EVLN(British Isles' first 80mph electric hire cars, hotel recharging)

[Bruce EVangel Parmenter <brucedp@yahoo.com>]

EVLN(British Isles' first 80mph electric hire cars, hotel recharging)
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Features Jersey welcomes 80mph electric hire car  Simon Heptinstall
07/29/2000 The Times of London 1F3 27 (Copyright Times Newspapers Ltd)

FORMER world motor racing champion Nigel Mansell, who lives in Jersey,
is no doubt raising one of his distinctive eyebrows at the latest
motoring addition to his Channel Island home: the British Isles' first
electric hire cars.

With no gears, and a surprisingly high top speed of 80mph, four
electric cars are now on offer to tourists on the nine by five mile-
wide island. On a single battery they have a range of 125 miles -
enough for about four days' use for most sightseeing visitors.

When batteries run low, drivers can top them up at one of six hotels,
which have introduced recharging stations. There is also a recharging
point in the middle of St Helier, the capital, and car rental
employees will visit holidaymakers staying at accommodation without
charge-up facilities for overnight top-ups.

The cars are part of a pilot scheme involving Europcar and Toyota in
which the viability of electric rental cars is being tested. If they
prove a success, they could become a regular feature of tourist
resorts across the globe.

So far the omens are good. As the top speed in Jersey is 40mph, the
cars are having no trouble keeping up with traffic - despite all the
Porsches, Mercedes and Ferraris owned by the likes of Mansell - and
have shaken off the old "milkfloat" gibes.

"They've become very, very popular," said Europcar manager Guy Plant.
"People get them for the novelty value, then realise how good they are
to drive. The response has been marvellous."

The electric cars, which are appropriately coloured green, are priced
in the same category as Group D cars, which includes a Honda Accord
(Pounds 35 a day). But they are much quieter, with almost no engine
sound.

Some are concerned that this could put unwary pedestrians at risk.  To
counter these fears, drivers are advised to use horns regularly. 
Another drawback is that battery recharges take seven hours - although
Europcar points out that at least top-ups are free.

The electric car launch is all part of a wider scheme in Jersey,
backed by the local authorities, to encourage environmentally friendly
travel. There are already extensive cycle tracks, limits to vehicle
widths, and "green lanes" with 15mph speed limits and priority for
pedestrians, cyclists and horseriders. Caravans are banned - and there
are plans afoot for electric public buses.

"We are willing to test any idea that's good for the environment,"
said Jersey's tourism development officer, Nigel Philpott.

So what did The Times think of the electric hire car? Well, in a test
drive, it was smooth and handled well. All that was required was
turning a key, to which a light display announced "Ready", and then
pressing on the accelerator.

The horn was needed to keep pedestrians on their toes, but otherwise
it was like any other car. Except in one aspect: driving through the
countryside, you can actually hear the birds singing along Jersey's
leafy lanes.

Simon Heptinstall

Europcar in Jersey (0800 801495, www.europcarjersey.com); Pounds 35 a
day. Hotels with recharging points: L'Horizon, Longueville Manor,
Hotel La Place, The Grand, Chateau La Chaire and The Green Hills.

Caption: The new 80mph electric cars can be recharged at six Jersey
hotels. Photograph by SIMON HEPTINSTALL
 ...
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reserved. LONDON WEEKLY TIMES & MAIL NEWSPAPER GROUP Sunday Times
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