GoinGreen Introduces G-Wiz AC Model Electric Car; Upgradeable to Li-ion
14 December 2006
 |
| The Reva G-Wiz. |
The UK’s GoinGreen has introduced the first of the new, improved performance Reva G-Wiz AC drive electric cars. Launched at the British Motor Show in the summer, the G-Wiz AC replaces the current G-Wiz DC.
Cost is the same (£8,299 inc VAT), but the AC offers enhanced features including an increased top speed of 45 mph and a range of up to 48 miles under UK test conditions (40 miles on mixed roads).
GoinGreen introduced G-Wiz DC drive to London in 2004, and the car is still the only electric 2+2 seater available there. There are now more than 750 G-Wiz customers in London, including 150 of those who have already ordered the new G-Wiz AC.
The new G-Wiz AC currently uses eight 6V lead acid batteries connected in series (200 Amp-hr) but is upgradeable to high-performance lithium-ion batteries when they become available next year. Use of the li-ion batteries should increase the car’s speed to between 50-60 mph and support a range of between 60 and 70 miles. The date for introduction has not yet been finalized, nor has the cost or actual performance figures.
The new G-Wiz also features a 40% increase in mid-range torque resulting in better acceleration and hill climbing ability, a booster mode for short-term acceleration/power, a maintenance-free brushless motor providing a smoother, quieter operation, improved regenerative braking, an anti-roll bar for better handling at higher speeds and an advanced IPC (Instrument Panel Cluster) with an electronic speedometer, a trip odometer and an automatic computer-controlled indicator for power consumption and regeneration.
The standard body panels are now color impregnated without the use of paint, making them 100% recyclable. Minor scratches are easily buffed up without the need for spraying.
The G-Wiz DC drive is still available from GoinGreen, now as an entry-level model now starting at £6,999 inc VAT but with fewer features than the original DC car, representing the lowest total cost motoring available in the UK.
Manufactured by Indo-US joint venture the Reva Electric Car Company, the G-Wiz is available exclusively from GoinGreen in the UK. The G-Wiz is exempt from road tax and the London congestion charge and enjoys free parking and charging in central London, including two on-street charging points in Covent Garden, with other parking benefits throughout the city—a package worth over £8,000 per year. (Earlier post.)
| Reva G-Wiz Models | ||
|---|---|---|
| AC Drive | DC Drive | |
| Speed | 45 mph (and 40% faster acceleration) | 40 mph |
| Range | 48 miles (test conditions) 40 miles mixed roads |
40 miles (test conditions) 32 miles (mixed roads) |
| Upgradeable to li-ion | Yes | No |
| Hill rolling-resistance feature | Yes | No |
| Motor | AC motor | Carbon brush DC motor |
I am sorry but this car looks dreadful. If you want to spread the e-car message, you have to have a car that will not make people cringe.
Could they have not started with a Ford Ka chassis or something recognisable as a "proper" car, even if it is a small one.
Take a Ka; remove all ICE bits and fit thinner tyres.
Then add the e bits.
Or a Yaris or a Nissan Micra or whatever.
These cars should be small and light, but they do not have to be this ugly.
Posted by: mahonj | 14 December 2006 at 03:50 PM
I don't know mahonj, if you can do 45 mph, drive 48 miles on a charge and do it all on the battery, and it doesn't cost much... It wouldn't be my only car, but it might be a second car. And if I did buy it, I would probably buy a wind generator as well.
But I have to admit that it does look like someone cut a real car in half. For both safety and esthetic reasons, can't a BEV have a slightly increased height, a bit more ground clearance, with the same wind resistance, easier entry and much better situational awareness as you drive? Yes, you might need to increase the track a bit to make it as stable but it would be worth it.
Posted by: Ziv | 14 December 2006 at 04:40 PM
This strikes me as second rate tech. didnt GM have the electric car in the 90's that looked beeter went further and faster ???
Posted by: kevin | 14 December 2006 at 04:43 PM
Kevin:
Sure, if you wanted to pay $100,000 for it.
Posted by: Cervus | 14 December 2006 at 05:11 PM
The EV1 was a decent car but it only had a range of 80-90 miles on the freeway, admittedly at 60 mph. They leased the car at $400-$500 per month, and the demand was only fair. Once they decided that they were losing money, GM found out that maybe they should have invested more money in the idea. GoinGreen is much cheaper, looks worse, is slower and has a shorter range... I was pretty confident that I knew what I was talking about a couple of hours ago when I praised the Reva G-Wiz, but after comparing the specs, maybe GM should revamp the EV1.
Posted by: ziv | 14 December 2006 at 05:53 PM
I applaud G-Wiz and their distributors, wish them the best. Perhaps they could team up with Th!nk Nordic...
I personally leased a GM EV-1 Gen II NiMH for 2 years. I took over the lease from an owner who had died. It was the only way to get one. It was a great two seater car, smooth, fast and quiet. The Gen II range was 120 miles or more on a full charge. Electronically limited top speed was 85 mph, though an unlimited version of the EV-1 set best in class speed records on the salt flats.
My take on GM's reason for dropping the EV-1 is that they didn't want to be forced by regulation to build something... unless they were paid lots of money to do it.
The most advanced BEV today is clearly the Tesla Roadster.
Relevant to GM it is interesting to ask just what they're good at, much less 'the best', and whether that's going to support healthy growth and a good public image for the company.
Posted by: Ron Fischer | 14 December 2006 at 06:23 PM
You know, It may not be the best looking car, but at least you have the option of buying one. In USA, we can't even buy a decent performing 4 wheel car. The ZAP is the only thing we can get. Now that's an ugly car. And it's a three wheeler! Albeit at least they are a start. Can't wait for someone to just make an EV that resembles mainstream cars! What's it take people?
Posted by: RIchard | 14 December 2006 at 07:55 PM
Er, I am missing a trick.
8, 6V batteries in series with 400Ahr capability =
6 * 8 * 400 = 19.2 kWh battery capacity.
Which, for 40 mile range, works out to be a whopping .48 kWh per mile.
At 9.8 pence per kWh (which is what I pay for domestic electricity) that works out to be 4.7 pence per mile.
now lets say that the batteries see a charge per day. In three years the batteries will see just over 1000 charge cycles. After that I'd say they would be shot.
At a rough guess each battety might cost about £90, so the battery replacment would be 8* 90 = £720 every three years.
If this little car covers. say 7000 miles a year commuting (30 miles per day, 5 days a week, 47 weeks a year) then your battery replacement cost works out at 3.4 pence per mile.
So total running cost is 8.1 pence per mile.
Compared to my car (Toyota Aygo) which costs 9.3 pence per mile (fuel at 86pence/litre ($6.12/US gal))
And at least my car does motorway speeds and has Aircon.....
Oh, and its much better looking.
Andy
Posted by: Andy | 15 December 2006 at 01:48 AM
you know what these 750 G-wiz owners are saying ? "Screw preconceptions. I dont have to pay arm and a leg for personal transportation that just fits my actual needs. Screw aesthetics snobbery, i am on the board, behind the effort of revolutinazing personal transportation by being an actual customer and helping the business to evolve to next generation products, helping shattering the myths that electric transportation is nonfeasible"
Posted by: kert | 15 December 2006 at 02:27 AM
The article says 200 Ah, so 9.6 kWh battery capacity, of which probably only 85% SOC is allowed for use (to extend battery life), so say 8 kWh?
That would give a more realistic 5 miles per kWh, or 2 pence per mile electric costs. Things would be much more efficient with Lithium-Ion (not just because they're lighter, because charge/discharge efficiency is miles better).
Posted by: clett | 15 December 2006 at 02:27 AM
If you live/work in London you can use the free dedicated parking places and recharge for free. Also you don't pay congestion charge and road tax. So the car looks crap and doesn't exceed the speed limit by more than 10mph, who cares, local government is paying you to use it. Its probably cheaper to commute with one of these than to use public transport.
I would be very surprised if these cars are selling outside London but for people living and working in the eco enclave of Ken Livingston the benefits are very clear.
Posted by: Rod | 15 December 2006 at 03:08 AM
It is nice to see a vehicle on the market, but the future looks way better. In late 2007, folks in America may be able to buy this puppy (http://66.218.37.153/cars.htm) for about $45,000.
Posted by: Van | 15 December 2006 at 07:04 AM
It's a start. And they are actually selling, are affordable, and are being used. G.B. has a tradition of quirky looking cars like the mini; perhaps people will learn to love these cars as well. We need to encourage something like this in the U.S., starting with cities like New York or San Francisco.
Posted by: t | 15 December 2006 at 07:24 AM
this car is just plain ugly, and one might think looking at the spec that it may indeed be the result of an act of collaboration with the major car companies , to make the whole electric car movement look like a joke ! " hey we tried it and nobody wanted it , good job we did not put any real money into it"
seriously though GM proved in 1993 that it was indeed possible to build a good quality electric car that was capable of 100miles between charges , and that people want to drive and be seen in . The crime was that the project was never allowed to achive serious mass production in which case after a few years I believe the price could have been around what toyota are asking for the prius in the US , and hey what a different world it would be then.
The french are at the moment developing a kangoo based Ev car , which it has a range of about 100 miles , however it is not renault who will be manufacturing it , obivously with their close links to ELF the french oil giant , but an offshot of Dassault the french denfence company .
I have tried to place an order , but they do not seem intrested in taking any yet , and I wonder if they ever will!
Electric cars are too good, to efficient , hard to tax . The most efficient mass produced car today , the toyota prius, is only 37 % efficient tank to wheel ratio , The Tesla roadster is over 60% efficient ! the Prius is the result of nearly one hundred years of continuous development of the internal combustion engine ,
look at it on these terms and 37% is not very impressive!
However the Tesla could be considered almost a prototype of new technologys and already we have over 60% efficiency , just think what may be achived if the will is there!
No this little is not going to set the world on fire , I think such lacklustre attemps such as this will put the introdution of electric cars back even further , OK its not a lot of money , but you forget you will need to buy two , one for each foot !
Posted by: andrichrose | 15 December 2006 at 02:04 PM
Andy,
You are also not counting additional running costs in your petrol car, such as brake pads, tire and oil changes, as well as bigger ticket items that come up less frequently. Electric cars are pretty much maintenance free, with the possible exception of wearing out the battery through excessive cycling. The Prius battery pack lasts an incredibly long time, but it admittedly has a shallow-dischage cycle, so I'll grant that you need to make an allowance for worn batteries in this case.
Top of my head, I'd guess that the electric car probably saves another 2p to 5p per mile (at least) on those costs. Plus, this minicar seems to cost no more than an average small car to purchase, so savings on the running costs don't have to "pay back" across anything. You save money from day one, even before the tax incentives kick in.
I may be moving to London for professional reasons at some point in the future, and if I do, I'll buy one of these things the first day I'm there -- assuming I can charge it at night. Perhaps I'll get a flat near Covent Garden, and take advantage of the free electricity too.
Posted by: NBK-Boston | 15 December 2006 at 03:14 PM
Andrichrose
Why not buy a Twingo or Panda Elettrica from MES DEA in Stabio? 20kWh Zebra battery and I believe you get 65% subsidy in Italia.
Posted by: Emphyrio | 16 December 2006 at 01:11 PM
If you think that they can't make an electric vehicle then listen to this. When i was about 10 years old, the year was 1983, a friend of mine invited me to his house. His father made him an electric go-cart. He used a car battery hooked up to a rear wheel electric motor. The thing was awesome. It ran for about one hour with a top speed of about 30 miles per hour(stop and go local street driving). The accelation was nothing short of amazing. Do the math people, this was 1983 with a single car battery. With lithium ion batteries, 40.2% efficient solar panels, efficient in-wheel motors, regenerative brake systems, nano techs, and all the other high tech crap out there, an electric vehicle at the cost of todays priced vehicles is possible and long over due. However a little thing called big business and oil companies fighting these electric vehicles from entering the market is the reason why EV1 was scrapped and nothing like it (affordable EVS) has followed!! Why won't they allow for Toyota to sell their Yaris diesel in the USA? Because it gets 65-70 MPG that's why. Oil companies have a huge influence on our economy and they(oil companies and our government) will not allow a quick transition to PEVS. But don't listen to me, listen to the auto makers say its not possible. Our government and oil companies have no influence upon the auto industry, right? :)
Posted by: Jack
Posted by: Jack | 18 December 2006 at 06:06 AM
Richard,
There was a company called Solectria that was bought by Azure Dynamics that took cars like Geo Metros and made them electric. They had traction motors, transfer cases, drives, controllers and did the full conversions. They were bought, I assume, because they could not make much of a profit doing this. These were electric cars that looked like gas cars because they were made using gas cars. Few people bought them and now Azure makes hybrid trucks that are written about on the site. My point is, companies come and go, if they can get the money to start in the first place. But only the companies that can turn a profit last. So before any garage inventors get all jazzed about that next EV they want to see, study the market very carefully first.
Posted by: SJC | 19 December 2006 at 11:48 AM
Well, soon the batteries from Zinc Matrix Power will hit the market (samples are being sent out to electronic manufacturers early 2007). With up to twice the energy density of lithiums and a substantially longer life time and monetary backing from the U.S. military and Intel corp it changes the whole game. Those things will be the beginning of turning us into an "electric society." I give it less than 3 years after the first 12 volt ZMP battery with a capacity of 2ah or more hits the market that some joe blow company is going to slap together a sh*t load of these things together and make an electric car and report a 200+ mile range. http://www.zmp.com
And after that within 6 years europositron in Finland will have put out their first aluminum battery. Once that happens it's game over for the fossil fuels versus electric question. Everything is on its way to becoming an electric appliance. http://www.europositron.com
Posted by: Aironeous | 25 December 2006 at 06:12 PM
No vehicle tax, no duty, no congestion charge, free parking, free charging. So when you drive home from the London pub you can't overshoot and wind up on a dangerous motorway - and if you are unfornunate to hit someone on the way home hopefully you'll be going pretty slow.
And not forgetting you don't need a license to drive a leccy in the U.K. So if they do try and take it away...happy dayz.
Oh yeah and it might stop us boiling to death in our own filth.
Posted by: The Boss | 29 December 2006 at 10:55 AM
I heard these were really safe cars too! Has anyone done a crash test with one?
Posted by: The bosses boss | 10 May 2007 at 04:04 PM
I guess you don't need me to tell you that they have now done the crash tests and it does not look good. You can see for yourself - there is a rather frightening video of one test on the top gear website.
Posted by: Gyrator | 12 May 2007 at 08:23 AM
I'm surprised that the claims that these cars have "Zero" emissions has not been challenged before. Unless you've got it hooked up direcly to a renewable power supply (and even these procuce some carbon emissions) you're looking at a mix of electricity generation.
The goin green website has used a rate of 470 g/CO2 to calculate CO2 emmissions of 62.6 g/Km but I don't know where they've got this figure from. I little bit of research has shown that in 2006 renewable energy sources produced less than 6% of the UK's energy. If I multiply the UK mix by the CO2 per source I get a much higher figure (refer http://www.ncc.org.uk/responsibleconsumption/green-tariffs.pdf for mix):
Nuclear 20.00%
Wind 0.93%
Hydro 0.90%
Biomass** 3.18%
Gas 37.00%
Oil 1.00%
Coal* 37.00%
* Assumed missing 3% due to rounding from Coal production
** Assumed other renewable sources have same CO2 emmisions as Biomass electricity Production
CO2 per production type (Refer: Hydropower-Internalised Costs and Externalised Benefits; Frans H. Koch; International Energy Agency (IEA)-Implementing Agreement for Hydropower Technologies and Programmes; Ottawa, Canada, 2000):
Nuclear 59
Wind 124
Hydro 48
Biomass** 101
Gas 511
Oil 935
Coal* 1182
This gives me a CO2 emmission per Kwh as follow
Nuclear 11.80
Wind 1.15
Hydro 0.43
Biomass 3.21
Gas 189.07
Oil 9.35
Coal 437.34
Total: 652.35
If I factor in energy transmission losses (lets face most UK electricity is produced in the North and shipped south) of 7.4 % (refer http://www.powerwatch.org.uk/energy/graham.asp)
then I'm looking at an average of 704 C02 per kwh.
Now if this thing is driving on "mixed" roads at a range of 40 miles (straight from their website) you'll be generating 105 g/km (worse than a prius). What happens if you have a reduced range on Londons slow roads? or the Battery takes more than it's stated 9.66 kwh to reach full charge? What is the environmental damage of replacing the battery every three years?
I think this is a great idea done very badly, all for a vehicle which is illegal to use on a motorway. I'd like to see some feedback from owners about exactly how much it takes to charge, and how far they can get on a full charge. I'd agree with all those posts before me. Regardless of the cost, I'd expect more from an electric car.
Posted by: Wary | 26 June 2007 at 03:15 AM
please, please take a look at www.deviceconduit.com. Their battery invention is amazing!!
Posted by: Sylvie LG Pollard | 07 November 2007 at 10:24 AM