in Norfolk earlier this week for a milestone in the development of our wind powered car, the first turning of its wheels…!
While I was there I met with John Vidal the Environment Editor of the Guardian. He’s a great guy John, enjoyed discussing things with him and he really gets the wind powered car thing.
We made this little video with John while we were all there, should be on the Guardian website as you read this.
Meanwhile we still need a name for the car. (more…)
The Wind Car (4 of 6) – Time for a name
Transport, Wind CarHere it is then, the fourth episode of the making of our wind car. By the time we get to the sixth I’m hoping it’ll be on the road.
Video production: Tim Walter Associates Limited
Good vid this one, all looks very industrial over there in Norfolk – and stuff is starting to come together.
I’m thinking it’s about time to come up with a name, and I’ve come up with a short list. (more…)
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