10 posts tagged “electric car”
This week, I took several steps to reduce my carbon footprint in the world. As some will already know though we've lived in London for bordering on three years, we do not own a car! Instead in addition to being an avid public transport user (though its not workable for my routes to and from work - as i need to drop the kids off at school) I use a pair of car services Ecoigo and Green Tomato to get from place to place. While it's slightly more than a car payment, when you add parking, congestion charge, gas, insurance and the value of the extra reading/phone time for me in the back, it's pretty much a wash in cost. More importantly, I have an incredibly low carbon footprint due to the use of a shared vehicle, which also, as a hybrid or electric has an even lower carbon/pollution index.
However, it's time to buy a car, mostly as the wife and kids want to begin exploring the countryside, and additional parts of Great Britain we've not seen, particularly the north and west (Wales). So the quest for a car begins. The 1st thing we did was put ourselves on the waiting list (secured place and everything) for a new Tesla S-series (I got to drive a Roadster back pre-release when we made Who Killed the Electric Car? However, the Tesla, even if we manage to get an early one, won't be available until at least 2010. So we need a car short-term (given that Tavin and I are about to become certified, licensed, UK drivers (my test is next week!). I'd prefer an electric, but just don't fit in a Nice or mini (at 6'2" it just won't work) I'd like to buy a Tesla Roadster, but the wife, kindly pointed out it wasnt' very practical for the kids. So we are still negotiating - any ideas welcome!
Lastly, A few weeks ago when I was at 3GSMA I stumbled upon a fascinating booth. The Solio is a combination solar charger and shared battery pack (similar to the Tumi Powerpack) but with power cells. Now frankly Solar chargers for phones/ipods/(or in those days walkmen) aren't exactly new - I had something similar from an Early Winters catalog in my teens. But the difference with this one is that it REALLY works.
I've used it on walks in the heath, or o days when I forget to charge my Blackberry/Iphone/iPod and find it indespensible. With my upcoming surf-adventure, I'm keen to use it in bright sunshine and see if my crackberry habit can lower its carbon footprint. More on that in the future.
Lastly, I'm giving a speach at a sold out session at the RSA on the future and mobile; topics I particularly love.
Democrats abroad are hosting a screening of the documentary this Friday in London (if you are here)...
FILM: 'Who Killed the Electric Car'
This 2007 film investigates the events leading to the quiet destruction of thousands of new, radically efficient electric vehicles. These vehicles were introduced by GM and others the mid-1990s but soon abandoned for .. Through interviews and narrative, the film paints a picture of an industrial culture whose aversion to change and reliance on oil may be deeper then its ability to embrace ready solutions.
From the NY Times - "A murder mystery, a call to arms and an effective inducement to rage, "Who Killed the Electric Car?" is the latest and one of the more successful additions to the growing ranks of issue-oriented documentaries."
Date: Friday 6 February
Time: 7:00 pm (Doors Open at 6:30 pm)
Location: London School of Economics, Room D302, Second Floor, Clement House (this is the new room)
Cost: £5 General, £3 Unwaged
Please RSVP to: films@democratsabroad.org.uk
There are a limited number of seats so please con sider your RSVP a commitment to attend; if you need to
cancel, please let us know as soon as possible so we can offer the booking to someone else.
For more information on the film including reviews please click on:
http://www.whokilledtheelectriccar.com/press
Date: Friday 6 February
Time: 7:00 pm (Doors Open at 6:30 pm)
Location: London School of Economics, Room D302, Second Floor, Clement House
Cost: £5 General, £3 Unwaged
Please RSVP to: films@democratsabroad.org.uk
Please consider your RSVP a commitment to attend; if you need to cancel, please let us know as soon as possible so we can offer the booking to someone else.
Schedule:
6.30: Doors Open
7.00: Introduction
7:15:Who Killed the Electric Car (88 minutes)
8:45: Discussion, Q&A with Peter Durante and the Executive Producers of the film
9:30: Building closes
Peter Durante, who will be leading the discussion, has spent over 8 years in the energy industry, currently working as a CO2 trader. In addition, he is a pro-bono advisor on energy and environmental issues to various politicians, NGOs, academics and industry groups. He has a keen interest in the potential (and challenges) around the electrification of transport and its relationship to renewable energy, as well as reducing CO2 and dependence on oil. The Executive Producers, Tavin and Richard Titus, will be present for the discussion.
Please join us afterwards at the Old Bank of England Pub, 194 Fleet Street
Street map showing the location of LSE within London: Click here
Detailed map showing the Clement House building
(Building D in the lower right hand corner of the map):
http://www.lse.ac.uk/resources/mapsAndDirections/findingYourWayAroundLSE.htm
Show us something you made.
Ok it's cheap, but it is the thing I've done in life of which I'm the most proud...
So I've been living in London for about a year now. We truly love it. My daughter last night, while trick or treating, turned to me and said, Daddy I love London. Now maybe it was the candy talking, but from a family and quality of life perspective this is one of the best places we've ever lived.
I'm viewed by the British people who surround me alternately with loving admiration and polite tolerance, often noting that we (my wife and I) are quite eccentric "for Americans".
Eccentric ? You ask? Well yes, first of all we move all around the world, seemingly on a whim. We make movies, I start tech companies, no wait I used to be a roadie, wait we lived in Romania.... Most Brits are born and die within a few miles of the same place.
Oh yes, and we don't own a car. Ok Californians, stop gasping, yes we are car-less, in addition to the obvious carbon reducing benefits, it has helped my waistline tremendously. But, of course, one needs to get around. So - we use - Green Tomato. Think of it like a car service (the ones in ny with big black towncars) except these are prius' and biodeisel limo's - with Green Tomato decals all over them.
You see, I ran the numbers. When you add car payment, insurance, parking, congestion charge and carbon offset, I'm saving about 100 quid a month! and someone drives me so I can talk on the phone (particularly useful for calling the states in the evenings on the way home from the bbc.) And the carbon footprint is even lower as, in addition to being a plug in hybrid (1/2 the consumption of a regular prius) I'm sharing it with up to 20 other people!
The rest of the time we take the tube, rail or even, gasp a bus.
Lifestyle and social accountability. A perfect 10 in my book.
Like the Zap-X, a small SUV-crossover, the new car will also use a Lotus-developed platform, but it will be a more affordable, sporty model. Zap is aiming for a 100mph top speed, a range between recharges of 100 miles and a US price of $30,000. article continues below
Zap CEO Steve Schneider said this week: 'With Zap's experience over the past 12 years and the groundwork we have already laid, we know that electricity is the future of the auto industry. At the same time, we believe we have a design that will serve a niche no other manufacturer in the auto industry is seeking to fill.'
More details will be announced next month at Zap's shareholder meeting, but the company has confirmed that this car will now reach production before the Zap-X.
http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2007/may/85485.htm
Condaleza rice in a Tesla. That about caps my week
How well does your name Google? Who are you up against? (Celebrities, etc.)
Submitted by Matt Blank.
It's a toss up between me and Dr. Richard Titus the law professor (former Harvard prof) who has lectured in front of the Supreme Court.
However, in a google battle, I p'own him.
strangely - If you google my name someone has bought it as a keyword for a GM corporate blog Bashing my film, Who Killed the Electric Car?
hmmmm i wonder who would have done that.
I'd love for any of you to see my latest film... the OTHER inconvenient truth....
Download the whole movie from Amazon Unboxed here.
Sorry if this is self serving, but it's one of the things I've done of which I'm the most proud and the issue is still very much at risk.
get your own copy
Link to Buy Who Killed the Electric Car?
