Welcome to Wychwood

15/03/05

09/12/08

We are in the process of redeveloping the bungalow above into a new house and garage on a 1/4 acre plot in Herts, UK.

We’ve put this site together to chronicle the build from start to end.  This is so our family in many far-flung parts of the globe can easily keep abreast of developments and also allow other potential self-builders to share in our dream.

Please explore our site.  The latest pictures are found in ‘Progress Pictures’.

What’s New?? 28Apr2013 - Well, the house is pretty much finished.  NHBC man says ‘Yes!’ so we can get on with the VAT claim, now. Just waiting on the 2 front bed rooms and stairs to be carpeted.  Outside, there is the deck to finish and raised beds to be done.

The small red square indicates the total surface area that would be required,  utilising solar thermal energy technology, to provide all of the electric power needs for the entire European Union. The larger square would sustain the entire world. (Source:- ‘EVWorld’)

The Tesla ‘Model S’

On sale in the UK in 2013 - pricing not released but between £40k and £65k.

(www.teslamotors.com)

Due to high photographic content of this site a broadband connection is recommended.

See the latest pics by clicking Progress Pictures, above.

Please email us here if you wish with comments, suggestions, abuse etc (not too much abuse, please).

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An Interesting Fact

The New Electric Vehicle Conversion

Not content with spending all our spare time and money building a house we also decided to green things up a bit by converting our wee van to electric drive! (See EV Conversion pages)  Unfortunately, it was wrecked by a looter during the 2011 riots after nearly 14000 petrol free miles (saving £1700 in petrol).  So, its on to EV Part 2. 

Check out the latest info and pictures on the Sebring ‘Electric SX’ kit car.

  28Apr2013 - Last Update:-  Chassis collected. Half-shafts and  rear wishbones shortened and powder coated. Still collecting bits for the suspension but mostly waiting to get the gate out of the way before I can set out the chassis and begin work.   Various bits awaiting powder coating.

Electric SX

I will be stripping all the electric drive bits off the shell of my poor van (below) - all of which survived unscathed - and will be re-installing them in one of these... a replica of an Austin Healey 3000, starting around Autumn 2012.  Watch this space.

Unhappily, my van was written off in a collision with a looter during the riots in Enfield on the 8th August 2011 and is no more.

Want a 7 minute primer on “Why EVs?”.  Then watch this video presented by Robert Llewellyn (yes, him... of Red Dwarf fame)...

And if you now want a longer, more US-biased take on it all, try this video (this first part is 10 minutes long but the whole series of 10 runs to 92 minutes!)...

In the meantime and sticking with the electric transport theme, I have got one of these.  Click here for more info.

Done 1650 miles so far...