Sunday, September 25, 2011

It's electrifying!


Today was the Canberra International Electric Vehicle Festival, on the lawns in front of Old Parliament House (more on OPH during the week). Among electric bicycles, motorbikes, mobility scooters, boats and other cars was this VW. Powered by old-style lead acid batteries, it has a range of about 50 kilometres, so is  limited to shorter trips around town, unlike some of the new Tesla cars which have a range of nearly 400 kilometres and a top speed of 212 km/hr! But the owners are sticking with it for now, and saving for when the newer technology becomes more affordable.

I didn't get a chance to take a spin in a Tesla (although they were available), but I did have a ride in a Mitsubishi iMiev - very quick, very quiet, and very expensive for a small car - about $50 000 on-road.

3 comments:

Leeds daily photo said...

Love this old school electric car, nice use for a beetle. Its a pity that progress seems so slow on alternatives to oil powered cars, I guess the major oil companies are not to keen.

Gemma Wiseman said...

An interesting experience this would be! I wonder just how far this idea will actually go! Just filed in the "too hard" yellow (as per photo under the bonnet) basket?

Stefan Jansson said...

One of my flickr contact drives a Tesla. Cool car it is.