- Success for Council's anti-fraud team
- How much power are you wasting?
- Protect your home from thieves this summer
- Young builders needed for child's-size city!
- Rugby World Cup success is 'outstanding' for Twickenham
- Crofters fashion show wows guests
- Curtain comes up on summer theatrical spectacular
- Karate kids get their kicks at Hampton Sports and Fitness Centre
- Performing on the edge
- Young people shape plan for future of children's services
- Car club membership rockets as residents save thousands
- Operation Lockout improves bike security
- Dodgy drivers warned over parking fraud
- Are you willing to gamble on the cocaine lottery?
- Free parking boost for businesses
- Your chance to display artwork at the Riverside Gallery
- Now it's over to Tomasz for the weather...
- London Youth Games team celebrated at the stoop
- Game, set and match, for free!
- Royal approval for pupils' bespoke deckchairs
- Raising the flag for borough's parks
- Businesses get greener thanks to the Council
- Borough blooms under the spotlight
- Play cool in parks this summer
- A snapshot of Richmond from around the world
- Land speed record holder sets challenge for school pupils
- Bike ride promotes cycling to secondary schools
- Third runway "will not reduce stacking"
- Borough's cyclists praised for wheely great challenge result
- Cycle starter packs launched to get Richmond pedalling
- PwC to help Council improve efficiency
- Earl of Wessex reopens 'Magnificent' Terrace Gardens
- Summer of larks in borough parks
- Lazy drivers are pushing up crime - police
- Team Richmond Shines at London Youth Games
- Young people needed for youth magazine
- Council acts to tackle cigarette litter
- Top award for borough crime team
- Family entertainment in Terrace Gardens
- Council kick starts regeneration of Barn Elms
- Top awards for young artists
- Results announced for £1million youth facilities vote
- Council thanks Father Thames Trust for donations
- Demont confirmed as principal designate of proposed academy
- Great British inventing praised
- Pupils excellence celebrated
- Café sunshine opens on Twickenham Riverside
Release Date: 01/07/2009
Great British inventing praised
Kingston University has been congratulated by Richmond Council for revving up its contribution to improving the environment, after racing its first ever electric bike in the Isle of Man’s green TT race.
The Council, through the South and West London Transport Conference has sponsored the bike, which can reach speeds of over 70mph on the race track. This week, Cllr David Trigg, Cabinet Member for Traffic, Transport and Parking, met the head of the team which designed it, to learn how it works and what its existence means for the future of environmentally friendly travel.
Cllr Trigg said: “It’s great to see the future of British inventing is alive and well at our local university and in a part of London where the environmental agenda is so important.
“I’m very pleased Richmond Council, through its leading role in Sweltrac, can support innovation like this, which is leading the way towards the future of environmentally friendly forms of transport.”
The bike has been designed by students at the university, under the guidance of senior lecturer Paul Brennan and uses the latest engineering skills to make racing a battery powered bike a realistic and environmentally-friendly option. The bike can be charged at both of Richmond Council’s electric vehicle charging points and produces no CO2 emissions. It can be charged in under an hour thanks to super strength 36 amp set up.
The team has overcome a number of challenges in developing the bike – Cllr Trigg heard how the battery-based energy management system had to be fine tuned and has now produced results which are very close to petrol or diesel powered vehicles.
The Kingston team are now starting work on a road-ready version, which could be on the streets within a year and which could be charged by a standard three pin plug.
Mr Brennan said: “Without the sponsors this project would be nowhere so it’s very important that we have the help they’ve given us, I’m very grateful to the Council and Sweltrac, it’s good to work together and I’m sure we’ll see the environmental benefits.”
Journalists requiring more information should contact Pete Le Riche in Richmond Council’s press office on 020 8891 7160.
Members of the public should call the council’s contact centre on 08456 122660
View the full press release