Stuff - UK (2020-05)

CASE

STUDIES

ECO TECH

4141

Gocycle G3C

GREEN MILES

Volta Zero

Low-emission zones

transform urban air

quality, but make life

harder for inhabitants.

The Volta Zero aims

to solve this – it’s a

16-tonne all-electric

lorry with no tailpipe

emissions. By ditching

the diesel engine, the

designers have been

able to reinvent the

traditional cab: the seat

is in the centre for better

visibility, while cameras

and touchscreens keep

it safe.

£tbc / voltatrucks.com

Rimowa

Original Cabin

This is the last carry-on

case you’ll ever buy...

which is just as well, as

it costs nearly a grand.

The iconic design is

made from high-grade

anodised aluminium

and it’s so tough it

should outlive the

aviation industry.

£820 / rimowa.com

TRAIN HACKS

Trains are the green

way to travel long

distances, but they

don’t make it easy.

Thankfully tech can

help, starting with

seat61.com – an

encyclopaedia of

info on travelling

on the rails, with

specifics on ticket

options and pricing.

See also the free

TrainPal app (iOS,

Android), which will

calculate the most

efficient way to

your destination.

Samsonite S’Cure

Eco Spinner 55cm

This is the only hard

case we’ve found made

from a minimum of 85%

recycled polypropylene.

All the plastic in this

34-litre suitcase comes

from Samsonite’s own

production process,

meaning less waste

ends up in landfill.

£189 / samsonite.com

Patagonia Black

Hole Duffel 100L

The bag for eco

adventures, this

cavernous 100-litre

duffel is made with

100 % recycled fabric

and finished with a

water-resistant TPU

coating. You’ll not find

a tougher travelling

companion.

£140 / patagonia.com

X Shore

Eelex 8000

Put down that paddle:

X Shore has just

revealed the finest

all-electric boat for

the consumer market.

The eight-metre Eelex

8000 has a 220kW

power output, driving

a Rolls-Royce propeller

with a range of 70

nautical miles at a top

speed of 40 knots... but

drop that to 24 knots if

you want to be messing

about on the water for

more than a few hours.

€199,000 / xshore.com

ll new for 2020, Gocycle’s

latest e-bike is its lightest

yet, weighing just 15.5kg

courtesy of a redesigned carbon

front frame and quick-detaching

Pitstopwheels.

As with all Gocycle models, the

battery – in this case a powerful

375Wh option, with enough juice

to take you 50 miles – is seamlessly

hidden away; and while it remains

an odd-looking velocipede, thanks

to the Brompton-esque folding frame

and diddy wheels, you’ll not find a more

convenient commuter option even if

you live in the pokiest of flats.

Charge time is between four and

seven hours – so if you’re a fan of

early starts and late, late finishes

you could theoretically live in Leeds

and commute to Manchester by

bike. Or go as far as Ripponden then

turn around and work from home like

everyone else.

On the handlebars you’ll find an

LED dashboard that displays battery

level, driving mode, speed and gear

position, and as with all Gocycles it has

a predictive electronic gearshift, which

automatically downshifts when you

brake – so you’re never in the wrong

gear and always have the jump on the

sweaty mamil* at the lights.

As the first ever e-bike brand to

offer Bluetooth connectivity, Gocycle

does it better than most, with its app

allowing the rider to regulate speed,

choose a preferred riding mode,

monitor battery health, track

your fitness, and adjust how much

assistance you get when pedalling.

from £4499 / gocycle.com

If you have to take

a fuel-guzzling jet

and want to offset

your guilt footprint,

start by packing

one of these: the

finest in sustainable

suitcases

With EVs starting to ease their way into the mainstream at last (see p62), cruising

down Electric Avenue on zero emissions is becoming increasingly attainable – but

you could always reach your destination by bike, boat, or bloody big lorry instead

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