Blade Electric Vehicles - Australia's first commercial electric car » Customers

New Electron models and pricing announced

admin — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 03:42:24 +0000

Blade is excited to announce a breakthrough in both product development and pricing for its all-electric Electron range …

Urban four seat five door new Electron MkVI at just $47,000*

Urban four seat five door ex-fleet Electron DG at just $47,000*

Urban two seat three door ex-fleet, long range Electron DGL at just $52,000*

*See conditions below.

The Electron range is the culmination of four years research and development, road testing and astute technology choices.

R&D including design patents and crash testing culminating in an unlimited Federal production licence.
Knowledge gained with over 40 vehicles on the road.
Selection and adaption of the robust and proven Hyundai Getz body.

The Electron has had a major upgrade in power plant, cell pack and ease of driving. Power and torque has been doubled such that the vehicle can be driven without the need to use the gear stick but for those who still want that extra torque at high speed two additional semi automated gears are provided. There has been a break through in cell technology reducing cell weight by one third and doubling power output. The resulting weight advantage enabled us to install a powerful 6kW on board charger. This means that at home and at public J1772 charge points, such as those provided by the ECOtality, (see photo) you can recharge your Electron in just two hours. In addition, Blade provides a second plug so you can still recharge at the standard 10 Amp house hold power point.

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The following table will help you decide which Electron model best suits your needs.

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Features	Electron MkVl	Electron DG	Electron DGL
J1772 charge	2hr/8hr	2hr/8hr	4hr/8hr
Urban range*	160km	160km	220km
Hwy range	100km	100km	140km
Torque^	160Nm	160Nm	170Nm
Power^	65kW	65kW	50kW
Seating	4	4	2
Price inc GST+	$ 47,000	$ 47,000	$ 52,000
* Based on Japan 10.15 drive cycle – in Blade’s view best reflects inner city driving.
^ May vary in some cases at Blade’s discretion.
+ Plus on road costs. Prices may vary without notice.

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Q&A

Q. Will finance companies lease an Electron?

A. Yes, finance is available through a number of leasing companies – BEV can assist in arranging leasing.

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Q. Are there options to enhance the Electron?

A. Yes, the following is a list of available options:

GT stripes
ECOtality wall mount charge station – from $3500
20 minute CHAdeMO compatible recharge 4Q 2011 (retrofit will be available)
Leather seats
Mag wheels
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Q. Which companies will insure the Electron?

A. Insurance is available through forward thinking insurers such as Suncorp, Shannons, AAMI, Apia and GIO.

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Q. What Warranty will I receive?

A. Blade provides a full three year warranty on all parts and components.

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Q. Where can my Electron be serviced?

A. Any UltraTune service centre.

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Q. If I buy an Electron today will it quickly become obsolete and lose value?

A. No, it’s our policy to provide our customers with an upgrade path to help future proof their investment. To date seven Mk l, Mkll and Mk lll Electrons have been upgraded to Mk V for Melbourne City Council, Maribyrnong Council, Melton Council, Mount Alexander Council and a range of private owners at a very reasonable rates to keep their electric motoring up to the latest standard.

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Q. Is Blade’s Buy Back guarantee still applicable?

A. Yes, to further protect the value of your purchase Blade guarantees to buy back your Electron after year one for 50% of its purchase price, after two years for 40% and after three years for 30% of the original purchase price. The one condition is that there shall be no more than $300 in damage and this is determined at Blade’s sole discretion – Buy Back Electrons are refurbished then on sold.

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Q. How do I buy an Electron?

A. At these ground breaking prices there is a strict order of production and delivery. To reserve your place in the production line you simply place a 10% deposit. If you subsequently cancel your order half the deposit will be refunded no questions asked.

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Q. Are there any other terms and conditions?

A. The payment schedule for your Electron requires a further 40% on start of the process for production, 25% when vehicle is assembled and the balance when it is ready for delivery and you are satisfied with the car.

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Q. How long will it take from order to delivery?

A. The time required from order to delivery is approximately 12 weeks.

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Q. What colours can I choose from?

A. Colour choice is limited to availability of stock at the time you make your 40% production payment – White is the most common colour available and has the added benefit of keeping your Electron cooler.

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Q. I want an Electron so what do I do?

A. Either phone or email Jim Norris or Ross Blade – details here

100 people test drive Electron in Melbourne

admin — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 03:47:51 +0000

The Blade Electron was a star performer at the Green Zone Drive event in Melbourne’s Docklands precinct over the week of October 2-8. Over 100 people test drove the Electron over a 3.5 kilometre circuit around public roads. As expected, it performed flawlessly in the testing environment (including during the severe storms on the Wednesday).

Electron driving the future

admin — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 01:40:06 +0000

From the Canberra Times, August 8th 2010

BY NOEL TOWELL

19 Aug, 2010 09:07 AM

It will cost you $48,000 and you can’t drive it to Sydney but the Blade Electron represents progress on many fronts.

First, it’s the closest you can get to an Australian-built electric car and driving 100km in it will cost you $2.

Provided the electricity comes from renewable sources, that’s the greenest 100km you’ll find, short of a pushbike.

And with the Electron capable of charging in eight hours from a domestic power point, it doesn’t have to wait for the promised electric car recharging points to appear around the city.

The car, if it does everything its makers say it can, could launch Castlemaine into the ranks of Australian automotive, or electromotive, household names.

Read the original article>

Wollemi Systems’ Electron in Canberra

admin — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 01:15:50 +0000

Wollemi Systems is an ICT consultancy in Canberra, ACT.

The Wollemi Systems Electron

In late 2009, as part of Wollemi System’s commitment to helping create a sustainable future, they embarked on the purchase of a new electric car…

Asking around the local dealerships they received nothing but blank looks. “We have hybrids” was about as close as they could get! Hybrid cars are only part of the solution. They wanted a zero emission vehicle and therefore electric was the only solution.

Then they discovered BEV.

NZ Environment Minister talks EVs

admin — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 06:39:09 +0000

NZ Minister for Climate Change Issues - Dr Nick Smith

NZ Minister for Climate Change Issues, Dr Nick Smith, gave a speech to the 6th Climate Change And Business Conference in Sydney on Wednesday, 11 August 2010.

Dr Smith has been driving an Electron in his electorate of Nelson for over 2 years. In the speech he says in part:

“Another initiative of which I have a personal interest is encouraging the uptake of electric car technologies.

“ New Zealand having such a large percentage of renewable electricity is uniquely placed to reduce emissions from the new generation of battery powered cars.

“Full credit to Blade Electric Vehicles in Melbourne (sic) who converted my Hyundai Getz into full electric.

“My nine-year old son disapprovingly calls it a “nana car” but it is technology such as this that is helping pave the way with its zero emissions.”

The Conference Communique contains recommendations in the transport area including:

Help change behaviour through incentives, regulations and gov’t best practice e.g. with its vehicle fleets.
Work on integrating infrastructure e.g. upgrade electricity grid to facilitate renewable power for vehicles.

Full transcript of speech here.

Electron the future of motoring today – NECO

admin — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 00:34:55 +0000

NECO’s Electron

Smart Green Living experts, NECO, are happy with their Electron:

“We’ve had our Blade Electric Vehicle (“Electron”) for almost 12 months now, and we couldn’t be happier. We love the fact that it is zero emissions, has zippy performance, and turns heads for all the right reasons!

Big pat-on-the-back to Ross Blade and the team at BEV for the work they have done on this car. They’ve also had some great write-ups in “Drive” in recent weeks. Support local engineering and manufacturing, and try an Electron – it’s the future of motoring today!”

Neco's Electron

Canberra driving experience

admin — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 01:41:05 +0000

I took my new Electron out for proper spin today – to give it a full run through its paces… …I think the drive represented a pretty normal Canberra driving situation (except it was raining!)

I covered a total of 86km, with 1, 2 and 3 passengers on board…

The route:

Few highway stints @100km(inter city driving), but mostly 50-60km /hr driving…

Suburb loop A x 2 laps – in weston creek (moderately hilly)

City loop x 3 laps of the parliamentary triangle

Suburb loop B x 3 or 4 laps around dickson (flat driving, until empty!)

Driving Conditions:

I worked all the accessories: intermittent use of wipers / heater / a-c the whole time, no head lights, outside temperature was 9 degrees down to 7 degrees at the end (according to BOM)

All in all it was a great drive! Nice work Blade EV! :)

Haydn Lowe, Director

Wollemi Systems Pty Ltd

Download a PDF of Haydn’s first drive in the Electron – including in depth analysis of speed vs distance and altitude – (1MB PDF file).

Electron features at launch of W.A. electric vehicle trial

admin — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 04:51:49 +0000

Peter Meurs, managing director for WorleyParsons’ sustainable business arm EcoNomics, shows off his Blade Electron at the launch of Australia’s first major EV trial in Western Australia.

See video report here.

Read the story here

A happy “pre-loved” Electron buyer

admin — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 06:14:37 +0000

Michael Axtens purchased a “pre-loved” Electron in mid-2009. This was a Mark I 2007 model, with about 10,000km on the clock. It was updated and refurbished at BEV before sale. Since then he has travelled roughly 1000km, including two return trips to Melbourne from Geelong.
Michael describes the car as a “delight to drive”, and he should know, having already converted a car as an exercise with an electric car club. He is particularly taken with the regenerative braking, which he has quickly mastered and professes to hardly ever need to use the conventional brake.
“It’s a great feeling to know you are maximising the energy storage and not wasting battery power as heat in the brakes”, he said.
He also is happy with the new fuel gauge, a recent innovation from BEV, with a real time indication of battery charge level. “It seems very accurate and I like the low battery indicator – just like a petrol warning light”, he said.

Online Green store buys Electron

admin — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 01:02:41 +0000

Online store NECO has purchased an Electron as part of their fleet.

It can be seen at their megastore at 101-107 Whitehorse Road, Blackburn, Vic 3130.