Buddy (electric car)
Buddy is a Norwegian electric car, produced by Pure Mobility, formerly Elbil Norge AS, at Økern in Oslo. In 2007, the Buddy, and its predecessor, the Kewet, made up 20% of the electric cars in Norway.[1]
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[edit] History
Buddy is the sixth generation of the Kewet electric vehicle. Originally the Kewet was developed in Hadsund, Denmark, and the first model was made in 1991. Production alternated between Hadsund, Denmark and Nordhausen, Germany. During the first five generations over 1000 electric vehicles were produced. The vehicle was sold in eighteen countries. In 1998 all rights were acquired by ElBil Norge AS (which at the time was called Kollega Bil AS). Bil is the Norwegian word for car (as in automobile), Norge is the Norwegian word for Norway. For some years ElBil Norge further developed the electric vehicle and in the autumn of 2005 a new model was presented that was first called Kewet Buddy Citi-Jet 6, but is now known simply as the Buddy.
In December 2008, the first 12 Buddy cars were sent from the Buddy factory in Økern by boat to Copenhagen.[2] In 2010, Pure Mobility (former "Elbil Norge") launched a brand new version of the Buddy. It was initially marketed as "MetroBuddy", but the "Metro" prefix was removed due to certain negative or confusing associations with the term.
[edit] Technology and production
Buddy is a simple, functional, electric city car with a range of 20–60 kilometres (12–37 mi) depending on season, topography and driving style. Maximum speed is 80 kilometres per hour (50 mph). Its length is 244 centimetres (96 in), which means that in some jurisdictions it can be legally parked sideways.
The Buddy consists of a strong, hot galvanized steel tube frame, complete with safety cage but with no proper deformation zones. The body is made of thin fiberglass. Other metal parts are treated so that further rust treatment is unnecessary. The electric motor is a 72V Sepex 13kW, a direct current motor with brushes. Well tried technological solutions have been used to ensure maximal reliability. The car has no servo or aids regarding steering and braking. The response and "connection" to brakes and front wheels are vague and difficult to finesse. The vehicle also lacks safety equipment such as ABS, ESP, Airbags etc.
Currently, the Buddy is delivered with lead batteries. Completely discharged batteries can be recharged in 6–8 hours. The batteries can be rapidly charged so that one hour's charging allows the vehicle to be driven about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi). Charging requires an ordinary, grounded outlet with a minimum circuit of 10 A. The life expectancy for the batteries is expected to be between two and five years, or about 20 000 km, depending on driving and charging habits. A complete battery set costs from £2 800 excluding value added tax.
ElBil Norge has made a development fleet of Buddy vehicles equipped with various forms of Li-Ion battery technology. When this technology is made available commercially, existing Buddy vehicles will be upgradeable to the new technology.
The Buddy is EU approved by the Vehicle Certification Agency as an electric four-wheel motorcycle aka. Heavy Quadricycle. It can be used as an ordinary vehicle without restrictions as to the roads it can be driven on, and drivers require only an ordinary driving license.
Two models of the Buddy are currently available, the ordinary variety and BuddyCab which features a folding roof. In 2007 the production capacity at Økern in Oslo is 5-6 vehicles a week, with a theoretical production capacity of 500 vehicles annually. To meet international needs ElBil Norge is working to establish new production localities. Despite international interest, the Buddy is currently sold only in Norway while the company prepares for export.
As of late 2008, plans were under way for an additional factory in Portugal. The aim is to produce 5000 cars a year.[3]
[edit] Information
Electric cars usually reduce the over-all release of greenhouse gases, especially when the electricity needed to charge the batteries is produced by renewable energy forms or nuclear power (about 98% of all energy consumed in Norway comes from renewable sources[4]). Additionally, pure electric cars do not pollute locally and produce considerably less noise than other vehicles. A small electric vehicle, such as the Buddy, is especially efficient in terms of energy and area usage. It uses energy resources 3-5 times more effectively than gasoline or diesel vehicles[citation needed] and can park sideways. In Norway, the authorities allow electric vehicles to drive in bus lanes, use toll roads free, and to park in municipal car and, for electric vehicles classified as motorcycles, motorcycle parking places free. The annual road tax is significantly reduced (NOK 370 in 2007).
Current annual production of electric cars is 4,380. Buddy ranks 29th in terms of sales by automotive brands in Norway in 2006, ahead of Jaguar, Fiat, Smart and Porsche.[5] Most cars are black/dark/grey/silver, about 80% of Buddys are delivered in strong, bright colours[6] with many using bold decorative elements: flowers, hearts, clouds, and flames – and a multitude of colours. One Buddy was designed to match the owner's night table lamp.[7]
A total of 125 Buddies were sold in Norway during 2011 representing a market share of 6% of all electric vehicles sold in the country that year.[8]
[edit] Operations and Ownership
Buddy is produced by Pure Mobility (formerly known as "ElBil Norge AS") which in 2003 changed its name from Kollega Bil AS. The company was originally established in 1992 and has been in the electric vehicle branch since that time. Managing director is Kjell Strøm. Elbil Norge AS is owned by the original founders Jan-Petter Skram and Viggo Vargum, in addition to external investors which include Hafslund Venture AS, Gezina AS (Th. Brøvig), members of the Selvaag family, Lychegaarden (Jens P. Heyerdahl) og Jan Chr G Sundt. The owners have expanded the company gradually. In 2005, an emission NOK 12 million financed by the existing owners allowed for an expansion of the Økern factory. ElBil Norge had a profit in 2004 and 2005 and has a ratio of owner equity to debt of 90%.
[edit] See also
- Government incentives for plug-in electric vehicles
- List of modern production plug-in electric vehicles
- Plug-in electric vehicle
[edit] References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Buddy (electric car) |
- ^ http://www.emc-mec.ca/files/Electric_Mobility_Canada_2008_open.pdf
- ^ Historien bak Buddy (in Norwegian)
- ^ "Buddy satser med ny fabrikk", Teknisk Ukeblad 15 December 2008, in Norwegian
- ^ "Electricity sector in Norway". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_sector_in_Norway.
- ^ Elbil Norge's website.[dead link]
- ^ Elbil Norge's colour statistics.[dead link]
- ^ "Elbil Norge's Buddy Gallery". Elbilnorge.no. http://www.elbilnorge.no/index.php?name=coppermine&file=buddy_displayimage&album=7&pos=0&bakgrunn=forum. Retrieved 2011-11-05.
- ^ Ole Henrik Hannisdahl (2012-01-09). "Eventyrlig elbilsalg i 2011 [Adventurous electric vehicle sales in 2011]" (in Norwegian). Grønn bil. http://gronnbil.no/nyheter/eventyrlig-elbilsalg-i-2011-article218-239.html. Retrieved 2012-01-14. See table "Elbilsalg i 2011 fordelt på måned og merke" (Electric vehicle sales in 2011, by onth and brand) to see monthly sales for 2011.
