ESB recently
announced that they plan to give away some electric powered cars (eCars) to private individuals in return for some help in publicising the benefits of this new environmentally friendly mode of transport. The application form ask you to state why you believe that you would be the ideal person to receive an eCar, but they only give you a small text box in which to write your reasons. Therefore I decided that I would write this blog post stating my case at length.
- I am a blogger and would use my blog to help publicise my experiences with the eCar in addition to cooperating with any PR activities arranges by ESB themselves.
- I have a record of writing about electrical sustainability issues on my blog and in particular my work with local schools to do Young Scientist projects relating to Smarter Power.
- My current car is a hybrid car. I chose this because I am interested in helping the environment and because there were no pure electric cars available on the Irish market at the time,
- My commute to work is only 8km so I would not be a demanding user of eCar, but there is already an eCar charging point at my place of work and I frequently travel long distances at weekends and I would be happy to see how an eCar performs on these journeys.
- Since I currently own a hybrid car, all the cars in our household would be electric powered in some form is I was lucky enough to be chosen as a recipient of a free eCar.
I hope you will wish me luck in the application process.
Pathetic canvassing BOD. Just apply like everybody else. Being a blogger is a bit of a joke really - so old hat!
ReplyDeleteA 8km commute is no test for an Ecar. We want to really road test them in very really situations.
I must agree with this comment. An 8km daily commute is no test at all and like many who blog you seem to have an inflated opinion of the power of your forum. This is hardly the most prolific blog in Ireland. I was looking up Ecars and just stumbled upon it. I've read through some and it's hardly riveting. Sorry.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the honest feedback on my chances.
ReplyDeleteI realise that an 8km commute is very short, but I can't do much about the fact that I am "unfortunate" to live near my place of work.
Since the whole exercise is about generating publicity, I am not sure why I am critisied for an attempt at self-promotion.
In any case, I guess it is a good thing that I am not easily discouraged.
Just make a detour through Cork every morning and you are sure to get it.
ReplyDelete:-) sounds like a good plan to see lots of lovely scenery. But I think I might get fed up of commuting 5+ hours per day.
DeleteWhat is the typical commute (median, not mean) distance? I wonder if 8km is, in fact, the most representative of distances? As for influence - you're better than some and you'd see a huge jump in "circulation" if eCar hyped your blog. Plus, you're mostly unbiased about these topics.
ReplyDeleteThe average motoring commute is 30km each way.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of the Ecars project is real-time testing and evaluation - not publicity alone.
As for the self promotion; it comes across as very immature to be frank.
I agree the the Ecar would help the blog as opposed to the other way round.
I agree with your comment about the limited audience for my blog. However, I am not sure why my short commute is a problem. I though electric cars were ideally suited for short trips in city traffic. A conventional petrol/diesel car can be more efficient for long motorway trips at constant speed.
DeleteBrian, You have just stated the greatest misconception about Ecars.
DeleteWe want to test cars that will be more efficient over distance. In no way is a carbon fuelled car more efficient over longer distance at constant speed than an electric vehicle. That assertion is so wrong and misleading. The point we are trying to emphasise is that an ECar can be more efficient in all situations.
For an 8km commute I'd take the bike myself!
I must say that Ecars appears better for your Blog than your limited blog will ever be for Ecars. ESB has access to many better sources of PR and publicity than a quiet Blog ;)
Paul,
DeleteYou are probably right, I am not the ideal candidate for an eCar. In fact I do take the bike most days if the weather is not too wet.
In any case I don't regret applying - nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Brian
I'll watch for your application making the first cut. At least I'll know the context ;)
Delete