Cleantech Investor

First published in Cleantech magazine Issue 4 2011. Copyright Cleantech Investor Ltd. 

This year marks the fifth Bridgestone Eco-Rally. The 2007, the first year, the route was from Brighton to London. This year the Eco-Rally runs from Oxford to London. It might not seem like a long time – but in the motor industry a lot has changed and the vehicles participating have moved on over the years. 

Five years ago Ford tested its Flexfuel range of cars, running on biofuels. This year, Ford is participating with the Transit Connect Kombi LWB Electric Van. With its fully electric delivery van, Ford has entered into a space which was the preserve of independent manufacturers until very recently. Delivery vans tend to operate within a limited range, which makes full electric propulsion ideal. Several small companies recognized the potential for electric delivery vans years ago, including Modec, which developed a purpose built electric van, and Smiths Electric Vehicles, which devised a retrofit of the Ford Transit. Modec, which participated in the first rally, sadly entered into administration earlier this year. However, the launch of an electric van by a major player such as Ford clearly indicates that this segment of EV industry is here to stay.

The Vectrix luxury electric scooter with NiMH batteries was on display at the first Eco Rally. Around that time, Vectrix was riding high with a listing on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange. The shares failed to perform and were subsequently delisted. However, the company is still alive and a host of Vectrix scooters are participating in this year’s rally, including the AA electric escort and a Vectrix Police Style Electric Scooter.

BMW participated in the first Eco-Rally with its limited production hydrogen BMW Hydrogen 7, with an internal combustion engine which could run on either petrol of liquid hydrogen. And five years ago Quentin Wilson drove the Explorer SUV hydrogen fuel cell powered prototype. This year, the Suzuki bike, which participated in the first rally, is back again. And the Intelligent Energy fuel cell battery hybrid London taxi participates. London plans to roll out a fleet of these hydrogen taxis ahead of the 2012 Olympic Games.

The BMW Hydrogen 7 may have disappeared, but BMW is represented this year with the Mini E, which has been on trial in Oxford and is on display at the Start of the Eco-Rally. A sign of the times perhaps? The Mini E is just one of a host of electric vehicles participating and electric charging infrastructure is being rolled out around the UK, not least in Oxford, where the Mini E can be regularly seen on the streets.

All electric city transport and family cars taking part include the Citroen C1 (with a hands-free inductive charging system), the Mitsubishi iMIEV, the Peugeot iOn and the Nissan LEAF (World Car of the Year 2011). There are of course lots of hybrids taking part in the city transport and family car category as well. 

In terms of speed, the stars of the show are the racing vehicles and sports cars. EVs are also prominent in these categories. The Tesla Roadster is perhaps the most commercial amongst the sports cars. Tesla shares were listed on NASDAQ last year and the company’s cars are driven by a host of celebrities in California. But look out also for the other EVs in the sports car category including the Delta E-4 Coupe, the Lightning GT and the Nemesis. Amongst the racers, the Imperial College team has a presence across a wide category of vehicles – including the Radical SR Zero, Imperial Racing Green electric racing bike and the IRG04 Go Kart. Meanwhile Oxford Brookes University is showing its Electric Formula Student Car at the Start.

Participants are listed on the Eco-Rally website (and in the special issue of Cleantech magazine: read electronic magazine). The cars are grouped according to use – so the EVs sit next to biofuel vehicles and more efficient internal combustion vehicles. The diversity of the vehicles participating this year underlines the breadth of the shift to more sustainable forms of transport. The Eco-Rally runs from Oxford, close to the heart of the British motor industry, to London – a world mega city with a major requirement for sustainable transport. The participants in the Eco-Rally are symbolic of the industrial changes taking place in the UK motor industry. And the Eco-Rally is a broad celebration of the move to clean technology in the transport space – a move which is taking place not just in the UK but around the world.