Danny's Contentment

Thanks to autoblog green I had a tip off that the Tesla was going to be on show for a limited number of hours today at the "green wheels motorshow" in Norwich, where the car is built. The show has been organised by Cred and carbon connections, very useful departments of the University of East Anglia. Time to take the afternoon off and leg it up to Norwich. I got a really good chance to cover the car extensively, and meet the people behind it.  I'll be posting episodic clips so that my bandwidth doesn't go too mental and I can show plenty of detail. Click on the image to view video (10meg QT)

Links:electric car vlogging video podcast tesla autoblog green carbon connections Cred

We made a "pod" for Current TV, Al Gore's web and tv channel that has just launched here. I thought it was relevant as most of this has come about via the "Web 2.0" and videoblogging era.This is one of my colleagues, Sam, discussing patriotism.

Links: vlogging video podcast web 2.0 sam delaney  current tv

Hey, I got an email from a nice man at Porsche, which is encouraging. Looks like they are developing a hybrid Cayenne ready for release by the end of the decade. They also have the facility for a 25% bio ethanol mix in their latest Cayenne model. Looks like the big guys are doing something, but please Porsche, let me get my hands on a lithium 911 or boxster, similar to that uber electric car, the Tesla.

porsche tesla

Click on the image to view video. (4.4 meg QT)

Links:electric car vlogging video podcast porsche vw  ev mercedes lotus bmw goingreen

Camden council are hosting a low emissions event on the 22nd March. There will be seminars and discussion about the forthcoming LEZ (Low emissons zone), a presentation by the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership, and case studies by pret a manger and green tomato cars. There will also be a chance to take a look at the range of electric vehicles on offer to Londoners.

The car got a Valentine card last night! Seems as though the secret admirer is the anti 4x4 alliance.. Nice idea. It unsettled me a bit.... Click on the image to view video (2.3meg QT)

Links:electric car vlogging video podcast vlog 4x4  ev

Great news. Camden Council are planning on a series of charging points and free parking for electric vehicles on pay and display. I'm going to be spending some time filming them over the next few months as they implement the changes. Let's hope Camden and Westminster serve as a catalyst for change both here and abroad.

Links:electric car vlogging video podcast vlog Camden Council  ev Westminster Council

In terms of range and top speed (70 miles and 70 miles per hour) the Smart EV blows everything else away. They will become available in January on lease here in London, but only to a very select few businesses. Regular Smarts are all over this city - I cant believe the EV wouldn't be a roaring success (particularly with better infrastructure but people are working on that - slowly). I met a man from Cenex recently who's getting 5 in January. Cenex has been 'set up with the aim of assisting UK industry to build competitive advantage from the global shift to a low carbon economy'. Seeing as Smart are the first mainstream manufacturer to promote an EV here it would be great to see them on the roads, so why cant we buy one? Click on the image to view video.(6 meg QT)

Links:electric car vlogging video podcast vlog Smart EV  ev cenex

Us Reva drivers get a bit of flack for crawling along at times. You get the odd impatient car sending you towards the verge as they accelerate past, safe in the knowledge that electric cars are just another milk float. Time to roll out the Wrightspeed video. An electric car beating a Ferrari 360 Modena and then a Porsche Carrera GT hands down. YES PLEASE. Click on the image to view video -its a windows media file for a change (10meg wmv). Thanks to Wrightspeed for the footage.

Links:electric car vlogging video podcast vlog wrightspeed ferrari porsche ev

George Monbiot has written an article in the Guardian today entilted "Save the planet in 10 steps" - here's point 7: "Oblige all chains of filling stations to supply leasable electric car batteries. This provides electric cars with unlimited mileage: as the battery runs down, you pull into a forecourt. A crane lifts it out and drops in a fresh one. The batteries are charged overnight with surplus electricity from offshore wind farms. Timescale: fully operational by 2011." Garage forecourts are completely alien right now. I drive in and try and get hold of some water for the batteries every now and again and usually fail. People are buying electric cars as quickly as they can get hold of them and the infrastructure isnt there by any means. Click on the image to view video. 3.7 Meg QT.

Links:electric car vlogging video podcast vlog George Monbiot ev

A couple tried to hail me this morning. They thought I was a black London cab! Love to have seen them climb in the back for a fare... Anyway back to serious matters. This is the New "Nice", which stands for No Internal Combustion Engine. It has a 50 mile range and starts at £9995. London's electric car releases continue and this one's a nice little runabout (excuse the pun). Shame about there only being 2 seats again. It's great to see new vehicles here in London but it begs the question - will the major manufacturers actually ever release an EV? I'd be amazed if Smart offer more than the 200 they are promising and whether we will ever be able to buy one. Click on the image to view video. (6.6meg QT)

Links:electric car vlogging video podcast vlog Nice EV Smart EV  ev

Went to see the new Smart EV at The Motor Show last week. There are some great things about this car. It'll run for 75 miles between charges. It has a top speed limited to 70 miles per hour and it has better acceleration than the standard petrol car! Not only that but it carries all the same safety features of the standard smart car with 2 airbags and so on. "Where can I get one" I hear you say. Well, you can only lease it for £380 a month as a fleet driver. Shame that. If it takes off perhaps they will produce more than the 200 they are planning at the moment. Click on the image to view video (9.8 meg QT).

Links:electric car vlogging video podcast vlog Smart EV  ev

With the congestion charge and high parking costs, London is fast becoming a leading electric vehicle city. There's a total of six models due to be on the roads here soon. With all these electic cars buzzing about, there'll be a significant need for charging bays. Enter Elektromotive. You drive up to one of these little beauties and plug in right there on the street. The first intallations will be in Islington and Covent Garden in central London. Click on the image to view video. (5 meg QT).

Links:electric car vlogging video podcast vlog elektromotive  ev

The GWiz has a competitor on the streets of London. The Maranello4 is a 2 seater and is available in pure electric or hybrid electric versions. The electric model has a top speed of 30 mph, a range of 45-50 miles and starts at £9950.  Masterpark (the Westminster owned car parks where we get to park at a reduced rate) had an electric vehicle event yesterday and I got to have a good look at the car. Click on the image to view video (2 mins 20 sec. 10.7 meg QT)

Links:electric car vlogging sfx video podcast vlog maranello4  ev

There's been alot in the press recently about women driving these cars. In an attempt to give myself a bit more presence at the lights,  I got a CD made up of some sound effects. Click on the image to view video ..(1.8 meg QT).

Links:electric car vlogging sfx video podcast vlog

Mike Boxwell, a soon to be G-Wiz owner has started an excellent new forum for the Reva in the UK. With plenty of subject headings there'll be a chance to really discover what the car is about rather than listening to my incessant drivel! Now that there are 500 cars on the road here, it seems like a good time for an online resource. Check it out at www.g-wiz.org.uk/

Links:electric car

Did an interview with CNN last week as part of a piece on the G-wiz. They wanted t