Electric cars spotted...

[V8Ford]

Well, I just thought I would start a 'spotted thread' for electric vehicles. They interest me from an engineering perspective and as a daily driver I wouldn't say no to one (as long as I still have the V8 for weekends!).

First one I saw was two weeks ago (Vauxhall Ampera on the M6 near J40), then I saw another only a week or so later (Chevrolet Volt on the same stretch of the M6)!

Anyone else seen these things in daily use?

[gazchap]

I regularly see a white Nissan Leaf in Shrewsbury town centre.

Really is eerily quiet, it's quite unnerving.

[Blakewater]

I've seen countless Amperas and Volts. The people nextdoor but one to me have had a white Nissan Leaf for a few months now. The guy teaches IT and engineering at the local college so he's one of the first to take up all kings of new technology.

[mids]

Not seen that many really. Saw a white ampera on the coast road in Newcastle about 4 weeks ago, a maroon LEAF charging at the Sage in Newcastle, a black Zoe at J21A of the M1 and a black LEAF a few times on the A46 in Leicestershire.

[RossP]

Just went outside and spotted an i3 charging on my drive ;-)

[srob]

On Bond St a couple of months ago

[mids]

RossP said:

Just went outside and spotted an i3 charging on my drive ;-)

How cheeky, tell him to bugger off !

How long have you got it for ?

[Bobley]

Took an I3(REx) for a spin last week. Very impressed.

Also saw a VW XL1 just north of MK a few weeks back. A McLaren MP4-12 went past 5 mins earlier but the VW got more of my attention.

[RossP]

mids said:

How cheeky, tell him to bugger off !

How long have you got it for ?

Only till tomorrow afternoon :-(

It's bloody brilliant. Makes you grin every time you floor it.

I wonder what they'll do if I don't take it back...

[kamilb1998]

There's a red Nissan Leaf local to me that I pass often on my commute in the morning, it really is surprisingly quiet.

[anonymous-user]

gazchap said:

I regularly see a white Nissan Leaf in Shrewsbury town centre.

Really is eerily quiet, it's quite unnerving. Dangerous

Not great when they sneak up behind you

[gazchap]

speedyguy said:

Not great when they sneak up behind you

I don't make a habit of walking in active lanes on roads

[sneijder]

Oslo here, they've always been accepting of electric cars, use of bus lanes / free parking / free charging when parked.

Since the Tesla S thing came out, they're everywhere. The tax on them is pretty cheap too.

Once they hit 50,000 in Oslo then the party's over, they can't use the bus lanes etc...

Fuel isn't expensive here (in relation to average income) ..... But all the electricity produced here is (well, 98%) from hydro plants.... It's tempting stuff.

[V8Ford]

The buses where my uncle lives in Sweden run on gas from rotten meat! Interesting to see how many people have spotted these cars. How does it work with gearing then? If an electric motor can provide max torque at 0RPM does it need a gearbox? For example on locomotives with diesel engines, the very use of the electric motor negates transmissions ?

[Caruso]

I regularly see a white Renault Zoe on the coast road in Brighton.

[AW111]

Melbourne here. I would see a Prius most days on the way to or from work. Not always the same one.

[elephantstone]

See a volt on the m60 every now and then during rush hour near Denton. There's a Tesla roadster thing knocking around hale, Cheshire.

[AnotherClarkey]

AW111 said:

Melbourne here. I would see a Prius most days on the way to or from work. Not always the same one.

Well so do I but then a Prius isn't an electric car....

I see plenty of Leaves around and spotted an i3 demonstrator out and about the other day (on the Wirral) but have never seen a Zoe or Twizy on the road.