Low carbon a high priority at British Motor Show
Sat 26 July 2008
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The prospects for the wider introduction for electric and hybrid cars appear to have been given a boost by the London Motor Show which opened at the ExCel Centre in London's Docklands on 23 July. The show features, for the first time, a 'Greener Driving Pavilion' and an 'Electric Vehicle Village'. Environmental themes are present on most stands and the colour-coded fuel economy label is prominently displayed across the Show.
The British Motor Show has already played host to the LowCVP's annual conference as well as to the WhatCar? Green Awards.
The Greener Driving Pavilion, which has been supported by the LowCVP and a range of other organisations, features interactive displays, vehicle cut-aways and a range of promising low carbon vehicle technologies. It also includes information and advice on other ways to cut carbon emissions such as 'smarter driving' and lift-sharing.
The Electric Vehicle Village includes 10 brands of electric vehicles including the relatively well-known Tesla, Smart, and Th!nk brands, as well as a range of lesser known models.
Most of the vehicle manufacturers include their 'green brands' at the Show, from Ford’s ECOnetic line to the ECOmotive models from Spain’s Seat. Ford has heavily promoted its Fiesta ECOnetic model, calling it the “greenest family car” on the market, with CO2 emissions of just 98 grams per kilometer.
One of the major launches was of General Motors’ Insignia—to be sold as a Vauxhall in the UK, an Opel elsewhere in Europe. A low emissions version of the Insignia will be introduced under the ecoFLEX brand.
Norway's Th!nk has launched its revised City model, which will go on sale in 2009. Unlike most of electric cars now sold in the UK, the City is both crash-tested and highway-certified. It has a top speed of 65 mph and can travel for 126 miles in urban use when fully charged. The present battery uses Zebra sodium-nickel-hydride cells, but Th!nk has new partnerships with US-based lithium-ion cell makers EnerDel and A123 Systems.
Hydrogen fuel-cell cars are less numerous at the Show than electric and hybrid options. Honda is exhibiting its FCX Clarity sedan—now being leased to a few selected drivers in Southern California - while Morgan Motor Company has its innovative LIFEcar on display. The car uses a 22-kW QinetiQ hydrogen fuel cell, sized to power the very lightweight car at cruising speeds, plus up to 10 seconds of maximum acceleration from a bank of ultracapacitors rather than a battery.
For more on the Motor Show, follow the Associated links.
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