Newride are supporting a major new survey of drivers of electric cars in London. Frost & Sullivan, a major consulting company with extensive experience in consumer research for the automotive industry, is investigating perceptions of ‘green vehicles’ amongst the general public, together with attitudes towards the environment and expectations regarding future green vehicles.

As part of their research, Frost & Sullivan is interested in getting the views of electric vehicle (EV) drivers in London. Darren George, lead analyst on the project explains: “London is a city well suited to electric cars where the city council has been promoting their use very efficiently. We wish to understand the motivation of EV drivers, the way they currently use their vehicles as well as their expectations of the automotive industry”.

Frost & Sullivan is offering a £25 incentive to each respondent as a ‘thank you’ for participation in this research. If you drive an electric car in London and would like to take part, use the link below to complete a short 10 minute survey or contact the project manager Katerina Konstantinou if you would prefer to discuss your EV experience with the Frost & Sullivan project team on the phone. (Note that the survey focuses on electric car, rather than electric motorcycle or van use.)

Darren adds: “We are very excited about this project – in the final stage we will be interviewing over 2,500 drivers across Europe and the results will offer a clear insight into the public's attitudes and needs. This in turn will help automotive manufacturers understand better and therefore serve better the needs of the public in this area”.

Newride fully support and endorse this major new survey and hope that all those who own and/or use an electric car in London will participate in this important consumer research.

Go to survey: Frost & Sullivan Survey

Email Frost & Sullivan: katerina.konstantinou@frost.com

GoinGreen, the leader in the UK electric car market, announces the arrival of the G-Wiz i, the most advanced variant of this iconic EV. GoinGreen launched the emission-free G-Wiz dc drive in London in May 2004 and in June 2006 introduced the G-Wiz ac drive and now there is the G-Wiz i, which benefits from improvements in safety, comfort and performance.

The G-Wiz i has an increased top speed certified at 50mph and a range of up to 48 miles per charge but what really marks the G-Wiz i from other electric vehicles is its swift acceleration to 30mph (60% quicker than its nearest competitor). This superior torque enables the G-Wiz i to easily keep up with London traffic and to cope with hills. The G-Wiz i is also upgradeable to high-performance lithium-ion batteries, which are designed to increase range significantly.

After extensive customer feedback, Reva Electric Car Company, the manufacturer of the G-Wiz, has collaborated with GoinGreen in creating the new G-Wiz i. Working with Lotus Engineering, Reva has introduced a new safety package, frontal crash tested at 25mph city speed. Safety features include front and side impact protection, a strengthened space frame, a collapsible steering column, a hill rolling restraint feature and new front disc brakes that deliver a 30% improvement in braking performance. The advanced ac drive-train also results in extra power, whilst the new roomier cabin layout and a curved windshield provides a more comfortable driving position and improved vision.

The G-Wiz i comes with a colour-impregnated and fully recyclable body; standard colours include marine blue, lightning silver or deep black. A range of extras includes a DAB radio / CD with mp3 player input and climate control seats. It comes with a two-year warranty, one-year roadside recovery and a choice of service packages. The 2+2 seat G-Wiz is in the lowest insurance group and is exempt from the London congestion charge and on top of all this, the fuel bill for a year’s electricity will cost less than the price of a tank of petrol (£40-50).

GoinGreen is now taking orders for February 2008 delivery. Prices start at £8,895 inc VAT.

Source: GoinGreen