Q&A: GORDON FOAT OF GREEN MOTORSPORT

 

Gordon Foat has been a pioneer in the sustainable transport industry for over 15 years. After graduating in Environmental Science, he has been dedicated to providing clean transport solutions and cost effective electric motor systems for a wide range of uses. He is founder of Green Motorsport and will be taking part in WAVE 2015…

 

 

1) What is WAVE?

W.A.V.E (The World Advanced Vehicle Expedition) rally was launched in 2011 with the objective of starting to change road transport to electric vehicles powered by energy from the sun, wind and wave.

The W.A.V.E.  is a pan European battery electric car endurance competition powered by renewables.  This offers Green MotorSport Ltd and its partners, international media and press coverage as well as durability testing of our latest development work.

 

2) Why is this sort of event so important?

The WAVE Trophy electric car rally is not only the world’s largest EV rally, but it is also an excellent testing ground for all types of electric road vehicles – with advanced batteries, motors and controllers evaluated in tough real life conditions.

It also gives us the chance to show people how everything works, how the cars are recharged and to demonstrate how fast and far they can go.

 

 

3) Motorsport is all about speed, the roar of engines, the smell or petrol and rubber – do electric vehicles really have any place in its future?

Motor sport is an exciting platform that, in the past, pushed the boundaries of performance, safety and reliability for conventional combustion technologies. Motor Sport is generally known as a fast track system for innovation and development, however the conventional combustion engine technology has really reached the limit from an innovation and efficiency stand-point.  You can’t really get any more power without spending lots and lots of money.

However electric motors can achieve massive gains by being within a motor sport environment.   With concerns over the environment, electric car technology is poised to be the next big thing in motor sport.

 

 

4) How important is it that we look to a future with electric vehicles?

Emissions from road transport are one of the fastest growing contributors of climate change. We need another way forward. We need vehicles powered from clean green renewable energies if we are going to achieve targets to keep within the safe zone of the global effects of climate change. Many scientists say we are very close to stepping over that mark. Transport and electricity generators are causing this CO2 increase.    Air pollution in the UK is responsible for over 29,000 deaths per year – and that’s just the UK!

 

 

5)  How do you see Green Motor Sport and the issue of electric cars developing over the next few years?

When people find out how excellent electric vehicles are to drive, how clean, quiet and with great acceleration, they will be queueing up in their millions!  It’s a very cost effective form of transport, and recharging is so simple with the new battery technologies.  Electrics have almost no maintenance, no engine oil to change every year – they are a no brainer.

 

6)  How can readers support you taking part in WAVE 2015?

Everyone can get involved in a personal capacity by helping our crowdfunding pitch.  A link is on our website www.greenmotorsport.com  or, if you own a business you can sponsor us directly.

 

7)      Where can we get more information?

More details on our website www.greenmotorsport.com