Vacation in Marseille - EVs and Solar

Last week, we went down from Paris to Marseille, using TGV - French high speed train - at 300 km/h

We have been there several times and love it because the weather is warmer, and staying at the Vieux Port - old harbor - is pretty nice

We can do mostly everything in walking distance or using public transportation, sometimes electric, like this Solar powered free boat, going across the harbor

Two screens show the instant power Generated by Solar (around 3kW on the roof) and Used by the Motors (front and back, since it goes both directions)


The view of the harbor from it is great





Tramway, electric also and well designed


Also I saw some EVs here and there, even a famous shellfish delivers using small city EVs

Marseille City Water Service i-MiEV


A Renault Twizy parked with motorcycles here


A city small electric truck charging directly from the office outlet by the window :-)



A Smart ED, in black for once, with the a broken gas lid, did someone try to still gas here ? :-) no luck ...



New buses are Hybrid, still diesel, but at least their engine stops when they are not moving

First Marseille to Paris road trip with a Tesla Model S in one day

First trip from Marseille to Paris in a Tesla Model S with James Morlaix, head of from Tesla Motors Club France, accomplished in one day ...


"Embarquez à bord de la Tesla Model S pour le premier Marseille Paris en une journée avec un véhicule de série 100 % électrique. Un record réalisé avec James du club Tesla Motors France"



Departure in front of Marseille's cityhall, next to the famous harbor




James Morlaix, head of Tesla Motors Club in France, in his own Model S


Maxime Fontanier (filming and talking)








Arriving in Lyon, half way after 4 hours or driving between 90 and 110km




Parking next to a DBT CEV CHAdeMO / AC fast charging station (offered by Nissan)



SuperChargers are coming in 2014 for France and there will be some on the road from Marseille to Paris, through Lyon, for sure; They will make the journey much faster

Leaving Lyon



Music on



Paris Ring / Peripherique


Ooops 0km range


and finally found the new Parisian Fast Charging Station installed in a BP gas station




Filmed by Maxime Fontanier from Max Reportage

BMW i3 - Test Drive, Tour, TV Show, and Production Video

Remember in August, BMW unveiled their i3 and I requested a Test Drive filling up their online form 

Well, in exactly one month, on November 14th, I should be behind the wheel of a newly built i3 at a BMW dealer; Check out their email received few minutes ago :    

Like the LEAF two years ago, the i3 will be on a Tour around France, starting in Paris, then going to Lyon, Strasbourg, Bordeaux and finally Marseille

Tomorrow, our "French Top Gear" Turbo will be focused on the BMW i3, with an exclusive in depth 30 minutes TV show :

http://www.turbo.fr/emission-turbo/440124-essai-bmw-i3-en-exclusivite-dimanche-dans-turbo.html

If you miss it there is a replay for a week I think, all French, but could be interesting, if they don't try to go from Paris to Lyon with it of course ... like other journalists did and shown on France this week with a Renault Zoe

Warning: Listening to this preview, Dominique Chapatte says he will also test drive the Tesla Model S, so I think I will definitely watch this one on sunday - for once, because I usually never do - 

Finally, at the bottom of this email, BMW gives a direct link to a video of the i3 production factory in Leipzig, Germany, started mid september: