Online motoring magazine Motortrades Insight reveals exclusive news of a potentially record-breaking electric car which could be set for release in 2013.
“I can tell you that there will be a vehicle that will do Land’s End to John O’Groats on a single charge next year,” said Ian Hobday, CEO of Liberty Electric Cars, one of Britain’s fastest growing electric car manufacturers.
The vehicle will be capable of a range between 837 to 1,000 miles – four times the furthest range of electric cars currently available on the market. Potentially a car would be capable of reaching far into Europe without need for a recharge.
While the price and final model is yet to be revealed, Hobday adds ‘It shows you where the electric car technology is going’.
Speaking on the electric car industry as whole, he said: “If I have to forecast where we’re going to be, right now we’re at 200 to 250 miles without too much trouble. We will be at 400 to 500 miles within two or three years.
“Have no fear. Battery-based energy storage for electric vehicles will be capable of delivering everything that a tank of petrol or diesel can deliver within two or three years.”
The battery technology has been developed by Metalectrique Ltd, a research and development business based in Tavistock, Devon, using proprietary metal-air electric power technologies. The revolutionary technology means that long range electric-only vehicles could finally become a reality for the mass- consumer car market.
Metalectrique owner Trevor Jackson commented “Having carefully looked at the business cases for the highest energy density batteries; by 2000 I came to the conclusion that Aluminium-Air technology was the best option. Since then I developed the technology so that it can use ordinary aluminium to make enough power to drive a car but with the useful side effect of very long range. At the moment we’re getting about 1,500 miles at full power in bench tests. This is game-changing as we don’t need an electric recharge infrastructure, just some battery swap stations you visit every few months. It’s also cheap (estimated at about 9p a mile) and safe. We all know about aluminium and there’s nothing explosive or flammable involved.
“Long range means long duration and now I’m working with robotic companies who need long lasting power. In the future I think this technology could be used for shipping and electric flight.”
By the end of 2013, Liberty Electric Cars aims to double its workforce to 80 – a sure sign of the times to come for Britain’s electric car revolution.
Electric mobility has taken another huge leap forward thanks to significant investment in the UK’s charging network that will make it easier than ever to own and run an electric car.
THE GOVERNMENT’S COMMITMENT TO ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE
As part of a £37m scheme, Motortrades Insight report that the government has announced that it will contribute 75 per cent to the cost of an installed charger at a home address anywhere in the UK. As well as the home charging bonus, the government has announced some other major benefits for the entire charging network.
Working with local authorities, the new scheme will see the government put up three quarters of the cost of installing public chargers such as rapid chargers, which can charge a Nissan LEAF or Liberty’s E-Range Rover to 80 per cent in just 30 minutes.
In addition, the government is contributing 75 per cent towards the cost of installing charging points at railway stations, while any public sector organisation – such as the police, NHS and local government – wanting an on-site charging point will now have the installation carried out for free.
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