A bit off topic - electric car progress

[flecc]

Just heard on BBC London TV news that purely electric cars in London have reached a total of 1729 in January 2009, and there's now a call for an increase in the on-street charging points for these.

Of course it's the exemption from the £8 a day congestion charge that's been the main element in the growth of these, aided by no road tax either. A pity Manchester blocked the congestion charge move since they could have gained similarly in e-vehicle growth.
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[carpetbagger]

if you left an electric car in manchester,your batteries wouldn't be there when you got back !

 

[flecc]

if you left an electric car in manchester,your batteries wouldn't be there when you got back !

I know of Manchester's crime record, but I hardly think it's worse than London's.

Anyway, you should try to get the lead acid batteries out of a G-Wizz and carry them away.
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[carpetbagger]

only a bit of trickery with a wire to the coil and a hidden switch in the car stopped mine being pinched when i worked there...even the police couldn't start it.....best 80p i ever spent.

 

[flecc]

The G-Wizz traction batteries are a different order of weight though, more milk float like, and the access to remove them isn't just a matter of lifting a bonnet, they are buried inside the car.
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[HarryB]

Yes but aren't those Gwizz things horrible? They don't half get in the way - being a lot narrower than a normal car they try and queeze into non-existent lanes. I was blocked by a couple of them today. They are going to move over to Li-ion batteries soon so at least that might be the end of them

I wonder how many people have only bought one in addition to their car rather than instead. And Jonathan Ross has one - anybody like to guess if he arrives at the BBC's Television Centre in it?

 

[flecc]

Yes but aren't those Gwizz things horrible? They don't half get in the way - being a lot narrower than a normal car they try and queeze into non-existent lanes. I was blocked by a couple of them today. They are going to move over to Li-ion batteries soon so at least that might be the end of them

I wonder how many people have only bought one in addition to their car rather than instead. And Jonathan Ross has one - anybody like to guess if he arrives at the BBC's Television Centre in it?

Having tried one I think they are horrible too, but at least they might be a bit faster up hills with light Li-ion batteries.

I'd guess Ross arrives in a BBC chauffeur driven car like many other "stars"?
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[HarryB]

Having tried one I think they are horrible too, but at least they might be a bit faster up hills with light Li-ion batteries.

I'd guess Ross arrives in a BBC chauffeur driven car like many other "stars"?
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You are right and I gather he makes quite an entrance!

 

[HarryB]

Having tried one I think they are horrible too, but at least they might be a bit faster up hills with light Li-ion batteries.

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Only for the first six months, after that the cutting out will make it even more unpleasant. I imagine getting the transition to Li-ion right without increasing the price dramatically (over £7000 now??) will be very difficult.

 

[flecc]

You are right and I gather he makes quite an entrance!

I thought so Hal, but I had an advantage! Two of my ex-employees went to the BBC's transport department after leaving my employ, one as a chauffeur, so I've had plenty of feedback on their practices.
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[flecc]

Only for the first six months, after that the cutting out will make it even more unpleasant. I imagine getting the transition to Li-ion right without increasing the price dramatically (over £7000 now??) will be very difficult.

I think so too, it will kill it and not before time. There's some rather better ones due very soon now, the Smart Electric has 100 running on final proving trials currently and Mitsubishi's electric version of their i-car is also due, both probably around £12,000. The G-Wizz will be uncomfortably close to that with Li-ion, and with the congestion charge and road tax saving paying for the car anyway, most will probably go for the better option.
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[HarryB]

I think so too, it will kill it and not before time. There's some rather better ones due very soon now, the Smart Electric has 100 running on final proving trials currently and Mitsubishi's electric version of their i-car is also due, both probably around £12,000. The G-Wizz will be uncomfortably close to that with Li-ion, and with the congestion charge and road tax saving paying for the car anyway, most will probably go for the better option.
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I could be tempted to use an electric car but four real seats and some sort of protection for the children are essentials for me. The G-Wiz offers nothing so I am looking forward to the next generation (not that I have a spare £12000 to spend on any car).

I have the advantage of a garage (unusual in London) so charging poses no problem but it will be a serious problem for most. Also I'll leave the testing of the batteries to the early adoptors before I even consider buying in few years time when perhaps prices are more realistic.

 

[torrent99]

I could be tempted to use an electric car but four real seats and some sort of protection for the children are essentials for me. The G-Wiz offers nothing so I am looking forward to the next generation (not that I have a spare £12000 to spend on any car).

I have the advantage of a garage (unusual in London) so charging poses no problem but it will be a serious problem for most. Also I'll leave the testing of the batteries to the early adoptors before I even consider buying in few years time when perhaps prices are more realistic.

Yes the only places I've seen them in London are areas like Crouch End and Muesli Hill where the houses are big enough to have drives & garages (& the residents wealthy enough to own a car just for the city commute).

 

[HarryB]

Yes the only places I've seen them in London are areas like Crouch End and Muesli Hill where the houses are big enough to have drives & garages (& the residents wealthy enough to own a car just for the city commute).

Like the Muesli Hill bit but I think Crouch End is a bit more muesli than Muswell Hill. I was brought up in Crouch End and Muswell Hill - Crouch End has changed the most and wasn't very well to do when I lived there. Still not many garages in what are largely Victorian/Edwardian properties. I was forced to the neighbouring Palmers Green where they have the same housing stock but at half the price. I would have thought Highgate would be prime G-Wiz territory?

 

[Caph]

Nice just went into administration last month and were taken over by Aixam Mega. Their cars look very nice (no pun intended) but I'm not sure if their new 4 door Ze-0 will ever see the light of day now.

Isn't the G-Wiz the one that catches fire if you don't keep pouring water in to it? Scary stuff. Isn't it also registered as some form of souped up tricycle to avoid meeting safety standards for motor cars? Possibly it should have stayed in India...

 

[flecc]

The G-Wiz is an old design now, years hanging around before making it into production. Designed partly in the USA, it's too small to have wide appeal for Indian car buyers who want roomy vehicles, so the market here has been better in some ways.

They are much safer now, details on this site.

Incidentally, less than 1000 of the 1729 electric cars in London are the G-Wiz, so nearly half are other makes.
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[torrent99]

Like the Muesli Hill bit but I think Crouch End is a bit more muesli than Muswell Hill. I was brought up in Crouch End and Muswell Hill - Crouch End has changed the most and wasn't very well to do when I lived there. Still not many garages in what are largely Victorian/Edwardian properties. I was forced to the neighbouring Palmers Green where they have the same housing stock but at half the price. I would have thought Highgate would be prime G-Wiz territory?

Yep Crooche Onde is pretty good G-Wizs territory, I've seen one in Highgate but I think the proximity of the tube means that's taken instead.

Mind you saw one tonight takling Highgate Hill very slowly...

 

[Phil the drill]

I can see how an electric car might make sense in London, or some of the other large (and flattish) metropoli, but I really can't see it catching on universally. I try to imagine a Gwizz in Cornwall on our lanes and, well, noooo I don't think so, nor any of the currently available (or evisaged) alternatives.
What we need are some form of electric bicycle .

Phil

 

[flecc]

I can see how an electric car might make sense in London, or some of the other large (and flattish) metropoli, but I really can't see it catching on universally. I try to imagine a Gwizz in Cornwall on our lanes and, well, noooo I don't think so, nor any of the currently available (or evisaged) alternatives.
What we need are some form of electric bicycle .

Phil

The Chinese BYD electric car can live anywhere. It uses home rechargeable batteries and operates as an exclusively electric high performance car everywhere until the battery runs out at around 80 miles (they claim much more of course!). Then it's petrol engine cuts in and takes over.

See the cleverness? The great majority of all car journeys are within it's electric range, but it can still undertake the odd long journey like any other car. Therefore it's electric most of the time and a true hybrid, unlike the Toyota Prius etc which are petrol cars and not hybrids, all of their energy derived from petrol.

The BYD car
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[Phil the drill]

Interesting, but I wonder how much it costs. If it ain't cheap it won't go down here (I still see Austin 1100's and a Hillman Imp regularly commuting round me!). I bet you could easily halve the range on these hills too. It looks like a step in the right direction though (if it ever appears).

Phil