Morning:
2°c
Eco cars revved up for a parade down The Mall
Sri Carmichael31 Aug 2010
The Mall is to host a rally of the world's most innovative electric vehicles complete with pit stops and stunts — but only once the Changing of the Guard is over.
Racing supercars, town runabouts, scooters and bikes will be driven down the avenue to Buckingham Palace by stars such as Jodie Kidd, Dame Ellen MacArthur, James Caan of Dragon's Den and outgoing Marks & Spencer boss Sir Stuart Rose.
Musicians and performers will also entertain the crowds expected to line the road during the day-long parade on Sunday September 12.
It will be the first time so many electric cars have been on exhibition in London.
The Eco Car Challenge is being supported by Prince Charles's environmental charity initiative Start and is being organised by Roger Saul, the creator and former chairman of British fashion brand Mulberry. Charles is a fan of the organic spelt farm Sharpham Park which Mr Saul now runs near his home in Somerset, and invited him to take charge of the eco spectacular.
Mr Saul said: “It is going to be an amazing event. A Tesla supercar which has just finished a round-the-world trip will return to London especially for the event and we're going to set up pit stops and have bikes performing stunts.
“The parade will run for the whole day, starting from as soon as the Changing of the Guard is complete.”
He added: “We want to inspire people to explore alternative transport that is more environmentally friendly. We can't keep using up the world's resources and pumping pollution into the atmosphere.
“Electric cars are getting far more affordable and we will be explaining that. The government gives people £5,000 to buy an electric car at the moment.
“They make perfect runarounds in London because you don't have to pay the congestion charge.”
Reader views (2)
@johnny
Depending on the source of rare earth elements (which are not actually that rare) it can be reasonably cleanly extracted, although there is an impact. The batteries can be recycled. And there is no reasonable report of slave labour in the North and South American or Chinese mines where most comes from.
Electricity generation is becoming cleaner and more efficient the whole time. EVs are 80% efficient, petrol based engines 20-30%.
Pedestrians step in front of all sorts of vehicles. The fact EVs are cleaner with zero tailpipe air pollution and much lower noise pollution makes them much more pedestrian friendly. However as with current vehicles and road safety its a good idea if both pedestrians and drivers / riders pay attention when on a road.
And you're right, they are a great idea.
oh yes, and a penny a mile to run, low servicing, cleaner, more efficient, more economical, safer to store, graceful to ride / drive.....i could go on.
- Dru Solstis Bikes, London, UK, 14/09/2010 16:39
Report abuse
The batteries use rare metals that whose extraction is incredibly un-green (and may use slave labour) - they have a limited life and cannot be recycled
Oh yes and we're told we will soon not be able to generate enough electricity for people let alone cars
And silent cars are a menace for pedestrians
Apart from all that they're a good idea......
- Johnny Reggae, south east, 31/08/2010 11:29
Report abuse
