Posts tagged electric car
Audi’s Green Police are on the Case
Feb 8th
Although everyone seems to be talking about Google’s superbowl advert, another ad that received its premiere outing last night was the latest from Audi. Now, in Europe, Audi aren’t really perceived as a ‘fun’ brand, and their ads tend to be somewhat portentous, with a focus on patents, technology and innovation – Vorsprung Durch Technik and all that.
But American audiences knew they were in for a treat when this teaser spot appeared (And yes, that does mean that superbowl ads are big enough to have their own ads!)
Yes, the Green Police are here, and, with tongue seemingly planted in cheek, they are going to stop you from breaking the planet. Unless you own an Audi A3 turbodiesel.
I love all the attention to detail in this ad, as it simultaneously pokes fun at the green movement, the law enforcement community and US reality TV all married to a Gillette-esque Power Jingle. Despite this it manages not to undermine the environmental messages. And compared to the petrol-engined gas-guzzlers favoured by the American people, a TDi is ultra-green. So much so the the A3 TDi is the current Green Car of the Year (beating the Prius and Insight, presumably on the grounds that normal folk might buy it).
And, of course, if you should need insurance for an Audi, or electric car insurance, you know exactly where to come.
Green Machine
Jan 5th
If you saw TopGear a few weeks ago, you will have seen Jeremy Clarkson and James May test two very different cars that use alternatives to petrol. I have found another very different one and although doesn’t look it, performance is closer to the Tesla than the Honda.
The Tango is a 2-seater electric sports car that stands at 6 foot tall and because of the tandem seats, is less than a metre wide.
Its length is also slightly larger than the width of an average car, so no more parallel parking. Parking in Tesco is also easier as you can fit four of these in the average parking space.If that wasn’t enough because it is narrower than a lot of motorbikes you can weave in and out of traffic jams.
Some concerns might be the safety and stability for such a small and ‘lanky’ car. It is built with a roll cage so is safe, even at high speeds. Also because of the heavy batteries and low ground clearance, the stability is better than many other sports cars.
For the top model, the average 0-60 mph time is 4 seconds and has a top speed of 135 mph. The top speed and acceleration can be traded off though depending on the gear ratio you choose. There are 10 gear ratios to choose from, ranging from one offering a top speed of 172 mph with slower acceleration to one with a top speed of 100 mph although has phenomenal acceleration. The range is around 80 miles so wont be able to do long distance journeys, but with a 80% charge taking only 10 minutes you can do them with a pit-stop or two.
If you were worried about your electricity costs, the cost of electricity per mile is around 2 pence. To compare a 1.6 l Ford Focus, the cost per mile in petrol is about 9.75 pence. The 1.6 l Ford Focus does 42 mpg and the Tango has an equivalent of nearly 205 mpg.
One famous owner is George Clooney, who swears by it and has also been promoting the car in the press.
If you’re interested though the luxury version, the T600, will cost you over sixty grand. The slightly slower T200 that does 0-60 mph in 5 seconds will set you back £24,500, or the T100 that can do it in 7 seconds costs £11,500.
It is also only sold in America at the moment though so you will have to ship one over, but when has saving the planet been easy?!?