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Gents on the Moon: Inaugural Battery-Operated Car Voyage
Hey there, chaps. We’re reminiscing about the time when some legends took the inaugural battery-operated car for a ride on the Moon, 53 years ago this very week. Talk about an epic commute, right?
The Lunar Rover: The Pioneer EV
Sturdy as a Tank, Fueled by Batteries
NASA’s Lunar Rover, or the “Moon Buggy” as we regular folks like to refer to it, was a hefty piece of machinery. Bet it wouldn’t have appeared out of place at the Quayside on a Sunday morning. Driven by a duo of 36-volt silver-zinc potassium hydroxide non-rechargeable batteries, it could reach an impressive speed of 8 mph. That’s right – speed enthusiasts, take note.
The Geordies’ Own Muscle Car
Picture cruising into the Toon in one of these, windows open, tunes pumping. It had wire mesh wheels, reminiscent of those you’d spot on a chariot from Gladiator, but hey, it got the job done. It could navigate the Moon’s harsh landscape better than a Land Rover on the winding roads of Northumberland.
Back Then, Range Worries Were Genuine
Not Precisely a Tesla Supercharger
Chaps, if you think you panic when your phone’s at 10%, imagine traversing the Moon with a battery that can’t recharge. They had to make those 36-volt batteries stretch, meaning no quick stops at Greggs for a sausage roll and a recharge. The Rover managed about 57 miles on a single charge – ample for a weekend drive on the lunar surface.
Driving Under Challenging Conditions
Driving on the Moon isn’t exactly a stroll in Leazes Park, you know. Low gravity, no atmosphere, and worse potholes than Shields Road after a harsh winter. Yet, those astronauts handled it like champs. No GPS, no sat-nav – just pure determination and bravery.
Technology That Laid the Groundwork
From Moon Buggy to Contemporary EVs
So, the next time you plug in your Nissan Leaf or Tesla, spare a thought for the Lunar Rover. That small Moon Buggy proved to the world that battery-powered transport wasn’t merely science fiction. It was the real thing, and we’ve come a long way since then. Now we have electric vehicles on the streets of Newcastle and beyond, all thanks to a courageous crew of astronauts and some groundbreaking technology.
And you thought you experienced range anxiety
Feature Electric vehicles have sparked quite a conversation over the last decade or so. However, it was 53 years ago this week that one of the battery-operated machines first transported humans around the Moon.…
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