New Launches
Show Report: CV Show 2012
What a cracking event the 2012 Commercial Vehicle Show turned out to be, thanks in no small part to Ford… Read More
Mitsubishi L200 4x4 Long-Term Test 1
We has just taken delivery of a Mitsubishi L200 4x4 Club Cab for long-term appraisal… Read More
Ford Transit ECOnetic Brief Test
We’ve been putting a SWB 100hp 2.2TDi Euro 5 Transit 280 ECOnetic through its paces… Read More
Renault Kangoo ZE 2011 European Launch
Renault is at the forefront of manufacturers offering a mass produced factory-built electric van… Read More
Fuso Canter 2011 European Launch
Fuso has completely revamped its range of light and heavy truck Canter chassis and chassis crew cabs… Read More
Iveco Daily 2011 European Launch
Iveco has introduced new, latest generation diesels to its Daily range, along with detail changes inside and out… Read More
Ford Transit 2011 European Launch
Ford takes the iconic Transit to the next stage with an all-new range of 2.2-litre Euro 5 diesels… Read More
Volkswagen Crafter 2011 UK Launch
VW’s large panel van has undergone a serious makeover with changes to the front-end styling and the cab interior, as well as new Euro 5 diesels… Read More
Ford Transit Connect Electric Brief Test
We spent a day with the battery-powered Connect to get a better idea of what it’s like to live with in its natural, urban environment. Read More
Mercedes-Benz Vito E-CELL Brief Test
Currently undergoing trials with selected fleet customers in the UK, we managed to get behind the wheel of a battery-powered Vito E-CELL… Read More
Volkswagen Crafter 2011 European Launch
Volkswagen’s Crafter has undergone a midlife makeover and gets a new front-end along with new Euro 5 engines… Read More
Monday, 08 November 2010 07:56 | 
Written by Ian Kemp
Nemo triumphs in RAC Future Car Challenge
The inaugural Brighton to London RAC Future Car Challenge eco run took place over the weekend and despite the title there was a category for electric vans; Most Economic Light Commercial EV.Two Citroën Nemos converted to run on battery power by Nicholson McLaren using technology jointly developed with the Electric Vehicles Company of Guernsey were entered; one by Nicholson and another by its client, Interserve. By the end of the 60 mile run the one driven by VansA2Z editor Neil McIntee, ably assisted by co-driver Simon North, the business specialist for London Citroën dealer Bellamys, had consumed the least amount of energy of all the category entrants; including the other Nemo.
All the vehicles were fitted with a special GPS-linked data-logger, used to determine the official figures, but by the end of the run in Pall Mall, London, the Nemo's on-board systems showed that our urban warrior still had 31 per cent of its charge remaining; enough juice in hand for at least another 25 miles.Commenting on the event McIntee said: “I’m not exactly renowned for having a sympathetic right foot, but it was easy to adapt my driving style to minimise energy usage. If I can do it, anybody can and this has shown that there is a future for battery-powered vans; in the right operating environment.”
John Waghorn, Nicholson Mclaren Engines’ Sales Director, comment: “We are delighted that the NME Nemo Electric Van proved so successful in the RAC Brighton to London Future Car Challenge. It is very satisfying to see that our electric vehicle technology delivers the performance and economy that beat the many other rival electric vehicles in this event by a very large margin. The Nemo Electric Van is now available from NME to suit a wide range of urban business transport applications.”
The winning Nicholson McLaren Nemo will feature on the VansA2Z/ecoVansA2Z stand at the Eco2 Transport Show, taking place at the Earls Court Exhibition Centre, London, on 16 – 18 November.
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