The Electric Vehicle market is booming with the emergence of Tesla, Fisker and Venturi, and is expected by Liberty Electric Cars Ltd to explode soon. Reason enough for the new British company to invest GBP 30 million and create some 250 jobs in the UK in order to build their own EV cars.
Liberty Electric Cars has developed an electric drive-train platform which can power a range of large and luxury vehicles. Liberty thinks it can build 'in the tens of thousands' cars annually, including world's first electric Range Rover.
Barry Shrier, Liberty founder and CEO says; “The Liberty Electric Range Rover will drive cleanly and quietly around roads and cities, free of tax, congestion and parking charges, making less environmental impact than even the smallest, most fuel efficient car, yet still offering the comfort and security of a luxury 4 x 4.”
Liberty will charge between GBP 95,000 and GBP 125,000 per Liberty Range Rover depending on specifications. Liberty will use state of the art batteries which last for 200 miles (322 km), more than enough for a daily commute, and re-charging will not take long even if Liberty fails to give a time frame.
NEW UK ELECTRIC CAR MANUFACTURER TO INVEST £30 MILLION AND CREATE 250 JOBS
Eden Project Green Car Show: Newly formed Liberty Electric Cars Ltd is investing £30 million in the re engineering of large luxury cars and 4 x 4s into emission-free, high performance electric vehicles. The company will design and manufacture a unique electric drive-train platform to power a wide range of large vehicles, which will also have the flexibility to incorporate emerging technologies. Annual vehicle production, which will include the world’s first zero emission, electrically powered Range Rover, will be in tens of thousands and will create around 250 new technology and manufacturing jobs.
Barry Shrier, Liberty founder and CEO says; “The Liberty Electric Range Rover takes electric vehicle technology into a new sector, to large luxury cars that people aspire to drive, particularly in cities and urban environments where environmental controls are becoming increasingly tighter. The Liberty Electric Range Rover will drive cleanly and quietly around roads and cities, free of tax, congestion and parking charges, making less environmental impact than even the smallest, most fuel efficient car, yet still offering the comfort and security of a luxury 4 x 4.”
Liberty electric cars will incorporate state of the art energy storage and management systems, which the company will also offer to other vehicle manufacturers, commercial fleet operators and emergency response organisations. They will deliver superior performance and acceleration compared with existing technology. Liberty electric cars will have extended driving range and shorter recharge times. The Liberty Range Rover will power its way through 200 miles before needing a charge, and some models will carry on board range extending generators. Costs will range between £95,000 and £125,000 depending on model and specification.
The market for electric cars is still in its early stages, however exponential growth is expected as legislation, social awareness and technological advances accelerate change in transport choices.
Electric vehicles have 80 per cent lower running costs than petrol cars. Electrical power is also a more efficient source of power, as petrol engines only use around 25 per cent of their energy to create motion - the vast majority is lost in heat and the mechanical movement of the engine and transmission. Electric motors deliver 90 per cent efficiency.
An electric motor also provides superior acceleration because unlike a petrol engine it does not need to be revved, in order to achieve full power. The power (torque) is instantly available at all times. This is why petrol engines use electric starter motors!
Thing is, where does the power for the batteries come from? From the mains ofcourse, and that gets its power from good olf fossil fuels. Unless I'm issing something here, which I probably am.
Zero you are right that most electricty is produced from fossil fuels- at the moment, but the big difference is mains electricity can be produced by alternative methods like wind power or nuclear that could never work as individual vehicle power plants. In the future it could be emissions free
Thanks for the information joelynn. I suppose then this a good idea. But, at the moment, most of the electricity still comes from fossil fuels. I think its going to take some time before this truly becomes emissions free. Any other thoughts, people?
Yeah, Britain has a shameful record with energy production, only Luxembourg and Malta are worse than us, and they are far smaller. I was very impressed when in Germany at the amount of wind farms, in france too... There's another big benefit to electric cars- instant power- hence very fast acceleration
truly electrifying !