Media Centre
This media centre has been written to assist journalists and researchers who are looking for further information on the G-Wiz electric car, and on electric cars in general.
The G-Wiz Owner's Club also has a list of G-Wiz owners who are willing to be interviewed by journalists. Please contact us via e-mail to request this list.
Whilst the site is best used for background research, all articles and photographs may be freely copied and used by registered users of the site.
If you have any problems, or any questions, please do not hesitate to e-mail me on mike@g-wiz.org.uk. Please bear in mind that this site is run by enthusiasts for enthusiasts and an immediate response to questions may not always be possible.
Information about the Owners Club
The G-Wiz electric car owners club is an informal group of G-Wiz electric car owners and enthusiasts. Formed in the Summer of 2006 by Coventry based G-Wiz owner and car enthusiast Mike Boxwell, it exists as a forum to exchange views and ideas, and for occasional social meetings with like-minded people.
With over 475 members, the owner's club is the largest electric vehicle club in Europe. New members are joining at the rate of around 20 per month.
Membership is free and is open to all. Central to the club's activities is the on-line forums, where people can exchange views and ideas online. Recent forum discussions have included all areas of G-Wiz electric car ownership, as well as discussions on alternative electric cars and technologies.
Journalists and researchers are welcome to join in the forums and contribute. The only caviat is that you should not attempt to sell your own products or services to our members.
Information about the G-Wiz
The G-Wiz is manufactured in India by the Reva Electric Car Company (http://www.revaindia.com). Reva was formed in 1995 to manufacture environmentally friendly, cost effective electric city cars. Designed in California, the car was developed and tested in India and launched in India in May 2001.
The car is designed as a nimble, no-frills electric vehicle for non-polluting urban travel. It can carry two adults and two small children and is designed for inner city use, where performance and long-distance driving is not a major requirement.
GoinGreen (www.GoinGreen.co.uk) started importing the car into the UK in 2003 and have since sold around 1000 cars. Worldwide Sales are in the region of 3500 vehicles, making the G-Wiz the most successful electric car of all time.
There are three different models of G-Wiz:
G-Wiz dc-drive
The original G-Wiz was produced until the end of 2006 and had a range of 30-40 miles and a top speed of 40mph. This model has now been renamed the dc-drive model due to its direct current (DC) electric motor.
G-Wiz ac-drive
In mid 2006 a new, more powerful version of the G-Wiz - the ac-drive model - was launched. Featuring a more efficient and more powerful ac-drive electric motor, the G-Wiz ac-drive had better acceleration and improved hill-climbing performance, a top speed of 45mph and a range of up to 48 miles thanks to improved 'regenerative braking' where the batteries are recharged by the motion of the car whenever the driver takes their foot off the accelerator.
G-Wiz i
The latest model - the G-Wiz i - has recently been announced with a range of up to 48 miles, a top speed of 50mph, better braking, improved interior and with a newly designed crash cell that has been jointly developed with Lotus.
Because the G-Wiz produces is non-polluting and produces no carbon emissions, it is exempt from road tax and the London Congestion Charge. Many councils also offer free parking for electric car users, whilst a few are now offering electric vehicle charging points. In addition, EDF Energy are currently installing 250 on-street charging points across the UK.
Electric vehicles in the UK today
Electric vehicles have always been popular with home deliveries. As far back as the 1920s, Harrods used electric vans for delivering to their customers' homes. In more recent times, milk floats have been popular with Dairies, who appreciate their silent running, very low running costs and long vehicle life.
Today, there are three main manufacturers of electric vehicles in the UK. These are Smiths Electric Vehicles, who manufacture milk floats and light commercial vehicles up to 7½ tonnes in weight, Modec, who build powerful and spacious Light Commercial Vehicles, and BBIG, who produce milk floats and smaller commercial vehicles.
Modern electric vans are powerful vehicles with a top speed of between 50-70mph and a range of up to 100 miles. Prices are higher than equivalent diesel vehicles, but manufacturers claim that when the lower running costs are taken into account, overall prices are similar or better than diesel powered vans.
Sportscar manufacturer Lotus, manufacture the Telsa electric sportscar under licence to Telsa. This supercar has Ferrari-beating performance, with 0-62 acceleration times of sub 4 seconds, and a top speed of around 135mph. Range is around 220 miles. Unfortunately, it is not available in the UK, and there are no plans to bring it to the UK in the foreseeable future.
The most popular electric vehicles on sale in the UK today are electric bicycles. These are electrically assisted bicycles with a top powered speed of around 15mph and a range of between 10-20 miles. They are popular with commuters, students and older people who appreciate their low running costs and ease of use. Prices start from around £150. UK Importers include Sakura, Urban Mover and Powabike.
Where to look for further information
For more information about the G-Wiz, visit www.goingreen.co.uk and www.revaindia.com.
For all media enquiries about GoinGreen - the UK importers of the G-Wiz - please contact Rossana Tich on +44 (0)208 985 8935 or +44(0)7973 452 615 or by e-mail to rossana@rossanatich.co.uk.
For more information on electric cars in general, visit www.batteryvehiclesociety.org.uk and www.evuk.co.uk.
