Chevrolet Volt | EV World Is Now Powered By Plug-In Conversions Corporation
                           PREMIUM LOGIN


EV World Open Access Article
Electric Cars line up for Nobel Peace Prize recipients in Oslo, Norway
Some of the estimated 60 electric cars that staged in three rows across the street from Oslo's Karl Johansgate Grand Hotel where Nobel Peace Prize winners Al Gore and Rajendra Pachaur and their families stayed. Most are Norwegian-built Kewet Buddys, along with Th!nk city, Revas, Peugeots and even a RAV4 EV (lower left). The black van on the left is the one used by the Nobel laureates.

A Nobel Electric Car Parade

Norwegian electric car owners turn out to honor Nobel Peace Prize winners Al Gore and Rajendra Pachaur.


By EV World



Open Access Article Originally Published: December 18, 2007

Earlier this month, the World's attention was focused on Oslo, Norway where former-U.S. Vice President Al Gore and IPCC chairman Rajendra Pachaur received the Nobel Prize for Peace. To honor the laureates for their landmark work global warming, the 1200+ member Norstart electric car owner's association in Norway organized an all-EV parade on December 10,2007 that wound through the streets of the capital, culminating at the Karl Johansgate Grand Hotel, where the dignitaries were staying.

According to Hans Håvard Kvisle at Elbil Norge, the manufacturers of the Kewet Buddy, it was quite impressive to see so many electric vehicles, most of them built by his firm, on display as the dignitaries left the hotel, which is captured on the video below. Interestingly, when Mr. Gore was asked about all the EVs across the street, he commented that he'd seen them from his hotel window, at which point he and the rest of his party were driven off in a van, along with their security escort.

In the case of the Kewet Buddy, which is currently in its sixth generation, more than 1,000 have been sold since ElBil Norge bought the original Danish company and moved production to Norway. It is the most popular electric car in Norway where EVs are accorded special incentives. Despite its small size -- which is comparable to the Daimler SmartforTwo -- it can carry three adults and has ample storage for groceries or two cases of beer. (Why is beer always the measure of an EV's capacity?)

The zero-maintenance lead batteries have a capacity of 8.4 kWh that provides a driving range, depending on the time of year of between 50-100km. Optionally available lithium ion batteries extend this from 100-150km. Besides the Buddy, the company has a convertible model called the BuddyCab and is developing a small delivery van based on the same welded tubular steel frame. The car is only available in Norway, however.

To learn more about the Kewet Buddy and ElBil Norge, visit their web site.

Thanks to all the EV owners in Oslo who took time out of their work day to participate in this important, if under-reported event.

END STORY


Times Article Viewed: 6706
Next >>




Reader Comments

A valid email address and confirmation is required before your comment can be posted. Comments not confirmed within 24 hours are automatically deleted.

First Name Last Name
Email Address:

[Please check your spelling. Do NOT use double quotes.
Use <P> to separate paragraphs.]

TYPE THE ABOVE CODE WORD INTO THE FORM FIELD

3 comments so far...

18-Dec-2007
59643 		   Wow, lots of practical EVs. That's what every city should look like.
Posted by: jim stack
18-Dec-2007
59645 		   A lot of those EVs look somewhat similar to the Citicar/Commutacar of the 1970s and early 1980s.
Posted by: Peter Stern
20-Dec-2007
59663 		   Beer is the defacto measure of EV capacity. The niche for old gas runabouts were called grocery getters, so the EV's current niche is Beer getters. The basket in my electric bike holds 2 6packs.
Posted by: Streetcar Eddie
a d v e r t i s e r


September ePOLL

Do you agree that the $100 billion invested in technology innovation was an appropriate expenditure by the American government?

Yes    No    Uncertain



Sign Up for FREE Weekly Newsletter


RELATED ARTICLES
Home Charging Coming to a Garage Near You
What's available in Electric Vehicle Service Equipment
Lightning Strikes Again
The Lightning motorcycle team is really on a roll
Smart-for-Three
It's the spiritual successor to the Isetta and Messerschmit micro-cars
Raser's [40-Mile] Edge
Video interview with key personnel in development of E-REV Silverado pickup
Porsche Plugs In Its New 918 Spyder
Porsche-produced video introduces the next generation of performance sports cars.


a d v e r t i s e r