Reverse Graffiti Artist uses a Nissan LEAF to Decorate our cities

Paul Curtis aka Moose uses the power from a LEAF to create Reverse Graffiti, a new form of art based on the dark pollution left by gas car in our big cities ... Check it out

My Tesla Paris Model S Test Drive

After two visits at the Tesla Store Paris, I finally test drove a Tesla Model S yesterday, with my son :-)

Part city and part freeway, under the rain with heavy traffic, Traction Control put to use few times while accelerating hard on the wet road

I must admit this car is probably the most powerful I have ever driven, it is an amazing feeling to feel pushed like this in a sporty / luxurious interior ...

BYD and New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority Complete Successful Pilot Test of BYD Electric Bus

BYD and the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced the conclusion of a pilot test on a BYD 40-foot electric bus, held from Aug 25th to Oct 25th.

It took two months for the final report data to be summarized for distribution.

Kevin Ortiz MTA’s spokesman stated:
“The general purpose of the program was to evaluate how an electric bus could perform in New York City’s heavy traffic, whether the electric bus can meet the twin challenges of operating in the stop-and-go traffic of Manhattan while maintaining high levels of passenger comfort and operational performance”



Tests were carried out on several different routes throughout Manhattan, including M20, M42, M104, M98, M60 and Bx27 and the ebus covered total distance of 1,481 miles. Typical range was 140-155 miles and charging was done at night in 3-4 hours.

In the press release we read the following:
“The BYD all-electric bus “performed excellent” with an average battery consumption of 1.4 miles per % SOC, translating to over 140 miles per full charge in heavy traffic. The average speed of electric bus was ~4 miles per hour under Manhattan’s heavy traffic.”

“After two months of running, the electric bus’s average battery duration was 0.3 hours per % SOC, translating to 30 hours of operation per full charge, as opposed to other competitors that require en route recharging every 2-3 hours during peak-rate times. These uninterrupted operational hours are more meaningful in a busy city like New York, as routes and speeds travelled tend to be short in distance but long in duration.”

BYD states 30 hours of operation per full charge. However, we must remember that in the winter, with heat on, this time will drop significantly. Just 10 hours of using a 10 kW heater (we don’t know what is the heating power is in the ebus) would consume 100 kWh, which is one-third of the battery pack size and this does not include drivetrain consumption. But in moderate temperatures, 30 hours could be achievable.

Darryl Irick, President of MTA Bus and SVP, MTA NYC Transit’s Department of Buses remarked:
“This test continues the MTA’s commitment to examine newer, cleaner and more efficient bus propulsion technologies.”

The Chinese manufacturer listed some advantages of its electric buses:

BYD Electric buses provide several advantages over conventionally powered buses;

- Improved air quality and reduced green-house-gas (GHG) emissions.

- BYD buses that are connected to power-interfaces can dispatch power back to the grid (bi-directionally) in case of an emergency or for optimized grid utility.

- BYD buses do not have an internal combustion engine or transmission and many other conventional components, therefore much less has to be replaced or refurbished every year reducing maintenance costs (and labor) significantly.

- Regenerative braking recovers braking energy, recharges batteries and reduces normal brake-pad wear and maintenance.

- Expected operating-cost-per mile of an electric bus is ~$0.20 to $0.30, compared to $1.30 per mile on an equivalent diesel or natural-gas powered bus in New York.


Source : Inside EVs

Last Saturday before Christmas - Vectrix Electric Ride in Paris with my Son

Last saturday, people were running their last errands before Christmas, so we decided to go to Paris using the Vectrix, my son and I.



First we headed to this new mall, #NouveauBeaugrenelle, which has been under renovation for years now; It is pretty nice, and you can get British products from Mark & Spencer, back in Paris here now

Can you see the Eiffel Tower all the way in the back ?












La Seine, and Maison de la Radio in the back right












Restaurant with a view




Marks & Spencer back in Paris



VW e-Up video Commercial









A live Jazz band was performing for us, nice ...





Let's go now, too much crowd ....

As usual, free charge at Mairie de Paris, thank you Bertrand ;-)

Nothing like a good old fashion hot chocolate and a "café crème" to warm us up at our favorite bar :-)