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| Photo by electric cars report |
This is Gordon Murray, with the T27 electric car he designed, which in November 2011 won the:
- ‘Most Energy Efficient Small Car (Prototype)’,
- ‘Best Overall Pure Electric Vehicle’ and
- ‘Best Overall Entry – RAC Future Car Challenge Winner’ in 2011 RAC Future Car Challenge.
The Future Car Challenge is an eco-rally that does not mess about on race tracks in unusable prototypes on bycycle wheels.
It is a race in real conditions, covering the 57.13-mile from Brighton to London to sift out the electric car that guzzles the least power en route.
Eleven car companies entered this year, with 65 entries. The T27 electric car beat 'em all.
And once you get past the T27's rather duck-like front (does it remind anyone else about the pre-war CV2), it is actually a bit of a looker.
More impressive still
is that Murray and Zytek Automotive Ltd designed the T27 from scratch in one year and 5 months.This while we in South Africa are still waiting for the Joule to be built after four years.
OK, so the British Technology Strategy Board did give Murray half of the £9 million he invested on the project, but still Joule, four years? C'mon, where's the ethos of a boer making a plan and an Englishman making it right?
T27 Specs:
Length: 2.5 meters long
Seats: three adult passengers.
Weight 680kg, including the 12.1 kWh lithium-ion battery and 25 kW (33-horsepower) electric motor.
Acceleration: 62mph in under 15 seconds.
Top speed: 62mph.
Driving range: 160 miles over the New European Drive Cycle at 100km/h
