Sinclair C5

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Sinclair C5

The Sinclair C5 was a battery electric vehicle invented by Sir Clive Sinclair and launched in the United Kingdom on 10 January 1985. It was a battery-assisted tricycle steered by handles on each side of the driver's seat. Powered operation was possible making it unnecessary for the driver to pedal. Its top speed of 15 miles per hour (24 km/h), was the fastest allowed in the UK without a driving licence. It sold for £399 plus £29 for delivery. It became an object of popular ridicule and was a commercial disaster, selling only around 12,000 units.

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[edit] History

Sinclair started to think about electric vehicles as a teenager, and it was an idea he toyed with over decades. In the early 1970s Sinclair Radionics was working on the project. Sinclair had Chris Curry work on the electric motor. However, the company focus shifted to calculators and no further work was done on vehicles until the late 1970s. Development began again in 1979 and progressed erratically until, in 1983, it became apparent new legislation would alter the market and make it possible to sell a vehicle closely resembling development efforts.

As time went on, the Sinclair C5 gradually grew more and more expensive.

In March 1983, Sinclair sold some of his shares in Sinclair Research and raised £12 million to finance vehicle development. In May a new company, Sinclair Vehicles Ltd, was formed out of Sinclair Research and a development contract entered with Lotus to take the C5 design to production. At the same time, Hoover at Merthyr Tydfil contracted to manufacture the C5. The motors were made by Polymotor in Italy, starting the urban myth that the C5 was powered by a washing machine motor.[1] In 1984, Sinclair Vehicles set up head office at the University of Warwick Science Park. Despite promotion involving former formula one racing driver Stirling Moss, the reaction was that the C5 was impractical in the British climate and possibly dangerous on busy roads. On 13 August 1985, Hoover announced the end of production. Fewer than 17,000 C5s were sold. Sinclair Vehicles was put into receivership on 12 October 1985.

[edit] Design problems

A C5 at Manchester's Museum of Science and Industry

The C5 suffered from problems: cold weather shortened battery life, the driver was exposed to British rain, sleet and snow and, because it was low to the ground, doubts were raised about the safety in traffic. The problems were addressed with a second battery, side screens for bad weather and a reflector on tall poles - all available as extras from the launch.[2] The problems were expressed in a cartoon showing a C5 and a juggernaut approaching each other at a blind corner, the C5 being occupied by lemmings. Users of recumbent tricycles and a study by the Department of Transport suggested visibility fears were largely unfounded, but the weight, lack of seat-to-pedal adjustment, lack of gears, short pedal cranks, and that the motor overheated on long hills were serious problems.[3]

[edit] Modified C5s

A heavily modified C5 reached a top of 150 miles per hour (240 km/h) and did 0 to 60 mph in 5 seconds taking the speed record for an electric vehicle.[4] The C5 also became the world's first electric stunt vehicle when it was driven through a 70ft tunnel of fire.[5] A "turbo conversion" converting the C5 to 24 volts and boosting the speed to 27–30 miles per hour (43–48 km/h) is available.[6]

During the Swiss Tour de Sol in the early 1990s, several C5s were solarised and modified to provide more range and speed. Plans were made available for these conversions, required to use the C5 legally in Switzerland.

C5s have also been converted to jet engine power.[7]

[edit] References

  • Adamson, Ian; Kennedy, Richard (1986). Sinclair and the "Sunrise" Technology. London: Penguin Books. 224 pp. ISBN 0-14-008774-5.
  • Dale, Rodney (1985). The Sinclair Story. London: Duckworth. 184 pp. ISBN 0-7156-1901-2.
  1. ^ Sinclair C5 Enthusiasts website. "The C5 uses a washing machine motor". http://www.sinclairc5.com/facts/motor.htm. Retrieved on 2006-09-16. 
  2. ^ Sinclair C5 Enthusiasts website. "C5 Accessory Catalogue". http://www.sinclairc5.com/accessories/accessories_index.htm. Retrieved on 2006-09-16. 
  3. ^ P.J. Milner and P. Newman. "The Sinclair C5 Electric Vehicle". http://www.sinclairc5.com/technical/paper/c5paper.htm. Retrieved on 2006-09-16. 
  4. ^ Sinclair Research. "Film Hire, The Sinclair C5 Test Car". http://www.sinclair-research.co.uk/c5/filmhire.php. Retrieved on 2006-09-16. 
  5. ^ Sinclair Research. "Sinclair C5 Background Information". http://www.sinclair-research.co.uk/c5/background.php. Retrieved on 2006-09-16. 
  6. ^ Sinclair Research. "Sinclair C5 Modifications". http://www.sinclair-research.co.uk/c5/modifications.php. Retrieved on 2006-09-16. 
  7. ^ Pleiadean Media - Jetpower.co.uk

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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