UK Electric rally team returns from World Rally

Gordon Foat of Green MotorSport Woking has just returned after successfully completing the (WAVE) World Advanced Vehicle Expedition. Representing Great Britain in this project of international importance, and driving for Team 17 UK in the first zero emission expedition, Gordon drove from Woking to Paris for the start of WAVE on 11th Sep 2011.

Driving the new electric Nissan Leaf to Prague, Gordon visited 30 European cities en route, completing a total recorded distance over 4620 KM powered only by electricity generated from renewable sources. The Moss Solar Trust supplied solar energy, and over 600kW hours of energy were isolated for the journey making the WAVE and Gordon's efforts carbon zero.

For over 10 years, Gordon has been developing advanced drive trains for electric vehicles. His company, Green MotorSport Limited, has demonstrated this technology to millions of people at public events and through the media. He has now proved that electric cars have what it takes to meet every day transport needs.

The pioneering journey highlights the requirement for a recharging infrastructure for electric vehicles, which over the next few years, will enable drivers to travel freely around Europe, using energy from the sun, wind, wave or biofuels from waste. The trip comes at a very interesting time where most car manufactures are working hard to develop electric systems for the future and Pan European Standards for recharging are being discussed to make a step towards a broad introduction of electric vehicles in Europe.

Gordon's trip highlighted issues associated with finding power to recharge his electric car. However, using a little plug hunting skills, Gordon, nick named The Plug Hunter by other WAVE participants obtained enough energy to load his vehicle not only to drive in the WAVE but also to recharge his electric rally car on the return trip from Prague.

At each town, Gordon demonstrated his electric rally car and showed its great potential to meet everyone’s needs for clean, efficient transport. Gordon said,
" I am very happy and very fortunate to represent my Country in WAVE. The journey and it's experiences will motivate me to work even harder towards helping others become more sustainable and knowledgeable about what we must do as a nation to help future generations avoid the effects of pollution and climate change. It's so important that we face the facts and develop technologies that don't undermine our future. We have clear scientific data now, there's no guessing anymore about how humanity is affecting the environment. We all have the power to make, create and change things, but do we have the skills or technology or time to repair the environment?"