VIDEO: Guernsey Smart EV gets tested
We've been saying recently how well electric cars seem to fit into island life and now we can bring you a very Smart example of that. One of our faithful readers was recently on the Channel island of Guernsey and had the opportunity to go for a test ride in a locally converted Smart along with his video camera and invites us all to view the result. First though, we offer a bit of background.
Mark Parr and his brother started The Electric Vehicle Company in an old shellfish factory on the West coast of the 24 square mile island and for the past few years have been perfecting their version of the electric Smart car. They've tried different battery technologies but now that they have incorporated lithium ion into the design, they seem satisfied with the result and are now offering them for sale. In fact, they've already sold three of the six they are currently working on. The Guernsey Smart EV is capable of 60 mph and has a range of up to 65 miles. It has regenerative braking and is a perfect fit for the islands narrow roads. According to the BBC, the price is £15,000 ($29,840). Go for a ride around the beautiful island after the jump. Thanks Andrew for the tip!
[Source: BBC / Guernsey Climate Action Network / The Guernsey Press]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Stan Wellaway 4:37PM (7/24/2008)
Plenty of other islands where this might work well. Hawaii perhaps?
Meanwhile, I would love to see an electric Smart on the 37 mile Isle Of Mann TT course next June for the EV event - the TTxGP
http://www.ttxgp.com
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Randy C. 2:41AM (7/25/2008)
I thought it was called the SMART ED for electric drive.
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Andy 6:48PM (7/24/2008)
Singapore and Hong Kong are better candidates to get the electric ball rolling.
About 10 million people squeezed into an area smaller than Hawaii.
There's a perfect opportunity to sell +1 million electric cars.
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Stan Wellaway 7:13AM (7/25/2008)
Randy - I think SMART ED is the name for the works-produced electric Smart? This local Guernsey project is independent of that.
Andy - I agree, there are better island candidates than Hawaii, with better topography and better demographics.
But there have been some previous discussions here regarding electric car prospects in Hawaii. See
http://www.autobloggreen.com/search/?q=hawaii+electric&searchsubmit=
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BlackCanary 12:06PM (7/25/2008)
I dont live on an island but I would like to have one as a around town car. The range and speed are more then sufficient for my driving. 11 mile commute to work on back roads with a top speed of maybe 50 mph. We have a 2nd car to do longer trips so the range is not a problem. My problem is it still is not cost effective I can see a 25% premium over a stock Smart but 30k is pretty steep. Hopefully the price can come down as more are produced. Nice job for a start up, what cant Diamler do the same thing on a larger scale?
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BlackCanary 12:17PM (7/25/2008)
Sounds like an airplane, I love it! I wonder if the a/c and radio drain the battery very quickly and how the heat works. What about plugging in an ipod or charging a cell phone. I know these a minor things but just wondering if the batteries are strong enough that there is no real compromise from what is normally experienced in a car.
Great little EV no matter.
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BeGreen 3:53PM (7/27/2008)
America needs to stay FOCUSED, AWARE and EDUCATED.
Focus:
History reminds us that every time oil prices peak and the North American market/consumers start to discuss alternative energy sources, the oil exporting countries start to trim down their prices. History also tells us that the oil exporting nations have been very successful in the past and in fact, we have lost our enthusiasm and dropped many of our alternative energy initiatives after oil prices are reduced.
WE need to stay focused this time.
1) Al Gore and his energy initiative is on course.
2) T. Boone Pickens and his wind power initiative is on course.
3) The BG Automotive Group mass production electric vehicle program is on
course along with renewable solar energy charging option.
4) Richard Branson from the UK is on course w/his environmental programs..
5) The Gas Reduction Act of 2008 might not be the most environmentally sound
solution, but yet it shows that Congress has finally realized that we have an
energy crisis (again), and a real threat to our national security.
The continued dependence on foreign oil is a threat to our long term democratic values. We must become an energy independent nation, and with this, some sacrifices will have to be made by the American consumer.
Be aware!!
We are exporting approximately USD $700 Billion dollars per year of U.S. currency. The majority of this money is being transferred to the Trillion dollar “sovereign wealth funds”. This is USD $700 Billion not being spent on America’s educational system, health care and security.
The “sovereign wealth funds” are directly buying major interests (large blocks of stock) in U.S. companies, including most of the major banks. Also, billions of dollars of “sovereign wealth fund” money is being invested in our hedge funds, private equity firms, and the investment banking industry. A few of these firms are directly and indirectly investing large sums of money into our “gas combustion” automobile industry. Do we want our auto industry in the direct or indirect control of the firms that are supplying us oil? This is an interesting topic for an investigative reporter.
There are automotive consulting companies in Michigan (heart of our auto industry), lobbying States and our Federal Government, NOT to subsidize the Electric Vehicle industry. The latter seems to be contradictory to what the American public would like to see from our automobile industry. After the billions (excess of $20 billion) the automotive companies have lost in the past 6 months producing gas combustion vehicles, you would think they too would change course. Changing course is not adding 2-4 miles per gallon w/Hybrids. Drastic measures in our auto industry must take place and NOW!
Do not let the temporary reduction in oil prices push us off course….AGAIN.
Educated:
Read, Read- Stay on top of the issues. Let’s not be fooled again.
STAY FOCUSED, AWARE and EDUCATED!
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