Eco Cars

[Rob_Buckley]

It's definitely quirky.

[AccountingBasics]

We own 2 cars, the first is an old Rover 420 Diesel which we run on Bio Diesel some of the time. Our second car is a G-wiz electric car. The G-wiz is normally only seen in the London area, due to the savings on congestion charges.

We purchased the G-Wiz as a run around and taking the children to school. Having had the car for 2 years we have saved a fortune on fuel and road tax. The car is Eco friendly, as no CO2 is produced from the car, but is produced from the electricity supply. There are limitations e.g. max speed 40 MPH and range up to 40 miles, but it is rare we want to do more than this for the second car.

[Alvin]

We purchased the G-Wiz as a run around and taking the children to school. Having had the car for 2 years we have saved a fortune on fuel and road tax. The car is Eco friendly, as no CO2 is produced from the car, but is produced from the electricity supply. There are limitations e.g. max speed 40 MPH and range up to 40 miles, but it is rare we want to do more than this for the second car.

Thanks great to hear a real user of the G-Wiz ,and that they seem to be a practical vehicle for town use.

I bought a pair of electric bikes a few years ago,not knowing if they really could do what it said on the tin.

Have to report that they excelled my expectations ,and will do 15 miles on a 5pence charge.but fair weather use only.

Alvin

[AccountingBasics]

I bought a pair of electric bikes a few years ago,not knowing if they really could do what it said on the tin.

Have to report that they excelled my expectations ,and will do 15 miles on a 5pence charge.but fair weather use only.

We used to sell electric bikes a couple of years ago. The bikes were improving all the time. The problem we had was getting hold of spare parts from the suppliers. I know the batteries on electric bikes have improved a lot in the last couple of years now giving a much better range.

Why do you say fair weather use only, is it because you have problems in the wet or you do not like getting wet?

[Paul Norman]

Interesting topic Justin, and without doubt, we are all getting more and more environmentally aware.

Even I have got rid of my big 4 litre engine for a more modest vehicle!!!!

I do believe the market will move towards greener cars, and alternative fuels, hybrids etc. And who knows what inventions will come along, pushed into place by rising fuel costs.

However, for me, at present, I am not tempted by hybrids at all. I am told by the government I am being taxed to make me green, yet I must spend even more to actually be green?

I am riled by the lack of facts here. The lifetime carbon footprint of a Previa is MUCH more than people believe, for example.

Obviously, as a car seller, you should seize the market and get into these cars!! For me...I will continue to buy based on...style, performance, lifetime cost.

[Alvin]

Why do you say fair weather use only, is it because you have problems in the wet or you do not like getting wet?

I don't like getting wet and to many birthdays,possible make my survival dependant on fair weather use only.

Alvin

[Alvin]

Obviously, as a car seller, you should seize the market and get into these cars!! For me...I will continue to buy based on...style, performance, lifetime cost.

So Style is your No 1 criterior.?

well your in good company 95% of car buying decisions are based on how a car looks.

Crazy.

Alvin

[Paul Norman]

Yup..I admit. It is the first on the list in as much as I will not buy a car I dont like the style of. Performance is next, but by that I do not mean outright speed alone, but the way the car feels as it drives.

However, I am a car enthusiast. If the car is just a means of getting to places, I would think the criteria would be very different.

[AccountingBasics]

My husband is a car enthusiast, but for the weird and wonderful cars, rather than the everyday cars. As well as owning a G-Wiz he runs the G-Wiz forums, which includes information on most electric cars and also new cars being launched.

He has also has had meetings with some of the new electric car importers, with some interesting new cars now being launched. The main problem with some of the new cars is price, some are well above what you would expect to pay for a small car and also size, most are only 2 seater's.

We are into environmentally friendly products, but this was not the main reason for getting a G-Wiz originally it was for the fuel saving.

Does anyone else have any Eco cars?

[Paul Norman]

My second car is a Fiat 500 - the new retro one. I know its not an eco car, but it is much lower on emissions than my main car, and is great fun to use locally.