New EVs on the road in 2012
Posted by: charlottec | April 30, 2012 | No Comments
Good news then that there are more EVs coming out – with an ever improved range achievable on one charge of the battery pack that powers the electric motor, and with increased locations coming available where you can plug in your EV or plug-in hybrid to charge when away from home.
Until now though, EVs have also been too expensive for most people to contemplate buying – no matter how high their environmental ideals are. The new car offers for EVs vary, but you automatically get a financial credit from the government in both the UK and the States for buying an EV over a conventional car.
This year, though, sees the arrival of two new EVs in the UK – the family sized Renault Fluence and the supermini Renault Zoe. Both these cars will be available at significantly lower prices than other EV equivalents, due to the fact that Renault has changed the ownership model. People will buy the car, but lease the battery that powers the electric motor.
The battery pack for the Zoe should be about £70 a month to lease, and for the Fluence about £85 a month. You’ll be able to take depleted batteries and exchange them at no extra cost, so there’s reduced loss of value for second hand prices in the future too. The battery pack is one of the most expensive components in an EV, so taking that out of the value equation is good for the first owner and all future owners. It wouldn’t be surprising if other manufacturers follow suit.
This year also sees the arrival of the Toyota Prius plug-in in Europe and the US, and the launch of the Honda 2013 Accord plug-in sedan in the States. All plug-in hybrids will be capable of doing short journeys (around 15 miles) on electric power only – during which times they will emit no tailpipe emissions, thus helping reduce air pollution.
Don’t go camping without….
Posted by: charlottec | April 2, 2012 | No Comments
Camping is a great way to spend a family holiday. As well as being economical compared to staying in a hotel or guest house, there’s a certain sense of freedom attached to camping. Usually the locations are beautiful and you have easy access to the beach, the mountains or the forest in the surrounding area.
It’s also a great way for parent s to share some quality time with their children. In the busy stuff of life, with work and school dominating the weekly schedule, it’s pretty normal for most families not to get see much of each other. Spending a week together on holiday, where there are fewer distractions, can allow for time to get to know what everyone’s up to and to get a little closer again.
What to take
When you’ve decided where you are headed for your camping holiday, you’ll need to get your kit ready. If you haven’t camped before, it’ll be a bit costly the first time round, but each subsequent trip will be cheaper as you’ll have all the stuff you need already.
There are many high street stores and internet sites with tents for sale, as well as all the other camping accessories you’ll need like sleeping bags, cooking stove, unbreakable cutlery and crockery. Don’t forget practical items like a washing up bowl, brush and cloth and tea-towels. You’ll also need a couple of saucepans, a sharp knife and a peeler. It’s also a good idea to take enough food supplies for the first couple of days, in case it’s not so easy to get to a shop locally. Think about how you will prepare meals before you go, so you don’t take anything unsuitable – like a ready-made pizza that you can’t heat up!
You’ll need clothing that is made of modern materials (that dry out quickly in case of rain) and don’t forget that you’ll need warmer clothes for the evenings and early mornings. There’s a great selection of childrens, womens and mens fleece jackets and waterproofs for all the family at all of the major outdoor clothing stores.
Europe in my old Honda
Posted by: charlottec | April 2, 2012 | No Comments
Overall, this was a magical trip. It was something we’d always wanted to do and we were both at something of a junction in life that allowed us to do it – so we did!
First off – choice of vehicle;. I’ve had this car for six years and it’s worth nothing as a used car these days, given its mileage. But I also know from experience just how reliable it is – and this was proven in a ‘What Car?’ survey from last year that found that Hondas are the most reliable cars in the UK for six years running.
Whenever it’s needed a little work, I’ve always used Honda Spare Parts so I was very confident it wouldn’t let me down – and I really didn’t want to pay for European roadside assistance.
In fact, there was only one minor issue when I needed a new set of brake pads in Italy (I think it was the heat!) – and the new ones used weren’t genuine Honda Spares – but everything else is.
We spent the spring and early summer entirely in France – touring different regions in a country that is a camper’s paradise – before crossing the Rhine to Germany, then moving on to Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Croatia, Greece, over on the ferry to Bari in Italy, and gradually back up to dear old Blighty during September.
To say this was a trip to remember would be an understatement. We managed to take in Paris, Munich, Geneva, Venice, Zagreb, Rome and Nice – before heading back to dreary Dover in a light rain – and back to reality.
The only advice I can give you if you’re thinking of a similar trip is: 1. Go for it whenever you get the chance and, 2. Get a reliable vehicle to do it in.
Tags: driving > driving holiday > original parts > spare parts > travel by car > travelling > trip
Estate cars ideal for outdoors enthusiasts
Posted by: charlottec | February 9, 2012 | No Comments
Estate cars are ideal for the obvious reason that you can store a load of stuff in them – but it goes a lot further than that.
They’re great for going on extended travel either on your own or with a group of friends.
If you’re on your own, you can even sleep in the right kind of estate car quite comfortably should the need arise. I know this because I’ve done it many times – even keeping some material and Velcro in the back for a little privacy when I’ve needed it when “car camping” for a night. And if you get the right kind of storage solutions to take around with you – you can take everything you need without advertising the contents to thieves.
But perhaps estates really come into their own if there are a bunch of you travelling around. They’re so easy to sling four big rucksacks, tents and sleeping bags in the back of whenever the mood takes you – without messing around with roof racks or trailers. And the performance is more or less the same as the estate version, so if you really want to get where you’re going over big distances around mainland Europe, for example, there’s really no problem.
The estates may not be as trendy as an old-fashioned camper van of some sort, but they’re much faster, far more practical, a lot cheaper to buy in the first place – and easier to repair should the need arise.
They really are great options for travellers – and you can pick good quality second hand models as cheap as chips; something to think about perhaps?
There aren’t many used estates around which are low emission cars, but if you’re transporting four or more people at once – they can still qualify as being environmentally friendly.
Tags: driving holidays > driving ideas > green travel > holiday ideas > outdoors enthusiasts > travel plans
Hybrid technology is the future
Posted by: charlottec | January 27, 2012 | No Comments
As hybrids are powered by both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor, the engine does less work and therefore burns less fuel. The electric motor is powered by its own battery – increasingly made of lithium-ion rather than metal-nickel-hydride as it is lighter and smaller. The battery is recharged as the car moves along through a process called regenerative braking. Excess kinetic energy from braking is captured and stored in the motor’s battery for later use.
More hybrid cars are now being produced as plug-in hybrids, which reduces even further the role of the engine, and increases the amount of power that comes from the electric motor. The development of plug-in hybrids means that they have a greater range of electric only range and of course can be charged by plugging into a mains electricity supply like an all-electric vehicle.
Even cars that aren’t hybrid also have similar technology. For instance, many new cars today come with stop-start technology. This is where the engine cuts off automatically when the car is in traffic and the driver applies the brake. The engine restarts itself when the driver releases the brake and is ready to move off. The cutting out and restart of the engine is almost imperceptible to the driver and their passengers, but of course this saves wasting fuel during idling times.
It’s likely that this trend will continue – with more and more emphasis on the electric power input and less demand being placed on a petrol or diesel engine to propel the car.
Tags: eco-friendly motoring > green driving > green vehicles > motoring > travelling by car
Ski-ing on your travels
Posted by: charlottec | January 24, 2012 | No Comments
Many backpackers go off round the world seeking sun and the sea, but there are plenty of winter sports you can do along the way as well.
Take ski-ing for example. You can do it in countries as diverse as Brazil, China, Japan and New Zealand, not to mention the many countries in Europe where ski-ing is a weekend pastime during the winter months for many people.
Including some ski-ing in a bigger trip is often a cheaper way of doing it, too. Ski holidays pure and simple are expensive, but a day here or there while you’re passing through can work out to be quite low cost. The only thing you lose out on is the cheaper hire of equipment over a longer period – hiring skis costs the same for a week as for two days.
On the other hand, while you’re going around on your travels if you find that you get a taste for ski-ing, there’s nothing to stop you spending longer on the slopes, whereas if you have booked a ski holiday you’ll always have a return date that might be difficult or expensive to change.
So, if you’re about to set off for a trip think about any stuff you might want to take with you. You won’t want to lug skis or ski boots around with you and you can buy or hire salopettes when you hire the skis and boots, but you might want to throw the accessories into your pack.
Some things will serve a number of purposes, of course. Thermal gloves are just as good for hiking and winter sightseeing as well as skiing – as long as you get ones that have a waterproof shell. In the same way, a decent pair of sunglasses can be just as useful on the ski slopes as on the beach, so you can make some savings by buying kit that will work for both summer and winter activities.
Outdoor pursuits in winter
Posted by: charlottec | January 23, 2012 | No Comments
A quick to any Regatta outlet and you’ll be kitted out in no time. The whole store is geared towards outdoor life – whether that be a particular sport like climbing or an activity like camping or hiking.
The best kind of clothing for outdoors activity in winter is layering – no matter what you’ve got planned. By wearing layers, you add cushioning layers of air between each layer of clothing – keeping your body warmth in, so that you don’t waste energy trying to conserve it.
Baselayers are those that fit close to the body, yet allow you freedom of movement. Thermal underwear is perfect for a base layer, and the fabric allows moisture to escape from your skin – preventing you from getting chilled by sweat settling on your skin.
You can even get the kids involved, as long as you get the same gear for them, as they’ll be even more susceptible to the cold than you. Outdoor stores stock a range for every age and there are so many bright colours to choose from that you’re bound to find something that every child likes. And if they’re not into bright colours, black or blue is always an option.
Don’t forget to get some accessories for your extremities – thermal hat, gloves and socks will all add to your overall comfort.
Once you’ve got yourself and your family kitted out, all you need to decide where you’re going and what you’re going to do, while everyone else you know is languishing on their sofa!
Go green and hire
Posted by: charlottec | January 16, 2012 | No Comments
The romantic image of the backpacker walking many miles over deserts, through rainforest, half-frozen tundra or hacking through dense undergrowth just doesn’t really apply in practice.
Yes, it’s a nice image and you almost always do end up doing a lot of walking and hiking when you’re traveling around the world.
But the truth is that – more than anything else – you also do a lot of hanging around in places and a lot of moving from this place to that place.
And as the corners of the world without transport infrastructure become fewer and fewer so it becomes harder to travel in the traditional backpacking style. Also – there are many places where you just can’t get a train very easily whilst the bus rides are a little sporadic and, shall we say, “hair-raising” to say the least. And if you get a taxi over a long distance; well, you may as well have hired a car.
And if there are a number of people traveling together – hiring cars can actually be an environmentally friendly option – particularly in those parts of the world where you’re able to rent eco cars.
So don’t write this off as an option, and please don’t pigeonhole other travellers who choose hire car as an option. The fact is that many “green” cars like the Honda Insight, have now been around for quite some time; the environmentally-friendly technology from these hybrid vehicles is nothing new. But what is is their availability to hire. And it’s so often the greenest of all options.
Tags: backpacking > car travel > green cars > hire a car > modern backpacking > motoring holidays
Scottish government urged to go green
Posted by: charlottec | January 6, 2012 | No Comments
Just 14% of the Scottish government’s cars are green. From a total cohort of 208 cars, just 26 are hybrids whilst three are all-electric. This is surprisingly low considering how many of today’s new car offers include alternatives to petrol or diesel, from some of the main car makers such as Honda andToyota.
The disappointing environmental figures were given in response to a parliamentary question from the Liberal Democrat transport spokesman Jim Hume.
Mr Hume said: “The SNP love to say that they are world leaders on climate change, making the most of every opportunity to talk the talk on the environment. However these answers reveal that the SNP are not taking enough action in Government to back up their warm words.
“With only 14% of their fleet either hybrid or electric, they are not setting the example that we would hope for from a government that has set significant climate change targets.
“The technology for electric or hybrid cars is improving and the cost of electric vehicles has dropped significantly so it would be good to see this SNP government making more use of them.
“By opting for vehicles with cleaner emissions they could be setting a real example for the rest of the country to follow.”
Hear hear!
Although the Liberal Democrat transport spokesman is clearly trying to make a little political capital out of the SNP’s policy, he still makes a very valid point of course. If the public sector doesn’t take the lead in adopting more environmentally friendly motoring habits – then who will?
Nevertheless, the Scottish government isn’t doing too badly in what are, after all, very troubled times economically speaking. A spokesman for the Scottish government pointed out that its car fleet includes both hybrid and electric vehicles – saying: “The typical vehicle now purchased for use by Ministers has CO2 emissions that are 31% lower than the vehicles used by ministers before 2007.”
Tags: eco friendly cars > green cars > green motoring > Scottish government > travel by car
The shiny and new Honda Civic
Posted by: charlottec | December 23, 2011 | No Comments
The title of “icon” is often glibly claimed, but few cars deserve it more than the Civic. It’s been around since 1972 ans has sold more than 650,000 models in the UK alone.
The new civic 2012 will rival Britain’s second best-selling car, the Ford Focus. Design-wise, there’s nothing to compare; the Civic is an altogether sharper looking ‘blade’ of a car. But the new design is clearly an evolution from its eight generation predecessor rather than a departure.
Still, it’s a little lower, it’s a centimetre wider, and three centimetres longer than its predecessor, but still has a shorter wheelbase.
Setting the new Civic apart from previous models are the high tail light clusters, the daylight-running LEDs and the active grille shutter on all the diesel models.
Meanwhile, the Civic’s trademark light-strip spoiler is a couple of centimetres lower and there’s a rear wiper on all new models.
Internally, Honda’s flexible seat layout remains; this allows owners to fold the rear bench flat or to fix the seats vertically, to maximize the boot space when the need arises and to place large objects in the car via the rear doors.
There are also soft-touch materials throughout (barring the top of the instrument panel).
Overall, the new Civic is a little more refined, with improved liquid filled suspension, and lower noise levels thanks to the reinforced door sills and thicker front windows; smoother than its predecessors altogether.
There are 1.4-litre and 1.8-litre petrol engines and a 2.2-litre diesel option; with the latter delivering around 60mpg, the new Civic looks set to clean up.
Tags: car journeys > eco-friendly driving > green motoring > travelling by car > UK travel
Travel-friendly driving
Posted by: charlottec | December 13, 2011 | No Comments
But it’s very true that the car is one of the most practical means of travel for people taking off on a long travel adventure – one which isn’t going to involve crossing any oceans anyway.
You aren’t waiting around at train stations, getting your timetable wrong, then walking or taking taxis continually on arrival at various destinations.
Even a group of students on a budget may find that a cheap but reliable second hand car with a tent in the boot is the cheapest way to ‘do’ Europe in the summer, for example. My advice is to get a cheap second-hand Honda, purely because the manufacturer’s cars have been shown to be the most reliable for UK drivers in a number of independent surveys including the “What Car?” reliability study.
It actually works out a lot cheaper than a rail card – depending on how many travellers are in the vehicle. And it’s a lot easier if you don’t mind driving.
And it needn’t be environmentally un-friendly. If you can afford a hybrid car, for example, then your conscience can be a whole lot clearer.
But even if it’s a conventionally-fuelled vehicle you’re travelling in, you can still drive a lot greener.
- Avoid short trips, drive steadily (never going too quickly), keep your tyre pressures at the optimal levels and avoiding revving the engine too hard.
- Also- try not to carry any excess weight and ensure that your car is free of any clutter contributing to drag – so avoid a roof rack if you can. Also remember that even having the sunroof and windows open will increase the drag.
- Finally – invest in a satnav; not getting lost will also help cut fuel consumption and emissions.
Drive safely and have a great trip!
Tags: driving abroad > driving for travel > driving holiday > eco-friendly driving > holidays > Honda