The Sinclair C5 - the "green" vehicle that was way ahead of its time

The Sinclair C5 - shown here superinposed with a "Mini" for size comparison.
Picture from the official press release that accompanied the launch of the C5 on 10th January 1985
(and, therefore, as it was part of a press release,
my use of it in this article would appear to be both legal and ethical)

Read my C5 review here.

The Sinclair C5 was released in Britain on the 10th of January 1985, and initailly priced at about 400 pounds (640 dollars, 480 euros, at current exchange rates, but not allowing for inflation!).

Although it was a commercial failure, it is a very good case study of a "green" vehicle.

I remember the original release (I'm nearly 50 years old!), and later, the C5s being sold at half-price to get rid of the stock.

I didn't buy one, as back in January 2005, I was a clerk at the Ministry of Defence (if you're an American, think Department of Defense, and you're pretty close!), and iirc, my MONTHLY wage was about 400 pounds before taxes etc. and about 300 pounds by the time it actually reached my bank account, so being priced at five-and-a-half weeks pay, the Sinclair C5 (at the original price) wasn't exactly cheap!

Iirc, about 10 or 15 years, some C5s were uprated to have solar panels on them and were sold in iirc California.

I am posting this article because it might inspire someone to design a practical, modern, "green" vehicle, but do read my review first, for my comments on actually driving (riding?) the Sinclair C5!
Anyway, onto the dimensions.
There are a few link at the end of this piece where you can go to download manuals etc. for the Sinclair C5.


Size

• Overall length: 1.744m (5' 9")

It is easier to be "Green" if the law enforcement officers leave you alone ...

This story was brought to my attention by the estwhile folks at Sky News.

It appears that a cyclist, while carrying out a lawful manoeuvre (maneuver, for those on the othe side of the Pond), upset a policeman, who was carrying out an unlawful manoeuvre (maneuver).

How many wind farms is too many?

As brought to my attention by the BBC, some politicians think that there are too many applications to build wind farms in Scotland.

So how many is too many?

Car (Automobile) Sharing (Pooling) - Half the Work, Half the Congestion!

We have recently started car (automobile) sharing when my daughter goes to her dancing lessons.
There is another family whose daughter also goes, and they live about half a mile from us (about 800 metres/meters).

Cycling on the increase in the UK !

Bicycling is on the up!Halfords, a large retail chain that sells cycles and cycling accessories as well as autombile parts and accessories, has reported a rise in sales in the last three months.
halfords claims to be the biggest cycle retailer in the UK, with sales of one million cycles a year.
The BBC attributes the rise in Halfords' sales to the interest generated by having a Britain win the Tour de France and the success of British cyclists at the recent London Olympics.

sources:
BBC
Halfords

Trixie Biker Set de Luxe - bike set (Google Affiliate Ad)

Caravanning by bicycle?

These days lots of folk are trying to be more "green" - lower their carbon footprint, live sustainably, etc. etc.
We all like our holidays (especially us Europeans who seem to get twice as much vacation time as most Americans - don't blame me, because you voted for the folks that made it so, not me!), so how can we combine our increasing environmental awareness with some much needed time away from the office and the home?

Here's an idea for you!

My best gas mileage yet!

My best "hypermiling" trip yet!
A trip to the airport returns 76 mpg!
- that's about 63 mpg (US), 3.7 l/100km.
Anyone can achieve a great mileage over a short distance

• I could, for example, go to the top of a hill near here, reset the fuel computer, then drive down the hill and claim great gas mileage!!
• but I will not!

What really matters is what gas mileage you get for a "real journey", and for a round trip, so that headwind/tailwind uphill/downhill effects do not skew the result.

My automobile computer readout after the airport run 

The trip was far from optimum for hypermiling, but I did what I could.