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Loading ...The electric car revolution is growing, with more and more firms out to prove that they dont have to be confined to the size of small city runabouts. These fully charged eco-friendly motors will be out in force at this years British International motor show, which returns to London ExCeL in July, at a special Electric Vehicle Village.
The Village will bring together one of the largest collections of zero-emissions vehicles ever seen in the UK with more than 20 vehicles propelled solely by battery power.
On show will be the NICE Super light sportster, the two seater Tesla roadster and models form the band Quiet Cars, all with the more well-know electric cars from G-Wiz.
Electric vehicles are around 70% greener than the equivalent petrol or diesel-driven car and this is becoming an increasingly important consideration for new car buyers.
Vehicle emissions levels now directly affect motoring costs, mainly through vehicle excise duty, with electric cars are exempt from the congestion charge in London. They even get the courtesy of free parking in Westminster and other surrounding boroughs.
The British International Motor Show, which runs from July 23 - August 3 is expected to attract more than 550,000 visitors. Tickets, from £10 for adults, are available from www.britishmotorshow.co.uk or 0871 230 5588.
Londons NICE electric car company does make city cars, like the Mega City, but it will be showcasing the Super Light sport car.
The firm is keen to stress that the Super light is not a production car, but shows what is possible when car design starts from the principle of elctric drive upwards.
Featuring striking gull-wing doors, it was designed around a carbon fibre cell, with advanced electronics replacing traditional mechanical assemblies.
NICE co-founder Evert Geurtsen say: “Even in the midst of a credit crunch and with soaring prices, NICE car owners are laughing. No Congestion chage, no road tax, parking concessions and 2p per mile motoring. It doesnt get much nicer than that.”
But saving money is far from the only reason to own one. The smal stylish cars emit no unfriendly gasses, theres no tailpipe at all, they are voluntarily crash tested for front side and rear impacts, and are nearly 100% recyclable.
The electric cars market was further boosted by the news from newly formed Liberty Electric Cars Ltd, which is investing £30 million in the re-engineering of large luxury cars and 4×4’s into emssion-free, high performance electric vehicles.
The company, which is looking at several locations for a possible manufacturing base, including in the south west of England, will design and manufacture a unique electric drive train platform to power a wide range of large vehicles.
It hopes that annual vehicle production, which will include the world’s first zero emission, electrically powered Range Rover, will be in then tens of thousands and will create around 250 new technology and manufacturing jobs.
Barry Shrier Liberty founder and CEO, says “The Liberty Range Rover takes electric vehicle technology into a new sector, to large luxury cars that people aspire to drive, particularly in cities and urban enviroments where enviromental controls are becoming ever more tighter.
Shrier says its Range Rover will power its way through 200 miles before needing a charge, and some models will carry range extending generators. The car will cost between £95k and 125k, depending on model and specification.
While he admits that the market for electric cars is still in its early stages, rapid growth is expected as legislation, social awareness, and technological advances accelerate change in transport choices.