Environment

The UK's first eco-car spectacular

The UK's first eco-car spectacular
The fast-charging zero-emission Mitsubishi i-MiEV
The fast-charging zero-emission Mitsubishi i-MiEV
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Zero Motorcycles wants to re-write the book on designing motorcycles
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Zero Motorcycles wants to re-write the book on designing motorcycles
The stylish motorcycle for zipping around town, Zepii V60
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The stylish motorcycle for zipping around town, Zepii V60
The Wisper bicycle promises to make light of steep hills and long journeys
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The Wisper bicycle promises to make light of steep hills and long journeys
The Westfield iRACER electric race car
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The Westfield iRACER electric race car
The Weald Drag Racer is an exciting project to build the UK's fastest electric motorbikeCredit: Start Eco-Cars
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The Weald Drag Racer is an exciting project to build the UK's fastest electric motorbikeCredit: Start Eco-Cars
Vectrix is the worlds original electric maxi-scooter brand
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Vectrix is the worlds original electric maxi-scooter brand
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The Urban Mover comes from the country's fastest growing Light Electric Vehicle companyCredit: Start Eco-Cars
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The Urban Mover comes from the country's fastest growing Light Electric Vehicle companyCredit: Start Eco-Cars
The A2B Metro from Ultra Metro offers pedal power or power on demand acceleration
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The A2B Metro from Ultra Metro offers pedal power or power on demand acceleration
The THINK City EV Cup Edition is a "stripped-out lightweight congestion-charge dodging racer"
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The THINK City EV Cup Edition is a "stripped-out lightweight congestion-charge dodging racer"
The THINK City has a 100 mile range
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The THINK City has a 100 mile range
The Vectrix is used by the Automobile Association
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The Vectrix is used by the Automobile Association
The Tesla Roadster broke the record for the longest distance traveled on a single charge - 313 miles
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The Tesla Roadster broke the record for the longest distance traveled on a single charge - 313 miles
The tiny Tazzari Zero EV weighs in at just 540 kg, has a range of 88 miles, and a top speed of 56mph
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The tiny Tazzari Zero EV weighs in at just 540 kg, has a range of 88 miles, and a top speed of 56mph
The TAG Heuer Tesla Roadster is back from its electrically-powered round-the-world trip
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The TAG Heuer Tesla Roadster is back from its electrically-powered round-the-world trip
Daimler has decided to produce a limited run of the Smart Fortwo ED electric eco vehicle which will become available in 2010
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Daimler has decided to produce a limited run of the Smart Fortwo ED electric eco vehicle which will become available in 2010
The compact folding Shrinkabike
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The compact folding Shrinkabike
The Segway personal green transport system
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The Segway personal green transport system
Quantya electric motorcycle
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Quantya electric motorcycle
The PDT Sprint are billed as the world leaders of electric scooters
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The PDT Sprint are billed as the world leaders of electric scooters
The fast-charging zero-emission Mitsubishi i-MiEV
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The fast-charging zero-emission Mitsubishi i-MiEV
The Mavizen-TTX02 runs Linux like a "laptop-on-wheels"
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The Mavizen-TTX02 runs Linux like a "laptop-on-wheels"
Kingston University presented their electric racing bike for the World's First Clean Emission Carbon Free Grand Prix
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Kingston University presented their electric racing bike for the World's First Clean Emission Carbon Free Grand Prix
The i-Scoot fold-up electric scooter Credit: Start Eco-Cars
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The i-Scoot fold-up electric scooter Credit: Start Eco-Cars
The Honda FCX Clarity from one of the first major companies to bring a hydrogen fuel cell car to the marketCredit: Start Eco-Cars
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The Honda FCX Clarity from one of the first major companies to bring a hydrogen fuel cell car to the marketCredit: Start Eco-Cars
A Gizmag favorite - the Honda CR-ZCredit: Start Eco-Cars
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A Gizmag favorite - the Honda CR-ZCredit: Start Eco-Cars
The G-Wiz electric vehicle was billed in 2008 as the greenest commercially available vehicle in Britain
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The G-Wiz electric vehicle was billed in 2008 as the greenest commercially available vehicle in Britain
GUTSi ZerO
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GUTSi ZerO
The Govecs e-scooter
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The Govecs e-scooter
Vauxhall's HydroGen4
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Vauxhall's HydroGen4
The Ginetta G50 EV - Ginetta's first 100% electric low carbon offeringCredit: Start Eco-Cars
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The Ginetta G50 EV - Ginetta's first 100% electric low carbon offeringCredit: Start Eco-Cars
The Cyclus Maximus high capacity tricycle
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The Cyclus Maximus high capacity tricycle
Citroen's Survolt - the electric super-mini with the look of a larger super-car
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Citroen's Survolt - the electric super-mini with the look of a larger super-car
Brunel University London's X-Team who aim to design, build and race one zero emission performance motorcycle per year
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Brunel University London's X-Team who aim to design, build and race one zero emission performance motorcycle per year
The all-electric BMW MINI E
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The all-electric BMW MINI E
View gallery - 35 images

Britain held its first free eco-car show last month on London's famous royal driveway, The Mall. The event was held as part of HRH Prince Charles's latest sustainability initiative “Start”, which aims to promote positive steps to leading a sustainable lifestyle, and was opened by his “Garden Party to Make a Difference”. The Start Eco-Car Spectacular aimed to showcase the future of green transport with a variety of bicycles, cars and other environmental transport solutions.

Parading cars included some of our favorites: the all-electric BMW MINI E; the G-Wiz electric vehicle (EV), billed in 2008 as the greenest commercially available vehicle in Britain; the Honda FCX Clarity, from one of the first major companies to bring a hydrogen fuel cell car to the market; the fast-charging zero-emission Mitsubishi i-MiEV; the electric Smart Fortwo ED (though sadly the newly-revealed Smart E-Scooter Concept was not in attendance); the Vauxhall HydroGen4; the THINK City; the record-breaking Tesla Roadster, which traveled for 313 miles on a single charge in October 2009; and the diminutive Tazzari Zero EV.

Visitors were also treated to some of the newer kids on the block: Citroen's Survolt, the electric super-mini with the look of a larger super-car; the Ginetta G50 EV, Ginetta's first 100% electric low carbon offering; the mass-transport EV GUTSi ZerO and the 100 mile range THINK City.

The THINK City has a 100 mile range
The THINK City has a 100 mile range

Also on show was the TAG Heuer-branded Tesla Roadster just back from its 24,000 mile, 15 country electrically-powered round-the-world trip.

Heading up the new interest in green racing cars were the THINK City EV Cup Edition and the Westfield iRACER electric race car.

In the motorcycle category there were two universities represented: the team from Kingston University’s Faculty of Engineering presented their electric racing bike for the World’s First Clean Emission Carbon Free Grand Prix; and Brunel's X-team, a clean technology bike racing team formed within the School of Engineering and Design at Brunel University London with the aim of building and racing one zero emission performance motorcycle per year.

The Weald Drag Racer is an exciting project to build the UK's fastest electric motorbikeCredit: Start Eco-Cars
The Weald Drag Racer is an exciting project to build the UK's fastest electric motorbikeCredit: Start Eco-Cars

The Weald Drag Racer, a project to build the UK’s fastest electric motorbike; Zero Motorcycles, Quantya and the Mavizen-TTX02 also made an appearance.

Other notable two-wheelers included the Vectrix currently used by the Automobile Association; the PDT Sprint, billed as the world leaders of electric scooters; the Govecs and my personal favorite for zipping around town, the aptly-named Zepii V60.

The A2B Metro from Ultra Metro offers pedal power or power on demand acceleration
The A2B Metro from Ultra Metro offers pedal power or power on demand acceleration

Finally on the electric bicycle front there was the Wisper; the A2B Metro; the Urban Mover the compact folding Shrinkabike; the i-Scoot fold-up electric scooter; the Segway personal green transport system; and the Cyclus Maximus high-capacity tricycle.

The event was sponsored by EV Cup, and delivered by a duo comprised of Kevin McCloud of Grand Designs, and curator Roger Saul, founder of Mulberry and organic farmer.

“The day was filled with celebrity endorsements and the support of tens of thousands of spectators, a prelude to the EV Cup race series next year,” said EV Cup Operations Director Andrew Lee. Five awards were given; the Vision Trophy to Citroen, the Endeavour Trophy to TAG Heuer, the Right Here, Right Now Trophy to Telsa Motors, the Future City Trophy to Mitsubishi i-Miev and the Innovation Trophy to Vectrix. With such a prestigious line-up, it certainly looks like the future of motoring will be green and top-quality. We hope HRH will make it an annual event and look forward to seeing the new movers and shakers released in 2011.

Via: Start Eco Cars.

View gallery - 35 images
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