Comments on: Another Tesla? – preferably not. http://zerocarbonista.com/2008/05/16/another-tesla-%e2%80%93-preferably-not/ Life post oil and post carbon Mon, 08 Sep 2008 02:50:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: dale http://zerocarbonista.com/2008/05/16/another-tesla-%e2%80%93-preferably-not/#comment-408 dale Mon, 11 Aug 2008 14:37:38 +0000 http://zerocarbonista.com/2008/05/16/another-tesla-%e2%80%93-preferably-not/#comment-408 @ Ron - Thanks Ron that's a great article, and pretty much exactly where we're coming from. Fun is the key here. To get the majority of people interested in green stuff, green stuff has to be less about a life of denial and more about fun. We're hoping to show that it is possible to live with zero carbon and still have a hoot - that's a powerful message. Cheers. @ Ron - Thanks Ron that’s a great article, and pretty much exactly where we’re coming from. Fun is the key here. To get the majority of people interested in green stuff, green stuff has to be less about a life of denial and more about fun. We’re hoping to show that it is possible to live with zero carbon and still have a hoot - that’s a powerful message. Cheers.

]]> By: ron http://zerocarbonista.com/2008/05/16/another-tesla-%e2%80%93-preferably-not/#comment-402 ron Fri, 08 Aug 2008 21:10:25 +0000 http://zerocarbonista.com/2008/05/16/another-tesla-%e2%80%93-preferably-not/#comment-402 I think you're being too critical, and guess what - lots of people like cars and think theyre fun, not just practical drudgeries. Also, you need to look at it like any "new" technology. When it first comes out only rich, first adopters can afford it and put up with the glitches. As time progresses the tech gets cheaper and cheaper and economies of scale kick in until you can buy a DVD player for 30 bucks. on a related note, this article (from almost 10 years ago) is great reading for those with fast electric car dreams - http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/7.03/drag.html I think you’re being too critical, and guess what - lots of people like cars and think theyre fun, not just practical drudgeries. Also, you need to look at it like any “new” technology. When it first comes out only rich, first adopters can afford it and put up with the glitches. As time progresses the tech gets cheaper and cheaper and economies of scale kick in until you can buy a DVD player for 30 bucks.

on a related note, this article (from almost 10 years ago) is great reading for those with fast electric car dreams - http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/7.03/drag.html

]]> By: Scott http://zerocarbonista.com/2008/05/16/another-tesla-%e2%80%93-preferably-not/#comment-242 Scott Tue, 10 Jun 2008 10:29:10 +0000 http://zerocarbonista.com/2008/05/16/another-tesla-%e2%80%93-preferably-not/#comment-242 No worries about the feedback, always happy to give credit where credit is due. Thanks for finding out about the land yacht. It was only a brief clip, but the way the advert was shot and the colours used, it looked very much like your Greenbird. I'm really inspired about Ecotricity, might have to see if you have any jobs available ;) No worries about the feedback, always happy to give credit where credit is due.

Thanks for finding out about the land yacht. It was only a brief clip, but the way the advert was shot and the colours used, it looked very much like your Greenbird.

I’m really inspired about Ecotricity, might have to see if you have any jobs available ;)

]]> By: dale http://zerocarbonista.com/2008/05/16/another-tesla-%e2%80%93-preferably-not/#comment-235 dale Fri, 06 Jun 2008 10:08:57 +0000 http://zerocarbonista.com/2008/05/16/another-tesla-%e2%80%93-preferably-not/#comment-235 @Scott – Thanks Scott I really appreciate the feedback. I asked around and apparently there was a land yacht in a recent Range Rover advert, it’s not <a href="http://www.ecotricity.co.uk/news/the-greenbird/" rel="nofollow">our craft</a> but something of the same ilk. Maybe one day Range Rovers will be wind powered, might have to lose a few pounds first though….. Cheers. @Scott – Thanks Scott I really appreciate the feedback. I asked around and apparently there was a land yacht in a recent Range Rover advert, it’s not our craft but something of the same ilk. Maybe one day Range Rovers will be wind powered, might have to lose a few pounds first though….. Cheers.

]]> By: Scott http://zerocarbonista.com/2008/05/16/another-tesla-%e2%80%93-preferably-not/#comment-195 Scott Sat, 24 May 2008 09:36:46 +0000 http://zerocarbonista.com/2008/05/16/another-tesla-%e2%80%93-preferably-not/#comment-195 Hi Dale and everyone else here! Just wanted to say that I found your website only a few days ago and what can I say - it's excellent! I'm browsing round and I'm really impressed with the work you are doing. Everytime I see something thats really inspiring and makes me smile, I find something else better! First the whole Ecotricity concept, then your magnificent time-lapse videos of the construction of the turbines, then the wind-powered racer, and then the awesome wind-power car!! Thinking about the racer, does that appear in a Range Rover advert? I'm sure theres something that looks like it? I may have missed it on previous blog entries, (still reading) but hopefully when the electric car did go into limited production, what kind of figure would you be looking at? Hopefully a lot lower that Tesla?! I have to say I'm blown away (sorry) by everything your company does. Now it's the excellent petrol station idea - great! I'll me a keen reader here from now on! Hi Dale and everyone else here! Just wanted to say that I found your website only a few days ago and what can I say - it’s excellent! I’m browsing round and I’m really impressed with the work you are doing.

Everytime I see something thats really inspiring and makes me smile, I find something else better! First the whole Ecotricity concept, then your magnificent time-lapse videos of the construction of the turbines, then the wind-powered racer, and then the awesome wind-power car!!

Thinking about the racer, does that appear in a Range Rover advert? I’m sure theres something that looks like it?

I may have missed it on previous blog entries, (still reading) but hopefully when the electric car did go into limited production, what kind of figure would you be looking at? Hopefully a lot lower that Tesla?!

I have to say I’m blown away (sorry) by everything your company does. Now it’s the excellent petrol station idea - great! I’ll me a keen reader here from now on!

]]> By: Grumpy-b http://zerocarbonista.com/2008/05/16/another-tesla-%e2%80%93-preferably-not/#comment-186 Grumpy-b Fri, 23 May 2008 15:40:28 +0000 http://zerocarbonista.com/2008/05/16/another-tesla-%e2%80%93-preferably-not/#comment-186 The idea of owing an EV has appealed for some time, but most are such poor excuses for transport and bluntly something I would not want to be inside when an accident happens. However Citroen/ Peugeot from about 96 to 04 built vehicles like the SAXO Peueot 106, Partner and Berlingo Electriques. I now own a working Berlingo and a few more for spares. Its truely brilliant. In the last month of driving I have clocked up over 800miles. Charging over night this costs me approximately 2p per mile as against about 11p per mile for my diesel vehicle. So whats the problems, well PSA (Citroen peugeot) have little support for the vehicles, and in the UK have delibertely kept the replacement battery cost high and virtually unavailable from the actual manufacturers owing to a restrictive contract. I can do just over 40 miles with a good reserve, travelling at about 45mph with quite a bit of hills. A good result. A number of local authorities have supported my requests for charging locations on an ad hoc basis and are now considering more permanent facilities. We need good accessible charging points, and the current standard is based upon the humble 13amp plug. This is woefully inadequate and were never designed for heavy current draw for some hours. The UK desperately needs to get some standards set for good workable charging points. This isnt happening, and no Government assistance is taking place. I guess they dont want to lose the massive cash they are making on fossil fuels. Long live the electric vehicle, and may the use and facilities expand. The idea of owing an EV has appealed for some time, but most are such poor excuses for transport and bluntly something I would not want to be inside when an accident happens.
However Citroen/ Peugeot from about 96 to 04 built vehicles like the SAXO Peueot 106, Partner and Berlingo Electriques. I now own a working Berlingo and a few more for spares. Its truely brilliant. In the last month of driving I have clocked up over 800miles. Charging over night this costs me approximately 2p per mile as against about 11p per mile for my diesel vehicle.
So whats the problems, well PSA (Citroen peugeot) have little support for the vehicles, and in the UK have delibertely kept the replacement battery cost high and virtually unavailable from the actual manufacturers owing to a restrictive contract. I can do just over 40 miles with a good reserve, travelling at about 45mph with quite a bit of hills. A good result. A number of local authorities have supported my requests for charging locations on an ad hoc basis and are now considering more permanent facilities.
We need good accessible charging points, and the current standard is based upon the humble 13amp plug. This is woefully inadequate and were never designed for heavy current draw for some hours. The UK desperately needs to get some standards set for good workable charging points. This isnt happening, and no Government assistance is taking place. I guess they dont want to lose the massive cash they are making on fossil fuels.
Long live the electric vehicle, and may the use and facilities expand.

]]> By: Tony Smith http://zerocarbonista.com/2008/05/16/another-tesla-%e2%80%93-preferably-not/#comment-176 Tony Smith Thu, 22 May 2008 13:48:57 +0000 http://zerocarbonista.com/2008/05/16/another-tesla-%e2%80%93-preferably-not/#comment-176 Converting existing cars to electric is not a new idea. I remember reading about a DIY Range-Rover conversion in the 1980s (They used RR because it was able to carry the half ton of lead acid batteries!). As I remember it only did 40mph but was fine for the local trips expected of it. Do a bit of googling and you'll find all sorts of interesting conversions, although nothing on a commercial scale. I'm prone to a bit of spanner bending myself so would feel confident in my ability to install a properly developed kit....perhaps retrofit conversions could be a good market for a few years until purpose built cars become affordable? Ok, so converting a heavy old car geared for an IC engine isn't ideal but it may be a way to speed the transition and also avoid the environmental cost of scrapping millions of perfectly good cars just to replace with brand new "green" ones. Converting existing cars to electric is not a new idea. I remember reading about a DIY Range-Rover conversion in the 1980s (They used RR because it was able to carry the half ton of lead acid batteries!). As I remember it only did 40mph but was fine for the local trips expected of it. Do a bit of googling and you’ll find all sorts of interesting conversions, although nothing on a commercial scale.
I’m prone to a bit of spanner bending myself so would feel confident in my ability to install a properly developed kit….perhaps retrofit conversions could be a good market for a few years until purpose built cars become affordable? Ok, so converting a heavy old car geared for an IC engine isn’t ideal but it may be a way to speed the transition and also avoid the environmental cost of scrapping millions of perfectly good cars just to replace with brand new “green” ones.

]]> By: dale http://zerocarbonista.com/2008/05/16/another-tesla-%e2%80%93-preferably-not/#comment-171 dale Wed, 21 May 2008 15:59:52 +0000 http://zerocarbonista.com/2008/05/16/another-tesla-%e2%80%93-preferably-not/#comment-171 @Darryl – Thanks for dropping me a line Darryl. I hope that the Tesla indeed does or will do 220 miles on a tank, the 0 to 60 is less important, but if you say it, you should deliver it. My concern is that exaggerated claims will damage the credibility of electric cars, and I feel your claims may be hard to deliver – and I think your experience to date backs that up. I hope you do it though. Truly I do. But should I really just buy a Tesla? – I’ve a better idea for you – I live close enough to Lotus’s factory, how about letting me take one round the test track there for an hour or two – see how far it really goes? And if you’re right - I will buy one, assuming of course the waiting list isn’t years... and that I can live with LHD... How about it, talk is easy, you up for proving it? – I’m willing to eat my words. @drivin98 – It’s both really. The first one is a one off, but we have it in mind that if it does what we think it will, there could be interest from other people – in which case we’d want to go into limited production. And if it still was in demand after that, bigger scale production. But a one off first. If that makes sense. @markjyoung – I hear what you say, The focus on Ferrari type performance looks wrong, it’s designed for a diff audience. The problem isn’t caused by people that use bikes instead of cars – people like you, it’s caused by the most of us that are hooked on the stuff (for diff reasons) right now. To have a hope of making a significant change we need to offer clean cars (not bicycles), something the mass of people will take as a serious option for them now. It’s a step and a big one if we can run cars on wind energy. PS - the UK has enough wind energy blowing past us everyday – to power the whole country 3 to 4 times over, so yes in theory we do have an abundance of renewable energy. OK we have to harvest it yet... @James - cheers for the support. @Darryl – Thanks for dropping me a line Darryl.

I hope that the Tesla indeed does or will do 220 miles on a tank, the 0 to 60 is less important, but if you say it, you should deliver it. My concern is that exaggerated claims will damage the credibility of electric cars, and I feel your claims may be hard to deliver – and I think your experience to date backs that up. I hope you do it though. Truly I do.

But should I really just buy a Tesla? – I’ve a better idea for you – I live close enough to Lotus’s factory, how about letting me take one round the test track there for an hour or two – see how far it really goes? And if you’re right - I will buy one, assuming of course the waiting list isn’t years… and that I can live with LHD…

How about it, talk is easy, you up for proving it? – I’m willing to eat my words.

@drivin98 – It’s both really. The first one is a one off, but we have it in mind that if it does what we think it will, there could be interest from other people – in which case we’d want to go into limited production. And if it still was in demand after that, bigger scale production. But a one off first. If that makes sense.

@markjyoung – I hear what you say, The focus on Ferrari type performance looks wrong, it’s designed for a diff audience. The problem isn’t caused by people that use bikes instead of cars – people like you, it’s caused by the most of us that are hooked on the stuff (for diff reasons) right now. To have a hope of making a significant change we need to offer clean cars (not bicycles), something the mass of people will take as a serious option for them now. It’s a step and a big one if we can run cars on wind energy.

PS - the UK has enough wind energy blowing past us everyday – to power the whole country 3 to 4 times over, so yes in theory we do have an abundance of renewable energy. OK we have to harvest it yet…

@James - cheers for the support.

]]> By: drivin98 http://zerocarbonista.com/2008/05/16/another-tesla-%e2%80%93-preferably-not/#comment-164 drivin98 Wed, 21 May 2008 13:32:18 +0000 http://zerocarbonista.com/2008/05/16/another-tesla-%e2%80%93-preferably-not/#comment-164 @Mike Butcher: One of the first of the new generation of electric cars is the Mitsubishi iMiEV which is highway speed capable and has range of about 100 miles. It should be coming to England next year but in very limited numbers. If you're seriously interested you should register that interest with Mitsubishi at this webpage, http://www.mitsubishi-cars.co.uk/i-ev/register.asp (I think the price will be about 15,000 (BP).) @Mike Butcher:

One of the first of the new generation of electric cars is the Mitsubishi iMiEV which is highway speed capable and has range of about 100 miles. It should be coming to England next year but in very limited numbers. If you’re seriously interested you should register that interest with Mitsubishi at this webpage, http://www.mitsubishi-cars.co.uk/i-ev/register.asp
(I think the price will be about 15,000 (BP).)

]]> By: Kieron Salter http://zerocarbonista.com/2008/05/16/another-tesla-%e2%80%93-preferably-not/#comment-163 Kieron Salter Wed, 21 May 2008 11:32:54 +0000 http://zerocarbonista.com/2008/05/16/another-tesla-%e2%80%93-preferably-not/#comment-163 Dale, very interested in your electric car concept - we too are into high performance vehicles, we design high performance cars, mostly for racing... motorsport is rapidly becoming aware of the environment. We have raced electric hybirds and bio-ethanol powered cars at Le Mans 24hrs as technology demonstrators... we'd like to talk about how we could help with your project, like your project race cars are all about efficiency. You can find my contact details on our website www.kwmotorsport.com Looking forward to hearing from you.... Dale, very interested in your electric car concept - we too are into high performance vehicles, we design high performance cars, mostly for racing… motorsport is rapidly becoming aware of the environment.

We have raced electric hybirds and bio-ethanol powered cars at Le Mans 24hrs as technology demonstrators… we’d like to talk about how we could help with your project, like your project race cars are all about efficiency.

You can find my contact details on our website http://www.kwmotorsport.com

Looking forward to hearing from you….

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