Sunday 23 November 2008

Blade Runner is on the Cutting Edge

With petrol prices taking a bite out of almost everyone’s wallets and the skies clogged with smog, Ross Blade, from the country town of Harcourt , Victoria, has developed a bold plan for Australia to kick the petrol habit and it looks like clear skies ahead.

Ross has developed what the CSIRO recognises as Australia 's first zero emissions electric car.  All the power with none of the pollution, it's called the Blade Runner.

Ross and his mechanic Richard start with a standard combustion-engine-driven Hyundai Getz and they gut it.

"You've got your engine.  The other components that come out, you've got your exhaust system there's quite a bit of weight in the exhaust system. [The] Radiator as well," Ross said.

That makes the vehicles a lot lighter, then all you need is power.

"The batteries are in two tanks. The rear one is the largest and when both batteries are fully charged the range of the Getz will extend to 120 kilometres," Ross said.

Hyundai has recognised the potential for this technology and has announced that it will be the first automotive manufacturer to offer new electric cars for sale in New Zealand using the Blade Runner technology.

The cars for sale will be fully electric, plug-in versions of the Getz.  As an electric car the Getz will have zero emissions and will be the first electric car available in New Zealand in any volume.  

“We are pleased that not only will we be the first selling a fully electric car but that we are also producing the cars locally,” commented Philip Eustace, Executive Director Hyundai Motors New Zealand.

The move will create a lot of interest within political parties and government agencies, as the governments Transport Strategy 2008 states that New Zealand should become one of the first countries in the world to widely use electric vehicles.

“They see this as a way to get the electric car strategy underway.  As a country we are adopters of technology which makes us reliant on other countries and we are a long way off from having mass production electric cars available here.”

The electric Getz has a top speed of 120kph with a range of 120km on a single charge with a fast charge extending the range for a day’s running to approximately 200km.  This makes it a fantastic vehicle for running around town being small, easy to park and of course having absolutely no emissions.

The first car has already been sold and delivery will be later this month.

Blade Electric Vehicles is a participant in the Australian Institute for Commercialisation’s (AIC’s) TechFast program. 

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