Zip Electric

STOP CLIMATE CHANGE

How? GO ELECTRIC

The Climate Emergency is frightening … and depressing. Action is vital, but … What can we do to stop climate change? What impact can we make?

The reality is that alone we can do almost nothing. Governments and business must act. But, we can prepare for when they do act by “going electric” now.

Why go electric? Well, the world must stop burning fossil fuels completely, but things will still need power. So, electricity must become carbon-free. The current UK government plans to decarbonise our power by 2035, and Labour recently committed to “removing fossil fuels from all of Britain's electricity generation by 2030.”

Why now? Yes, going electric now may mean being an early adopter. It may mean paying over the odds for tech that is not quite ready ... that may be obsolete in just a few years. Nonetheless, we must “put our money where our mouths are” and fund the technologies everyone will need in the near future.

My household has started this journey.

This website is for us to share our research, our decisions, our regrets, and the tricks we have found to make the most of new electric devices. We are adding a comments section for you to contribute your own views – a comments section that will be moderated rigorously to focus narrowly on features, products, problems, and solutions.

As you know, websites take time and money. Where relevant I include links that (hopefully) pay commissions. Please use these links. First, I promise to only link to products and retailers that I would use myself. Second, remember you won't pay a penny more, but by making purchases via the links here, I will learn the topics making the greatest impact.

What Can We Do to Stop Climate Change?

Photo: Courtesy of Nick Miotke/Roadshow

Electric Car: Jaguar I-PACE

Driving an electric car is not an immediate answer to the climate emergency since the electricity used is usually generated by burning fossil fuels. Nonetheless, we bought an electric car to:

be ready when UK power generation is decarbonised,
fund the continuing development of electric cars and the charging infrastructure, and
even now, electric cars are more carbon efficient than taking a train.

We bought our electric car in 2019. The market has moved on considerably since then. So, I won't detail our decision process. Briefly, we wanted a convertible with long range.

Convertible electric cars are only now appearing on the market. You couldn't get one in 2019. The main issue was safety arising from the weight and its distribution in electric cars.

Second, we wanted long-range. At the time, other than Tesla, only 3 electric cars had a range of over 200 miles. We settled on the Jaguar I-Pace.

We've had the car for nearly 4 years, and still love it. Here is what we have learned:

• Battery range and charging
• Recalls, maintenance, and breakdowns

E-Bike: Gazelle Ultimate C380

Nearly half of all journeys are less than 2 miles - i.e. an 8-minute (or less) cycle ride - yet over a third of people drive. Even when power generation is decarbonised, driving this distance is wasteful. But right now, all such journeys should be by bike or on foot.

For me the issue was inconvenience: wearing appropriate clothes, finding the locks and panniers, and overcoming the dread of the exertion (headwinds, hills, bad weather, ...).

Getting an ebike was the critical first step:

Weight is no longer a consideration. So, I keep a pannier packed & ready to go.
Travel time is predictable. I could use turbo assist the entire ride, meaning that I can maintain 15 mph or 4 mins/ mile.
Given predictable travel times, weather (and to a certain extent, clothing) is not a concern. If it isn't raining now, then it won't during my ride.

I discuss the above in various articles:

the features of the best electric bike (in my view)
the best electric bikes for older people, available now
necessary accessories, and my routine

Electric Cooking: Instant Pot

Gas stoves contribute to climate change. They are also a source of indoor pollution: carbon monoxide, particulates, and formaldehyde. Even when not in use, they can emit benzene and other carcinogens.

Beyond that, they are inefficient -- less than half the heat generated gets to the food. Electric hobs are more efficient. Induction hobs more efficient still, but the most energy-efficient way to cook is with a pressure cooker.

In addition to being something we can do to stop climate change, pressure cookers:

save time - in preparation, cooking, and cleaning up
retains nutrients and flavours, and are
surprisingly versatile in what you can cook

In various articles I will discuss:

the features of the best pressure cooker (in my view)
the accessories I use
tips and tricks

Photo: Courtesy of Target

Electric Heating: Heat Pump

Heating accounts for 14% of UK carbon emissions. It is the largest source of residential carbon emissions. Unfortunately tackling this is complicated by the fact that different homes benefit from different solutions.

The 3 most efficient sources of heat are solar thermal, heat pumps, and biomass boilers. Added to the mix is home insulation.

We are investigating these options right now and as we find things out, we will be posting here.

Zip Electric, Zip Electric Bikes, and ZipElectric.co.uk are operated by NHA Limited, registered in England and Wales under company number 10636419. Our registered office is at 591 London Road, Cheam, Sutton, Surrey, United Kingdom, SM3 9AG. Our VAT number is 306464023. Our EORI number is GB306464023000