The RAC Future Car Challenge from Brighton to London
November 6th 2010 was a big day for the RAC Future Car Challenge. 60 zero- and low-carbon cars will be driving from Brighton to London – the number of entries exceeding the RAC's expectations, and establishing one of the largest events of its kind.
Being held for the first time in 2010, the Challenge was a public showcase for low carbon vehicles. Open to the latest electric, hybrid and low emission passenger cars, light commercial vehicles and motorcycles, awards were presented in different categories for vehicles judged to have made the least energy impact during the 60-mile Brighton to London run.
As a measure of the importance of the event, entries were received from the majority of the major car manufacturers, including BMW, Citroen, FIAT, Ford, MINI, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Renault, Skoda, Smart, Tata, Toyota, Vauxhall and Volkswagen. In many cases several different models had been entered. Several world/UK pre-production debuts featured, powered by an array of fuel types, as well as models currently available on the market.
Vauxhall's Ampera entry is an electric car fitted with a small 'range extender' petrol engine – unlike a hybrid vehicle; it doesn't drive the car directly but tops up the batteries on the move to extend the vehicle's range to a claimed 350 miles. UK-based Liberty Electric Cars entered the world's first pure electric 4x4 vehicle – the Liberty E-Range Range Rover. The Liberty E has a battery range of around 200 miles and is claimed to cover 0-60mph in around seven seconds. Sports cars were represented by entries from Tesla, well known for its high performance vehicles, plus privately entered Lotus Elise and MG-F both recently converted to electric drive.
Professor Gordon Murray has adapted many years of Formula One and performance road car design experience to set up Gordon Murray Design Limited in Surrey. The company has developed iStream, an innovative and disruptive automotive manufacturing technology to reduce the overall environmental impact of cars and the way that they're built. For the RAC Future Car Challenge, Gordon Murray entered his company's T.25 three-seater city car that he drove himself. The ultra-lightweight design utilises Formula One technology, and has a unique door opening system so it can be parked very close to objects but still allow occupants to enter and exit.
Ben Cussons, Chairman of The Royal Automobile Club Motoring Committee, said : "We're extremely pleased with both the quantity and, importantly, the quality of the entries we've established. As well as entries from major manufacturers and specialist companies, a number of private owners will also take part – something we very much encourage. We're confident this will be the largest, most public, showcase for low energy vehicles that has ever taken place in Europe and is therefore just as significant as The Royal Automobile Club's world famous London to Brighton Veteran Car Run which takes place the following day."
