[alancalverd]

There's much to be said for the lead-acid battery if you aren't too worried about energy density: easy to recycle, very predictable, resilient charging regime, and they don't selfdestruct as spectacularly as lithium. Clearly not much use for a bike but the minimal 4-seat town car is a good idea.

The G-Wiz got a bad press in the UK but was probably released ahead of its time and into the wrong market. Adding some crash protection would make sense, and if you could recharge it with an on-board diesel generator running at optimum efficiency (constant power, lean burn)  you could reduce a lot of urban pollution (mostly caused by accelerating i.c. engines)  without having to introduce any new infrastructure.

[acsinuk (OP)]

I certainly like the idea of having an electric city car like the Citreon AMI which if needing to go out of town on a long journey could tow a hired generator behind it which charged up the battery continuously turning it into a hybrid. 
Or possibly we could fix the generator on the roof rack which would be environmentally friendly in town but allow the driver the opportunity to be a normal hybrid when out of town without worrying about recharging battery delays.   

[alancalverd]

Given the profound incompetence of the average motorist, the idea of citydwellers  storming around country lanes (where the accident rate per vehicle-mile is already higher than any other roads) towing a trailer or with a heavy load on the roof of a tiny car, is appalling. Worse, there would be an outward rush every evening as they drove off into the suburbs to recharge their batteries in the once-clear air of the countryside.

[acsinuk (OP)]

We need to keep coming up with new ideas of how to be more economical and environmentally friendly.  Hybrid SUV are an expensive polluting disaster and should be banned from our city streets immediately.  SUV are okay for farmers and builders but why use one to take the kids to school.

[Bored chemist]

SUV are okay for farmers and builders but why use one to take the kids to school.

So, farmers and builders need to buy a second vehicle- just to take the kids to school.
Doesn't seem very "green" to me.

[alancalverd]

Hybrid SUV are an expensive polluting disaster and should be banned from our city streets immediately. 

Unless you want some building work or food, that is. But SUVs aren't a lot of use for builders or farmers - pickup trucks or big vans are better for moving tools, bricks and animals. SUVs are for showing how much you care about not exposing your children to sun and rain, or mixing with the Great Unwashed on the bus.

[acsinuk (OP)]

We should rename SUVs as Super Unfriendly [ both environmentally and economically] Vehicles. How are we going to deal with global warming if people use them as runabouts?

[Bored chemist]

We should rename SUVs as Super Unfriendly [ both environmentally and economically] Vehicles. How are we going to deal with global warming if people use them as runabouts?

Raise fuel duty?
Polluter pays.

[acsinuk (OP)]

Yes, raise fuel prices and also vehicle tax to be set in grams per kilometre. Cars £100, SUVs £200 etc. Pure electric vehicles £20 as some can be charged up using wind or solar power..

[alancalverd]

Vehicle tax is pointless. It penalises low-mileage essential users (rural grannies) and has no effect on megamile gas guzzlers. Fuel duty is a very efficient tax, and essential business users effectively reclaim it as an expense. 

[acsinuk (OP)]

Problem is we need to be able to use lorries at a reasonable rate but suppose it will still be cheaper than rail and triple handling anyway.

[Bored chemist]

Problem is we need to be able to use lorries at a reasonable rate but suppose it will still be cheaper than rail and triple handling anyway.

In principle, we can run lorries on "red diesel".

[EuniceSmith]

good question, I just wanted to take a motorcycle for myself, I need it to ride around the city, I don't want too powerful, I'm not going to drive it

[Juan25]

Rear motors are best for riders wanting or needing more power, or those looking to incorporate a throttle. There are also some new electric road bikes with small 250W rear hub motors that can be very stealthy with an integrated battery for a clean, traditional appearance.

[mearchd]

E bike is a new way for commuting. It is friendly to our live environment. I got one electric bike from spammybike,cog which really helps me

[Colin2B]

I got one electric bike from spammybike,cog which really helps me

Another weak attempt to pedal goods. On y’er bike mate ...

[sceptic-eng]

In electric motorbikes Honda are leading the charge but China has already produced a 15 kW permanent magnet motor using a 15kWh lithium battery which is also suitable for city runabout electric cars at a very competitive price.
UK needs to start production of these electric micro cars to limit climate change and improve city air quality.

[mayorovd]

This government, and others of the same colour over the last 4 decades that I know of have steadfastly said that "near market" research should be paid for by the industry.

[acsinuk (OP)]

Yes, but the basic research should be funded by government grants to universities; such as Notts and the results published to the metal bashers in the Midlands to develop into small micro electric cars as a showroom product.

[Bored chemist]

but the basic research

Was done my Faraday, some time ago.