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The Wind Car – Episode 9 of 6

Filed under: Transport, Wind Car


Video 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… ! Continue reading “The Wind Car – Episode 9 of 6″

38 Responses

The Wind Car – Episode 8 of 6

Filed under: Transport, Wind Car


Video 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.

26 Responses

The car with no name

Filed under: Transport, Wind Car


Video 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. Continue reading “The car with no name”

44 Responses

The Wind Car (4 of 6) - Time for a name

Filed under: Transport, Wind Car

Here 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. Continue reading “The Wind Car (4 of 6) - Time for a name”

75 Responses

Wind car video update - part 3

Filed under: Transport, Wind Car

Here’s the third in our series of monthly wind car videos.


Video production: Tim Walter Associates Limited

You can see the body really starting to take shape here, and hear Peter talk about ‘toughening up’ of the look, from his original.

We’ve ‘placed’ all the parts within the car now and began machining/producing some of the bigger components, like the transmission. Continue reading “Wind car video update - part 3″

22 Responses

Are cars greener than bikes?

Filed under: Transport, Wind Car

Going for a bike ride - by http://flickr.com/people/steffeThis is perhaps a surprising question to ask.  The assumption we’d all probably make is that bikes must be the greenest form of transport.  Certainly that’s a view put to me in recent comments, arguing that I shouldn’t be promoting wind powered cars - mainly because bikes are greener than any kind of car. Continue reading “Are cars greener than bikes?”

47 Responses

The Wind Car is on its way - video update part 2

Filed under: Transport, Wind Car

Here’s the second of our monthly video updates on the Wind car project.


Video production: Tim Walter Associates Limited

I’m off to Norfolk next week to take a look at the proposed body modifications and generally have a catch up with the team. I’m looking fwd to it.

Chassis has been lengthened, battery housing and transmission are now designed and under construction and we’re very slightly behind the estimated timeline, but still heading for Dec on the road. Continue reading “The Wind Car is on its way - video update part 2″

17 Responses

Where on Earth will all the Lithium come from?

Filed under: Transport

Over the last few months we’ve been discussing here how we’ll all get around post oil, looking closely at how electric or wind powered cars might work.

The ranges made possible by new batteries seem very practical, when looked at against current car use patterns refuelling appears to be possible, even desirable, without the need for garages. And the National Grid appears readily able to accommodate the switch from oil to electricity for our entire car fleet.

So far so good. Continue reading “Where on Earth will all the Lithium come from?”

17 Responses

The Wind Car is on its way - Part 1

Filed under: Transport, Wind Car

Work started in earnest on our wind powered car about 6 weeks ago. We’re making good progress, close to plan and budget so far.

Here’s a short video showing our progress so far:


Video production: Tim Walter Associates Limited

Should be posting one of these a month now as we count down to the day we get this ‘wind powered car’ on the road. Continue reading “The Wind Car is on its way - Part 1″

61 Responses

Can the Grid take it?

Filed under: Energy, Transport

I posted a couple of visions of garages of the future recently.

The first vision was of an internet café style ‘park and surf while you charge’ kind of thing. Looked cool, not a bad first stab, but on further examination - it wasn’t it.

The second vision is an abandoned, moss grown relic. The gist of this vision is that with modern battery ranges of 200 miles + and given that 99.5% of car journeys are less than 100 miles – all we need is some destination charging, in supermarket and public car parks, motorway services, that kind of stuff for long journeys and when we get caught short - and for the most part we’ll be able to plug in at home. We won’t need garages.

This raises the very important question – can the grid take it? Continue reading “Can the Grid take it?”

32 Responses

Zero Carbonista

Dale Vince This blog is about answers to the big questions - how will we keep the lights on, what kind of cars will we drive (will we drive?) and how will we feed ourselves - in a post oil world, and a world where we can't afford to keep burning things and throwing things away. Energy, Transport and Food are the three big issues.

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