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This is a model of KITT,
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00:00:03,040 --> 00:00:06,320
from the 1980s TV series
Knight Rider with the Hoff.
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00:00:06,360 --> 00:00:11,960
And this is the 1966
jet-powered Batmobile.
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00:00:12,000 --> 00:00:14,200
The fantasy cars of TV and cinema
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00:00:14,240 --> 00:00:18,200
were formed by our dreams
of the car of the future.
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00:00:18,240 --> 00:00:20,840
We liked the idea of a car
that would talk to us,
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that knew where it was going,
that would fly
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00:00:23,160 --> 00:00:26,200
and we wondered
if it could actually drive itself.
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00:00:26,240 --> 00:00:28,760
Did anything come
of the wild imaginings
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00:00:28,800 --> 00:00:30,760
of the creators of these things?
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Did any of it become reality
to filter down
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00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:37,000
to the real cars of the people?
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00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:48,320
'This week, before I deal
with the people's dreams,
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00:00:48,360 --> 00:00:51,800
'I want to start by talking
about me for a change.'
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00:00:51,840 --> 00:00:55,200
This is a BMW i3, an electric car.
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00:00:56,760 --> 00:00:58,400
It's my car.
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00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:04,840
If you haven't driven a modern
electric car, it is worth a go,
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00:01:04,880 --> 00:01:09,000
because it's mainly like driving
a car, there's no gearbox,
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00:01:09,040 --> 00:01:11,520
because you don't need one
and some of the controls
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are slightly different, but it does
feel strangely enlightened.
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This car, like many of its rivals,
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is bristling with
user-friendly hi-tech.
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00:01:24,240 --> 00:01:28,360
And like all other electric cars,
it's powered by a simple battery,
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without the need for valves,
pistons or gears.
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# Just the two of us... #
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00:01:33,560 --> 00:01:35,880
You plug it in, and you
plug in everything these days -
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your phone, your tablet,
your toothbrush.
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Your ladyshave, whatever.
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00:01:43,880 --> 00:01:46,960
I don't have a ladyshave,
I just know that you recharge them.
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KNIGHT RIDER THEME TUNE
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'It's simple, yet sophisticated.
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'It'll even park itself...
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'while I'm doing my legs.'
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00:01:56,400 --> 00:02:00,200
I'm not touching the pedals.
I'm not touching the steering wheel.
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00:02:00,240 --> 00:02:02,440
It's doing it by itself!
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It's witchcraft!
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00:02:04,880 --> 00:02:06,640
Are you watching?
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00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:10,280
It's just going to go forwards
a bit and then...
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00:02:10,320 --> 00:02:11,440
Ah.
TONE
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00:02:12,880 --> 00:02:13,880
It's good, isn't it?
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00:02:15,400 --> 00:02:17,760
'Electric vehicles like this
are at the forefront
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'of a 21st-century battle
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00:02:20,200 --> 00:02:23,520
'to decide how our cars
will be powered in the future.
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00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:26,760
'And although rivals include
the fuel cells, solar energy,
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'biofuel and liquid gas,
I quite fancy its chances.'
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It's electric.
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Smooth, quiet, clean.
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Modern.
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00:02:39,320 --> 00:02:40,520
Or is it?
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00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:42,440
Let's go back 100 years or so.
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00:02:47,440 --> 00:02:51,400
Here is an early car from 1909.
It's a Baker.
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00:02:51,440 --> 00:02:53,640
It looks a bit like
a horse-drawn carriage
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00:02:53,680 --> 00:02:56,600
and, if you look inside
the interior,
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00:02:56,640 --> 00:03:00,240
it's described by the current owner
as a bit frou-frou,
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00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:03,120
or rather like a Victorian brothel.
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00:03:03,160 --> 00:03:06,160
But here's the interesting thing -
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00:03:06,200 --> 00:03:07,400
it's electric.
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00:03:09,320 --> 00:03:12,480
We modern people like
to think that our electric dreams
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00:03:12,520 --> 00:03:15,600
are a product of our hi-tech world.
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00:03:15,640 --> 00:03:18,800
But in large parts
of America in 1900,
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00:03:18,840 --> 00:03:22,160
the electric car was
the bestselling car of the people.
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00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:24,400
It was as fashionable as top hats...
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00:03:24,440 --> 00:03:25,600
and TB.
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00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:30,960
'But, just like today, it wasn't
clear which propulsion method
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00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:33,720
'would drive the car of the future.
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00:03:33,760 --> 00:03:37,840
'And the electric car faced
some high-pressure competition.'
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00:03:37,880 --> 00:03:41,400
This is a Stanley Model
740D Roadster,
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00:03:41,440 --> 00:03:44,840
and as you can probably guess
from the chuffing sound,
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00:03:44,880 --> 00:03:47,000
it's steam-powered.
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00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:48,760
Right, now this is like a car,
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00:03:48,800 --> 00:03:50,920
in that it has a steering wheel
in front of me,
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00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:52,960
a rather vague one,
I've got to be honest.
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00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:55,520
Everything else about it
is quite baffling.
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00:03:55,560 --> 00:03:58,160
The pedals are all wrong,
there's lots of lovely instruments,
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00:03:58,200 --> 00:04:00,400
but they're talking
about mysterious things.
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00:04:00,440 --> 00:04:03,320
We've got fuel system pressure,
boiler pressure,
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00:04:03,360 --> 00:04:06,880
cylinder lubrication, oil flow,
all sorts of things.
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00:04:06,920 --> 00:04:09,200
Hang on a minute,
open the regulator.
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00:04:09,240 --> 00:04:10,320
Climb this hill.
80
00:04:11,880 --> 00:04:17,200
So all this stuff, this isn't
steam punk, this is actually steam.
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00:04:19,320 --> 00:04:22,160
Duba-duba-duba-duba,
duba-duba-duba-duba...
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00:04:25,560 --> 00:04:29,520
A steam car works in pretty much the
same way as any other steam engine.
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00:04:29,560 --> 00:04:34,840
Water is boiled in, well, a boiler,
by kerosene burners and then steam -
84
00:04:34,880 --> 00:04:38,160
and I mean proper, superheated
steam at 300 degrees plus,
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00:04:38,200 --> 00:04:40,600
not the poncey vapour
that comes out of your kettle -
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00:04:40,640 --> 00:04:44,120
that is forced into cylinders,
where it pushes pistons along.
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00:04:44,160 --> 00:04:46,640
That then turns a shaft,
which drives the wheels.
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00:04:46,680 --> 00:04:49,720
That's all we've ever wanted out of
all these sources of motive power,
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00:04:49,760 --> 00:04:52,520
a rotating shaft. That's it.
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00:04:52,560 --> 00:04:55,280
The brakes don't work,
the steering is terrible,
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00:04:55,320 --> 00:04:57,400
and you do worry
that it's going to blow up.
92
00:04:57,440 --> 00:05:00,040
But, for the people
of the early 20th century,
93
00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:02,520
steam power was a trusted friend.
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00:05:02,560 --> 00:05:07,400
Steam had been around since the 18th
century, it had industrialised us,
95
00:05:07,440 --> 00:05:11,000
it powered mill engines
and mine pumps and, of course,
96
00:05:11,040 --> 00:05:14,080
it gave us the miracle
of the railways.
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00:05:14,120 --> 00:05:17,120
Steam was understood.
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00:05:17,160 --> 00:05:21,320
A steam engine will really run on
just about anything that will burn.
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00:05:21,360 --> 00:05:24,160
They can go very, very wrong
and become very, very sloppy
100
00:05:24,200 --> 00:05:25,960
and they still work.
101
00:05:27,040 --> 00:05:30,880
Steam power, it seemed, was not only
the past but also the future.
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00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:34,960
In America, sales began
to outstrip electric cars.
103
00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:38,600
But coming up fast in their
rear-view mirrors was a rival system
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00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:41,480
destined to rule the world.
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00:05:41,520 --> 00:05:43,880
ROCK MUSIC
106
00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:49,640
This is a Mercedes-Benz AMG DT.
107
00:05:49,680 --> 00:05:54,560
It has a four litre V8,
developing 510 horsepower.
108
00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:57,120
Is that a lot?
It is quite a lot, actually.
109
00:05:58,920 --> 00:06:01,520
It does 193mph,
110
00:06:01,560 --> 00:06:06,080
goes from 0 to 60
in under four seconds. It's amazing.
111
00:06:06,120 --> 00:06:08,080
And it runs on petrol.
112
00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:11,440
As indeed did
the world's first true car.
113
00:06:11,480 --> 00:06:15,600
Back in 1885, when Karl Benz
ran the engine of his Motorwagen
114
00:06:15,640 --> 00:06:18,320
for the first time,
he described the sound it made
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00:06:18,360 --> 00:06:20,560
as "the music of the future."
116
00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:23,280
He was right, wasn't he?
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00:06:23,320 --> 00:06:27,280
Because if the music of the
20th century has a dominant note,
118
00:06:27,320 --> 00:06:30,120
it's that of
the internal combustion engine.
119
00:06:30,160 --> 00:06:31,280
'And that's odd,
120
00:06:31,320 --> 00:06:35,880
'because the internal combustion
engine is rather demanding.'
121
00:06:35,920 --> 00:06:39,240
The petrol engine in this car has
to have sophisticated electronics,
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00:06:39,280 --> 00:06:42,560
it has to have an oil pump,
it has to have lubrication,
123
00:06:42,600 --> 00:06:44,960
it has to have valves
going up and down and springs
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00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:48,200
and it has to have a gearbox,
blah, blah, blah.
125
00:06:48,240 --> 00:06:51,520
So, why? Why have we ended up
relying so much on this thing
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00:06:51,560 --> 00:06:54,840
when an electric motor
in particular is so simple?
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00:06:56,240 --> 00:06:59,000
The answer is not to be found
in the engine,
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00:06:59,040 --> 00:07:01,680
but at the other end of the car.
129
00:07:01,720 --> 00:07:06,080
In here is a petrol tank holding
around 80, 85 litres of fuel.
130
00:07:06,120 --> 00:07:07,840
Not a very big volume, to be honest.
131
00:07:07,880 --> 00:07:10,400
That much beer would only
keep the production crew
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00:07:10,440 --> 00:07:13,520
of this programme going for about
an hour and a half, two hours.
133
00:07:13,560 --> 00:07:16,960
But as petrol, it will drive
this high-performance car
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00:07:17,000 --> 00:07:18,840
all the way from my house in London
135
00:07:18,880 --> 00:07:21,080
right up into the Highlands
of Scotland.
136
00:07:21,120 --> 00:07:23,200
That is very energy dense.
137
00:07:23,240 --> 00:07:25,960
Fossil fuels were a great gift
from nature.
138
00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:27,320
If that were to be a battery,
139
00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:30,600
it would have to be about three or
four times the size of the car
140
00:07:30,640 --> 00:07:31,920
to do the same job.
141
00:07:33,120 --> 00:07:35,800
The energy that
a few gallons of oil can yield
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00:07:35,840 --> 00:07:38,360
would send cars
far across the world.
143
00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:42,320
And filling stations were quick
to spring up everywhere.
144
00:07:42,360 --> 00:07:46,120
By contrast, national electricity
grids simply didn't exist,
145
00:07:46,160 --> 00:07:49,160
leaving the electric car
confined to the city.
146
00:07:50,800 --> 00:07:53,720
But what about
the people's favourite, steam?
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00:07:53,760 --> 00:07:58,600
Railways had conquered the globe.
Surely the steam car would prevail.
148
00:07:58,640 --> 00:08:00,680
The steam car
of the early 20th century
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00:08:00,720 --> 00:08:02,480
was doomed by several factors.
150
00:08:02,520 --> 00:08:05,960
Ford's moving production line
meant that his Model T,
151
00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:09,640
his car for the great multitude,
came down in price constantly,
152
00:08:09,680 --> 00:08:12,720
so by the time this car came out,
the Model T could be yours
153
00:08:12,760 --> 00:08:15,120
for not much more
than a 10th of the price.
154
00:08:15,160 --> 00:08:16,320
And the Model T, of course,
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00:08:16,360 --> 00:08:19,040
as well as making the car
an affordable proposition,
156
00:08:19,080 --> 00:08:23,440
also cemented internal combustion
as the accepted way.
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00:08:24,640 --> 00:08:25,920
Pish.
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00:08:25,960 --> 00:08:27,800
Infrastructure, economics
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00:08:27,840 --> 00:08:30,120
and Ford's
mass production methods, then,
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00:08:30,160 --> 00:08:32,360
would decisively tip the balance.
161
00:08:32,400 --> 00:08:35,480
By the 1920s,
the battle was as good as settled.
162
00:08:35,520 --> 00:08:39,880
The petrol age had dawned
and its god was the piston engine.
163
00:08:41,640 --> 00:08:43,960
Clean or not, oil had got us hooked
164
00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:46,160
and had given us
the mobility we craved.
165
00:08:47,760 --> 00:08:51,200
And, while engines slowly grew
more powerful and reliable,
166
00:08:51,240 --> 00:08:55,240
the car itself became
a catalyst for rapid change.
167
00:08:55,280 --> 00:08:59,640
Towns, cities, even nations were
built around its requirements.
168
00:08:59,680 --> 00:09:02,000
COMMENTATOR: Roads are
getting better.
169
00:09:02,040 --> 00:09:05,840
Many highways have been designed
that eliminate dangers and delays.
170
00:09:05,880 --> 00:09:09,320
But, by the early '50s,
there was a new kid on the block,
171
00:09:09,360 --> 00:09:13,080
leaving the piston engine trailing
wistfully in its slipstream.
172
00:09:14,240 --> 00:09:15,560
Welcome...
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00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:17,160
to the jet age.
174
00:09:17,200 --> 00:09:18,960
PLANE ROARS
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00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:22,440
MUSIC: Richard III
by Supergrass
176
00:09:25,840 --> 00:09:30,120
The jet engine would advance
aviation in one giant leap.
177
00:09:30,160 --> 00:09:34,600
But no-one would be daft enough
to suggest a jet-powered car.
178
00:09:34,640 --> 00:09:36,400
ENGINE WHOOSHES
179
00:09:36,440 --> 00:09:39,160
This must be one of the world's
rarest cars. I think it is.
180
00:09:39,200 --> 00:09:42,080
Certainly one of the world's rarest
production cars. I think it is.
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00:09:42,120 --> 00:09:44,360
ENGINE WHOOSHES
It's a great noise though, isn't it?
182
00:09:44,400 --> 00:09:47,560
It must have seemed
very futuristic then. It still does.
183
00:09:47,600 --> 00:09:50,200
MUSIC: Apache
by The Shadows
184
00:09:50,240 --> 00:09:52,840
'This is the world's
last working example
185
00:09:52,880 --> 00:09:54,720
'of the Chrysler turbine car.
186
00:09:54,760 --> 00:09:56,600
'And, if you haven't
already guessed,
187
00:09:56,640 --> 00:09:59,040
'it belongs to
the superstar comedian Jay Leno.'
188
00:10:01,120 --> 00:10:03,200
The car is 100% original.
189
00:10:03,240 --> 00:10:05,400
Most jet cars of the period,
190
00:10:05,440 --> 00:10:08,040
like, General Motors
had two or three jet cars,
191
00:10:08,080 --> 00:10:11,280
and they had the bubble top.
And they looked like fighter planes.
192
00:10:12,720 --> 00:10:16,560
'The car works by sucking in air
to mix with a fine spray of fuel,
193
00:10:16,600 --> 00:10:18,880
'which, when ignited,
drives a turbine,
194
00:10:18,920 --> 00:10:21,200
'sending power to the wheels.
195
00:10:21,240 --> 00:10:23,920
'Only 55 were ever built.'
196
00:10:25,080 --> 00:10:27,160
I mean, this does look outrageous
to us now,
197
00:10:27,200 --> 00:10:30,280
because this is a bit of very
flamboyant 1960s American design.
198
00:10:30,320 --> 00:10:31,920
Yeah. But this would have been
199
00:10:31,960 --> 00:10:34,160
a mainstream-looking car,
wouldn't it? Sure, yeah.
200
00:10:34,200 --> 00:10:36,480
You could have built this car
with a V8 engine
201
00:10:36,520 --> 00:10:37,920
and it would have sold. Yeah.
202
00:10:37,960 --> 00:10:40,720
They weren't trying to propose
that the gas turbine car
203
00:10:40,760 --> 00:10:43,840
was an exotic, rarefied supercar
or anything like that.
204
00:10:43,880 --> 00:10:47,040
It was going to be the way
your normal family car was powered.
205
00:10:47,080 --> 00:10:49,200
Right. That was the idea, wasn't it?
206
00:10:52,440 --> 00:10:55,120
'I'm desperate to see
under the bonnet
207
00:10:55,160 --> 00:10:58,560
'and to soften Jay up,
so that he lets me drive it.'
208
00:10:58,600 --> 00:11:01,440
Here she is.
This is all air filter right here.
209
00:11:01,480 --> 00:11:05,280
This is what keeps it quiet. They're
massive things. Yeah. They are huge.
210
00:11:05,320 --> 00:11:08,840
Well, the programme ran for a long
time. It started in the early '50s.
211
00:11:08,880 --> 00:11:12,400
And in '54, they drove a turbine
car, disguised as a regular car,
212
00:11:12,440 --> 00:11:15,280
across the country. So the idea
was to come up with something
213
00:11:15,320 --> 00:11:17,080
that could get the job done
214
00:11:17,120 --> 00:11:18,680
and still be reasonably, er...
215
00:11:19,960 --> 00:11:21,560
..sensible in price.
216
00:11:21,600 --> 00:11:23,840
'The turbine, however,
could not compete
217
00:11:23,880 --> 00:11:26,520
'with the cheap and reliable
piston engine.'
218
00:11:26,560 --> 00:11:30,680
This was hundreds, if not thousands,
of dollars more.
219
00:11:30,720 --> 00:11:33,880
And plus, the V8 had been...
220
00:11:33,920 --> 00:11:35,200
pretty much perfected.
221
00:11:35,240 --> 00:11:38,160
It is interesting actually, the V8
engine, well, the piston engine,
222
00:11:38,200 --> 00:11:40,840
is actually a bit like the burger,
cos you have other...
223
00:11:40,880 --> 00:11:43,720
We started to eat Japanese food
in Britain and America.
224
00:11:43,760 --> 00:11:45,240
And we had Chinese food
225
00:11:45,280 --> 00:11:47,280
and we experimented
with Indian and wholemeal.
226
00:11:47,320 --> 00:11:49,880
But the burger doesn't go away,
doesn't it? No. There's still
227
00:11:49,920 --> 00:11:52,800
millions of burgers every day.
You'll always have the burger. Yeah.
228
00:11:52,840 --> 00:11:54,800
The V8 is a burger.
229
00:11:54,840 --> 00:11:56,840
With cheese.
230
00:11:56,880 --> 00:11:59,280
'Now that I've managed
to subtly shift Jay's attention
231
00:11:59,320 --> 00:12:03,240
'onto the best baps in LA, it's time
to hit him with the big one.'
232
00:12:03,280 --> 00:12:06,320
This is a question one man
shouldn't ask another,
233
00:12:06,360 --> 00:12:08,120
I know, but...
234
00:12:08,160 --> 00:12:10,960
can I have a go in your turbine car?
235
00:12:11,000 --> 00:12:13,000
It's a bit unorthodox, but...
236
00:12:14,040 --> 00:12:15,360
..I guess it'll be OK. Thanks.
237
00:12:15,400 --> 00:12:17,560
Thanks, buddy.
We won't tell anybody.
238
00:12:22,160 --> 00:12:23,600
Right, quick situation report.
239
00:12:23,640 --> 00:12:25,760
I'm doing 3,300rpm.
240
00:12:25,800 --> 00:12:27,680
No, 33,000. Sorry, 33,000.
241
00:12:27,720 --> 00:12:30,040
It's difficult
to get your head round, isn't it?
242
00:12:30,080 --> 00:12:31,760
Listen to that! Yeah.
243
00:12:34,040 --> 00:12:37,200
The great advantage to this car
was it could run on any fuel
244
00:12:37,240 --> 00:12:38,680
that burned with oxygen.
245
00:12:38,720 --> 00:12:41,480
But when they took it to Mexico,
they ran it on tequila.
246
00:12:41,520 --> 00:12:42,720
When they took it to France,
247
00:12:42,760 --> 00:12:44,680
they filled the tank
with Chanel No.5.
248
00:12:44,720 --> 00:12:45,720
Quite pleasant driving around.
249
00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:48,720
The disadvantage was the turbine
could not run on lead,
250
00:12:48,760 --> 00:12:51,360
so you couldn't fill it up
at the normal gas station,
251
00:12:51,400 --> 00:12:54,280
cos the only gas available in
America at the time was leaded gas.
252
00:12:54,320 --> 00:12:57,240
Right, so the only thing it couldn't
tolerate was the lead? Right.
253
00:12:57,280 --> 00:13:00,280
Cos that would damage the blade.
That's a shame.
254
00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:01,960
It's one of those things that,
255
00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:05,520
given a few slight tweaks
to history,
256
00:13:05,560 --> 00:13:06,760
it might have worked.
257
00:13:06,800 --> 00:13:09,560
We might all have been driving
something like turbine cars. Yeah.
258
00:13:09,600 --> 00:13:12,440
MUSIC: Tequila
by The Champs
259
00:13:14,800 --> 00:13:17,000
So, like the early electric car,
260
00:13:17,040 --> 00:13:19,760
thwarted by an electricity grid
that wasn't there,
261
00:13:19,800 --> 00:13:24,240
the turbine car came just too soon
for the advent of unleaded petrol.
262
00:13:26,960 --> 00:13:29,320
In the end,
Chrysler recalled and crushed
263
00:13:29,360 --> 00:13:32,480
almost all of these
experimental cars.
264
00:13:32,520 --> 00:13:34,400
# Tequila! #
265
00:13:35,720 --> 00:13:38,920
But surely innovation
would be the way to go?
266
00:13:38,960 --> 00:13:43,200
Especially for carmakers facing
slow-off-the-mark competitors.
267
00:13:43,240 --> 00:13:46,440
There now follows a tale
of two sports car makers -
268
00:13:46,480 --> 00:13:48,280
British and German.
269
00:13:48,320 --> 00:13:52,200
One of them would plug away
bloody-mindedly at outmoded ideas
270
00:13:52,240 --> 00:13:55,400
about car design
from the middle of the 20th century
271
00:13:55,440 --> 00:13:59,200
and keep redesigning the same
basic car over and over again
272
00:13:59,240 --> 00:14:01,560
for decade after decade.
273
00:14:01,600 --> 00:14:04,800
But the other,
the other one was an innovator,
274
00:14:04,840 --> 00:14:08,160
experimenting with new materials,
lightweight design,
275
00:14:08,200 --> 00:14:10,840
flexible, small volume
manufacturing.
276
00:14:10,880 --> 00:14:13,600
It would develop compact,
powerful engines of its own
277
00:14:13,640 --> 00:14:16,080
and push at the boundaries
of contemporary styling
278
00:14:16,120 --> 00:14:18,560
and even contemporary
colour schemes.
279
00:14:18,600 --> 00:14:20,720
'One would go on to greatness.
280
00:14:20,760 --> 00:14:22,480
'The other would disappear.
281
00:14:22,520 --> 00:14:24,680
'And you can probably
guess how this goes.'
282
00:14:24,720 --> 00:14:26,000
Or can you?
283
00:14:26,040 --> 00:14:27,560
Because the radical freethinkers
284
00:14:27,600 --> 00:14:29,760
were TVR of Blackpool.
285
00:14:29,800 --> 00:14:31,840
And the stuck-ists were Porsche.
286
00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:39,120
It's in 1963 that things
become interesting,
287
00:14:39,160 --> 00:14:41,480
because that's when
Porsche revealed this -
288
00:14:41,520 --> 00:14:43,360
the first of the 911s.
289
00:14:46,200 --> 00:14:49,200
Now, Porsche would go on to make
many different cars, of course,
290
00:14:49,240 --> 00:14:52,400
but this is the one that would
cement their reputation
291
00:14:52,440 --> 00:14:54,800
over five decades and counting.
292
00:14:57,480 --> 00:15:01,440
'For a new sports car, the 911
was already pretty old-fashioned.
293
00:15:01,480 --> 00:15:04,080
'Not least the air-cooled
rear-mounted engine -
294
00:15:04,120 --> 00:15:06,600
'a layout that dated
back to the 1930s.'
295
00:15:07,800 --> 00:15:10,240
This was thought to be
the right way to do it.
296
00:15:10,280 --> 00:15:12,960
Engine at the back,
so the drivetrain is simple.
297
00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:14,760
Nice, a lot of space inside
298
00:15:14,800 --> 00:15:16,640
and a more aerodynamic nose.
299
00:15:16,680 --> 00:15:18,640
This layout is also...
300
00:15:18,680 --> 00:15:20,440
What would be the right word?
301
00:15:20,480 --> 00:15:21,960
Er, wrong.
302
00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:24,960
Because the engine is right
at the back, behind the rear wheels,
303
00:15:25,000 --> 00:15:27,840
it acts as a sort of pendulum
when you're going around bends.
304
00:15:27,880 --> 00:15:32,320
This is at the root of the 911's
reputation for handling trickiness.
305
00:15:32,360 --> 00:15:33,920
TYRES SQUEAL
306
00:15:33,960 --> 00:15:37,080
'But what about the boy racers
from Blackpool?'
307
00:15:39,640 --> 00:15:42,520
This is a 1965 TVR Griffith.
308
00:15:44,000 --> 00:15:45,280
I know what you're thinking -
309
00:15:45,320 --> 00:15:46,920
you're thinking,
"Here he goes again!
310
00:15:46,960 --> 00:15:48,360
"He's going to kick the wheels off
311
00:15:48,400 --> 00:15:50,480
"another great British
motoring institution."
312
00:15:50,520 --> 00:15:52,240
But no.
313
00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:53,800
I liked TVR.
314
00:15:55,000 --> 00:15:57,200
TVR are a bit left-field.
315
00:15:57,240 --> 00:15:59,120
TVR were a laugh.
316
00:16:01,160 --> 00:16:03,560
But, look, we're in the same year.
317
00:16:03,600 --> 00:16:07,360
Porsche has given us a rather
archaic and very expensive car
318
00:16:07,400 --> 00:16:09,880
that does 131mph
319
00:16:09,920 --> 00:16:12,920
and takes over eight seconds
to get to 60.
320
00:16:12,960 --> 00:16:16,080
The TVR does 160mph.
321
00:16:16,120 --> 00:16:19,240
It gets to 60
in less than half the time
322
00:16:19,280 --> 00:16:20,680
and it costs less.
323
00:16:22,920 --> 00:16:26,320
'TVR were all about
new thinking, new design
324
00:16:26,360 --> 00:16:29,640
'and affordable power
and performance.
325
00:16:29,680 --> 00:16:31,440
'Their aim was to appeal directly
326
00:16:31,480 --> 00:16:33,680
'to the young male driver
of the time.
327
00:16:33,720 --> 00:16:35,440
'Cars were certainly thrilling,
328
00:16:35,480 --> 00:16:39,320
'but TVR would be in
a permanent state of revolution.
329
00:16:39,360 --> 00:16:42,840
'There was the Tasmin, the 400,
the Griffith, the Cerbera,
330
00:16:42,880 --> 00:16:46,040
'the Tuscan
and the outrageous Sagaris.
331
00:16:46,080 --> 00:16:48,160
'Models came thick and fast,
332
00:16:48,200 --> 00:16:51,120
'costing the company
a fortune in start-up costs.'
333
00:16:54,160 --> 00:16:56,480
Meanwhile, boring old Porsche
334
00:16:56,520 --> 00:16:59,560
just continue to make the 911.
335
00:16:59,600 --> 00:17:01,640
I mean, the wheel arches
swelled a bit,
336
00:17:01,680 --> 00:17:04,440
the engine got a bit bigger,
but nothing really changed.
337
00:17:04,480 --> 00:17:06,760
It took them until 1987
338
00:17:06,800 --> 00:17:09,960
to fit a decent gearbox,
for Pete's sake.
339
00:17:10,000 --> 00:17:12,800
This one, in the 1964 car...
340
00:17:12,840 --> 00:17:15,920
is rubbish. And I mean rubbish.
341
00:17:15,960 --> 00:17:17,960
I can't even find it half the time.
342
00:17:19,400 --> 00:17:23,640
'Finally, in 1993,
it was completely restyled.
343
00:17:23,680 --> 00:17:27,040
'But it came out
looking exactly like a 911,
344
00:17:27,080 --> 00:17:29,480
'with the engine at the back.'
345
00:17:29,520 --> 00:17:31,880
I mean, this has been going on
for decades.
346
00:17:31,920 --> 00:17:35,040
Other people have realised
the folly of the rear-engined car
347
00:17:35,080 --> 00:17:37,360
and thought, "No, actually,
we were wrong about that.
348
00:17:37,400 --> 00:17:39,400
"It needs to be in the middle
or at the front."
349
00:17:39,440 --> 00:17:40,600
But Porsche would just go,
350
00:17:40,640 --> 00:17:42,000
IN GERMAN ACCENT: "Nein, nein.
351
00:17:42,040 --> 00:17:43,320
"Nein, should be at the back.
352
00:17:43,360 --> 00:17:45,040
"We will stick with it
and make it work."
353
00:17:45,080 --> 00:17:47,280
And they have done,
all credit to them,
354
00:17:47,320 --> 00:17:48,400
but why not just...
355
00:17:49,480 --> 00:17:50,920
..put it up there!
356
00:17:55,000 --> 00:17:57,160
'TVR may have had the engine right,
357
00:17:57,200 --> 00:18:00,400
'but that was the only part
of the business plan that worked.
358
00:18:00,440 --> 00:18:03,480
'The constant chopping and changing
lead to confusion,
359
00:18:03,520 --> 00:18:07,600
'profit warnings and a string of
failed attempts to revive the name.
360
00:18:07,640 --> 00:18:10,000
'The result was chaos.'
361
00:18:10,040 --> 00:18:13,400
TVR folklore is a bit too good
to check, to be honest.
362
00:18:13,440 --> 00:18:16,760
It includes stories
about windows falling out,
363
00:18:16,800 --> 00:18:21,600
about the owner's dogs taking a bite
out of a polystyrene styling model
364
00:18:21,640 --> 00:18:24,800
and then the results
being incorporated in the final car.
365
00:18:24,840 --> 00:18:27,960
And then there's the one about the
workforce scrawling rude messages
366
00:18:28,000 --> 00:18:31,880
about each other on the bare glass
fibre body works on the inside.
367
00:18:31,920 --> 00:18:34,800
So that, one day, when the car
came to be repaired or restored,
368
00:18:34,840 --> 00:18:37,360
you'd take a piece of trim off
and then, yes,
369
00:18:37,400 --> 00:18:40,440
you'd discovered that
Yozza was indeed a right...
370
00:18:42,400 --> 00:18:45,600
'Porsche, on the other hand,
would spend over half a century
371
00:18:45,640 --> 00:18:48,520
'cautiously evolving the 911.
372
00:18:48,560 --> 00:18:50,800
'And earning billions in profit.
373
00:18:50,840 --> 00:18:55,320
'Today, a 911 is one of the world's
most coveted artefacts.
374
00:18:55,360 --> 00:18:56,440
'Who'd have thought it?'
375
00:18:58,400 --> 00:19:02,360
Just have a look at the astonishing
variety that TVR produced
376
00:19:02,400 --> 00:19:05,360
over the years. Model after model.
377
00:19:05,400 --> 00:19:07,880
Modification after modification,
ever bigger engines.
378
00:19:07,920 --> 00:19:11,080
Incredible, dinosaur-inspired
paint schemes.
379
00:19:11,120 --> 00:19:12,760
And, if you went back to the 1960s,
380
00:19:12,800 --> 00:19:15,800
the other end of history's
telescope, you would say,
381
00:19:15,840 --> 00:19:18,680
"Yes, TVR is going to win this one.
382
00:19:18,720 --> 00:19:21,080
"Not Porsche,
with the dreary old 911.
383
00:19:21,120 --> 00:19:24,520
"TVR with all its innovation,
all its soul, all its spirit."
384
00:19:24,560 --> 00:19:28,200
And yet, nothing has
been made by TVR
385
00:19:28,240 --> 00:19:29,960
since 2006.
386
00:19:31,880 --> 00:19:35,520
'But it's nowhere near as dicey
as copying that rear engine idea
387
00:19:35,560 --> 00:19:37,280
'and doing it really badly.
388
00:19:38,840 --> 00:19:41,440
'This is the Chevrolet Corvair,
389
00:19:41,480 --> 00:19:44,760
'a car that paved the way
for some of the most important
390
00:19:44,800 --> 00:19:47,600
'safety innovations
in history of the car.
391
00:19:47,640 --> 00:19:50,600
'Although, that wasn't
Chevrolet's intention.'
392
00:19:53,000 --> 00:19:56,240
This is actually the second
generation of the Corvair
393
00:19:56,280 --> 00:19:59,000
and it is quite a pleasant,
nicely sorted car,
394
00:19:59,040 --> 00:20:00,400
but it wasn't always that way.
395
00:20:00,440 --> 00:20:02,320
MUSIC: Bonanza Theme
396
00:20:02,360 --> 00:20:03,880
'The first generation Corvair
397
00:20:03,920 --> 00:20:07,160
'was deftly launched in 1960
by Michael Landon...'
398
00:20:07,200 --> 00:20:08,480
Hi, I'm Mike Landon.
399
00:20:08,520 --> 00:20:11,760
'..from Bonanza and
The Little House on the Prairie.
400
00:20:11,800 --> 00:20:15,560
'The trouble was, the real cowboys
weren't the ones behind the wheels.'
401
00:20:15,600 --> 00:20:17,560
Yippee-yow! Corvair!
402
00:20:20,000 --> 00:20:23,600
That earlier car had a couple
of horrific design flaws.
403
00:20:23,640 --> 00:20:27,280
One was that it had
the obvious rear weight bias
404
00:20:27,320 --> 00:20:29,280
that you get
with a rear-engined car.
405
00:20:29,320 --> 00:20:32,320
But it also didn't have
a much-needed antiroll bar
406
00:20:32,360 --> 00:20:34,160
on the front suspension.
407
00:20:34,200 --> 00:20:36,680
And that was because
that would have added a bit of cost,
408
00:20:36,720 --> 00:20:38,680
so the management
at Chevrolet thought...
409
00:20:38,720 --> 00:20:40,720
"Well, we'll just leave it off."
410
00:20:41,800 --> 00:20:46,080
'As a result, the handling was
a nightmare, especially on bends.
411
00:20:46,120 --> 00:20:50,360
'But, rather than fix the problem,
Chevrolet simply improvised.'
412
00:20:50,400 --> 00:20:53,680
They addressed this, to some extent,
by fiddling with the tyre pressures.
413
00:20:53,720 --> 00:20:57,560
They actually recommended tyre
pressures outside of the limits
414
00:20:57,600 --> 00:21:00,600
advised by the tyre manufacturer.
415
00:21:00,640 --> 00:21:03,080
'And this cavalier approach
meant that Chevrolet
416
00:21:03,120 --> 00:21:06,400
'would start losing
their customers...permanently.'
417
00:21:06,440 --> 00:21:09,720
Under certain conditions going round
corners, one of the rear wheels
418
00:21:09,760 --> 00:21:13,560
on the rather crude swingarm
suspension could tuck under
419
00:21:13,600 --> 00:21:17,640
and you would suffer sudden
and catastrophic oversteer.
420
00:21:21,160 --> 00:21:23,520
And if you're not familiar
with these technical terms,
421
00:21:23,560 --> 00:21:27,000
oversteer is when you go
through the hedge backwards.
422
00:21:27,040 --> 00:21:29,920
'Things got so bad that
even the ads for this deathtrap
423
00:21:29,960 --> 00:21:32,840
'seemed to be offering you
a one-way trip to the afterlife.'
424
00:21:32,880 --> 00:21:34,720
VOICEOVER: There's a car down there
425
00:21:34,760 --> 00:21:37,720
that can make you feel
you're way up here.
426
00:21:37,760 --> 00:21:42,040
'By 1965, Chevrolet faced
over 100 separate lawsuits
427
00:21:42,080 --> 00:21:43,840
'from the Corvair's victims.
428
00:21:43,880 --> 00:21:46,080
'But still they did nothing.
429
00:21:46,120 --> 00:21:48,800
'Until one man decided to take them,
430
00:21:48,840 --> 00:21:51,240
'and the entire motor industry,
to task.'
431
00:21:52,760 --> 00:21:56,920
Now I must bring up the most famous,
or perhaps notorious,
432
00:21:56,960 --> 00:21:59,960
bit of consumer campaigning
in the whole of history.
433
00:22:00,000 --> 00:22:01,920
Not just the history of the car.
434
00:22:01,960 --> 00:22:04,720
It was the publication in 1965
435
00:22:04,760 --> 00:22:08,160
of Ralph Nader's
Unsafe At Any Speed.
436
00:22:08,200 --> 00:22:11,400
Now, Ralph Nader believed
that the American carmakers
437
00:22:11,440 --> 00:22:14,800
knew about many of the dangerous
failings of their cars,
438
00:22:14,840 --> 00:22:16,960
but couldn't be bothered
to deal with them.
439
00:22:17,000 --> 00:22:18,520
He talked about all sorts of things,
440
00:22:18,560 --> 00:22:20,560
from sharp edges on interiors,
441
00:22:20,600 --> 00:22:23,080
to gearboxes that could be pushed
into reverse
442
00:22:23,120 --> 00:22:25,800
while you were going along
and so on and so on.
443
00:22:25,840 --> 00:22:29,520
But, most famously, he addressed
the issue of the Corvair.
444
00:22:29,560 --> 00:22:31,680
'And, with road deaths
from all vehicles
445
00:22:31,720 --> 00:22:35,200
'topping 47,000 in the US alone,
446
00:22:35,240 --> 00:22:38,040
'Nader had the people's
overwhelming support.
447
00:22:38,080 --> 00:22:40,720
COMMENTATOR: When the New York
motor show opened this Easter,
448
00:22:40,760 --> 00:22:42,960
the city's doctors paraded
with placards of protest
449
00:22:43,000 --> 00:22:46,680
about the lack of safety features
on the new models from Detroit.
450
00:22:48,560 --> 00:22:53,400
What he effectively investigated
was legislation covering the design,
451
00:22:53,440 --> 00:22:56,440
especially the safety features,
of cars.
452
00:22:56,480 --> 00:23:00,720
For the first time, he forced
the authorities to take an interest
453
00:23:00,760 --> 00:23:03,440
in what car manufacturers
were getting up to.
454
00:23:05,640 --> 00:23:09,600
'As a result, the Corvair, and many
other lethal cars, were modified.
455
00:23:09,640 --> 00:23:12,560
'So it's thanks to Ralph
that I can happily drive this one
456
00:23:12,600 --> 00:23:14,320
'around this bend without the need
457
00:23:14,360 --> 00:23:17,520
'for my emergency pair
of brown trousers.'
458
00:23:17,560 --> 00:23:21,200
What was becoming clear was that
the honeymoon of our love affair
459
00:23:21,240 --> 00:23:23,560
with the car was coming to an end.
460
00:23:23,600 --> 00:23:25,240
It would no longer be allowed
461
00:23:25,280 --> 00:23:27,840
to blunder through
the world unchallenged.
462
00:23:29,480 --> 00:23:32,680
'But the biggest safety innovation
of them all was made by a man
463
00:23:32,720 --> 00:23:34,400
'from a far-off country
464
00:23:34,440 --> 00:23:36,960
'abusing eggs
from his company's fridge.
465
00:23:39,200 --> 00:23:41,920
'And what he'd achieve
would save more lives
466
00:23:41,960 --> 00:23:45,400
'than any single innovation
in the history of motoring.'
467
00:23:45,440 --> 00:23:48,520
The year 1959
saw a great leap forward
468
00:23:48,560 --> 00:23:50,960
in the safety of a car's occupants.
469
00:23:51,000 --> 00:23:54,840
Something that is reckoned to reduce
the risk of death in a collision
470
00:23:54,880 --> 00:23:57,400
by at least 50%.
471
00:23:57,440 --> 00:23:59,360
And you ought to be able
to guess what it is,
472
00:23:59,400 --> 00:24:01,560
because you can see it
in this picture.
473
00:24:04,000 --> 00:24:05,880
Yes, man on the sofa
in his underpants,
474
00:24:05,920 --> 00:24:07,280
eating the takeaway pizza.
475
00:24:07,320 --> 00:24:08,320
Yes, correct.
476
00:24:08,360 --> 00:24:09,920
It is the safety belt.
477
00:24:09,960 --> 00:24:13,040
Most specifically,
the three-point safety belt.
478
00:24:13,080 --> 00:24:15,200
And this car, the Volvo Amazon,
479
00:24:15,240 --> 00:24:19,080
was the first car to have
such a thing fitted as standard.
480
00:24:21,760 --> 00:24:25,440
'Volvo's seatbelt pioneer,
Nils Bohlin, thought long and hard
481
00:24:25,480 --> 00:24:27,760
'about where the straps should go.
482
00:24:27,800 --> 00:24:31,000
'And he'd worked out that the
three-point system was the best way
483
00:24:31,040 --> 00:24:34,640
'of comfortably restraining
the human body during an impact.'
484
00:24:36,440 --> 00:24:38,400
It is a very, very simple idea
485
00:24:38,440 --> 00:24:42,440
that is reckoned to have saved
over a million lives already.
486
00:24:43,640 --> 00:24:47,560
'Volvo's gift to the world was
a generous one, but it also created
487
00:24:47,600 --> 00:24:51,840
'a new marketing strategy that the
people's car hadn't known before.'
488
00:24:51,880 --> 00:24:55,680
The standard seatbelt was the
beginning of a peculiar initiative
489
00:24:55,720 --> 00:24:57,680
by Volvo, which is...
490
00:24:57,720 --> 00:25:01,160
the idea of selling safety.
491
00:25:01,200 --> 00:25:04,280
Volvo's invention
came just at the right time.
492
00:25:04,320 --> 00:25:07,240
'As the '60s progressed,
car ownership was mushrooming
493
00:25:07,280 --> 00:25:09,800
'and that meant
rocketing accident rates.
494
00:25:15,600 --> 00:25:20,200
This car is the Series 2
Dodge Charger RT.
495
00:25:20,240 --> 00:25:21,840
And it kicks butt...
496
00:25:21,880 --> 00:25:22,880
big time.
497
00:25:22,920 --> 00:25:27,320
# When the sun comes up
on a sleepy little town... #
498
00:25:27,360 --> 00:25:31,640
'This 7.2 litre,
440 horsepower monster
499
00:25:31,680 --> 00:25:34,400
'was a shameless celebration
of the petrol age,
500
00:25:34,440 --> 00:25:38,000
'the US auto industry
and America itself.'
501
00:25:38,040 --> 00:25:42,400
It was a bit of a golden era for
massive cars with massive engines.
502
00:25:42,440 --> 00:25:43,480
And it was all...
503
00:25:44,600 --> 00:25:46,200
Well, it was rather fantastic.
504
00:25:46,240 --> 00:25:49,680
MUSIC: Sweet Home Alabama
by Lynyrd Skynyrd
505
00:25:49,720 --> 00:25:53,600
'The Dodge Charger was a perfect car
for late '60s America -
506
00:25:53,640 --> 00:25:57,000
'a time when cheap oil
flowed like running water.'
507
00:25:57,040 --> 00:26:00,600
In 1968, gas - that's petrol -
508
00:26:00,640 --> 00:26:04,600
in the US
was typically 34 cents a gallon.
509
00:26:04,640 --> 00:26:07,400
Now, that sounds cheap, of course,
because it was a long time ago.
510
00:26:07,440 --> 00:26:10,520
Actually, it was quite cheap
even at the time.
511
00:26:10,560 --> 00:26:13,040
And there was probably
a good reason for that.
512
00:26:13,080 --> 00:26:16,400
Detroit depended on
the oil companies to support them.
513
00:26:16,440 --> 00:26:19,840
The oil companies depended
on Detroit to make a car like this
514
00:26:19,880 --> 00:26:22,040
that would use
a lot of their stuff up.
515
00:26:22,080 --> 00:26:23,520
So everybody was happy.
516
00:26:27,960 --> 00:26:31,360
'Well over half a century
since the dawn of the petrol age,
517
00:26:31,400 --> 00:26:34,880
'oil was still king and the piston
engines was still providing
518
00:26:34,920 --> 00:26:37,040
'the soundtrack for the world.'
519
00:26:38,120 --> 00:26:42,400
This car comes from a high point in
the Detroit motor industry's story.
520
00:26:42,440 --> 00:26:46,280
A time when all that mattered
was the pursuit of power and majesty
521
00:26:46,320 --> 00:26:49,120
and it didn't matter
what was consumed in achieving it -
522
00:26:49,160 --> 00:26:52,040
how much fuel it burned,
how much raw material was used,
523
00:26:52,080 --> 00:26:55,320
how much it weighed, how much space
it took up, how much noise it made,
524
00:26:55,360 --> 00:26:57,800
how many instruments
you've got on the dashboard.
525
00:26:57,840 --> 00:27:00,240
And here is a measure
of just how profligate
526
00:27:00,280 --> 00:27:02,400
the American motor car
had become.
527
00:27:02,440 --> 00:27:06,200
The average size of the four-leaf
clover highway interchange
528
00:27:06,240 --> 00:27:09,400
being built on American roads
at the same time as this car
529
00:27:09,440 --> 00:27:13,920
occupied the same area
as the mediaeval port of Dubrovnik.
530
00:27:13,960 --> 00:27:17,040
And you can take that one down the
pub and have it on me.
531
00:27:19,160 --> 00:27:21,640
'The muscle car,
like Detroit itself,
532
00:27:21,680 --> 00:27:24,440
'had become an American icon.
533
00:27:24,480 --> 00:27:26,280
'And, like all true American heroes,
534
00:27:26,320 --> 00:27:29,440
'it was eulogised in song
and on-screen.'
535
00:27:29,480 --> 00:27:31,480
MUSIC: General Lee
by Johnny Cash
536
00:27:31,520 --> 00:27:33,000
# I'm a charger
537
00:27:33,040 --> 00:27:35,160
# That charges through the night
538
00:27:35,200 --> 00:27:37,200
# I'm thunder on the highway
539
00:27:37,240 --> 00:27:39,640
# Looking bad, bad, bad. #
540
00:27:39,960 --> 00:27:42,160
'Of course, America's gleeful waste
541
00:27:42,200 --> 00:27:45,360
'and conspicuous consumption
couldn't last.
542
00:27:45,400 --> 00:27:47,840
'The carefree days
of "howdy, pardner"
543
00:27:47,880 --> 00:27:50,600
'would soon be ended
by their Saudi partner.'
544
00:27:50,640 --> 00:27:53,760
MUSIC: Gimme Shelter
by The Rolling Stones
545
00:27:53,800 --> 00:27:57,360
'In 1973, after yet another
squabble in the Middle East,
546
00:27:57,400 --> 00:28:00,320
'the Saudis and others
banned oil sales to America.
547
00:28:01,760 --> 00:28:03,360
'Even when the embargo was lifted,
548
00:28:03,400 --> 00:28:05,600
'petrol prices stayed high
549
00:28:05,640 --> 00:28:08,240
'and cars like the Charger
were left gasping.
550
00:28:10,640 --> 00:28:14,200
'And, so, people began exploring
cheaper and cleaner alternatives
551
00:28:14,240 --> 00:28:16,000
'to their beloved gasoline.
552
00:28:16,040 --> 00:28:19,560
'And that reopened the door
to some old thinking.
553
00:28:19,600 --> 00:28:22,440
'Remember the Baker Electric
we saw earlier?
554
00:28:22,480 --> 00:28:24,760
'Let's see how that idea
was coming along.'
555
00:28:24,800 --> 00:28:26,880
It's bad news, I'm afraid.
556
00:28:26,920 --> 00:28:30,360
By the 1980s, battery technology
had not really moved on
557
00:28:30,400 --> 00:28:33,360
from the state it was in
back when the Baker was built.
558
00:28:33,400 --> 00:28:36,080
The big revolution that was
brought about by mobile phones
559
00:28:36,120 --> 00:28:39,160
and laptops and that sort of thing,
that hadn't happened yet.
560
00:28:39,200 --> 00:28:42,400
And, anyway, electric power
was still for milk floats
561
00:28:42,440 --> 00:28:46,240
and meals on wheels delivery vans
and nutty professors.
562
00:28:46,280 --> 00:28:49,760
So an electric car of the people
would have to be very light
563
00:28:49,800 --> 00:28:52,440
to make the most of the feeble
battery technology of the time.
564
00:28:52,480 --> 00:28:55,760
It would also have to be simple,
it would have to be very cheap
565
00:28:55,800 --> 00:28:58,480
and it would have to be cool,
because being cool
566
00:28:58,520 --> 00:29:01,120
was very important in making
a new idea catch on.
567
00:29:02,520 --> 00:29:06,080
COMMENTATOR: Imagine a vehicle that
needs no petrol. Just a battery.
568
00:29:06,120 --> 00:29:11,040
'Yes, in 1985, that height of cool
was hoped to be achieved by this.'
569
00:29:11,080 --> 00:29:12,800
ELECTRONIC FANFARE PLAYS
570
00:29:14,720 --> 00:29:16,800
COMMENTATOR: The Sinclair C5.
571
00:29:16,840 --> 00:29:19,480
It's a new power
in personal transport.
572
00:29:22,760 --> 00:29:24,600
Well, here it is.
573
00:29:24,640 --> 00:29:28,280
Six foot of plastic with foot pedals
and an electric motor,
574
00:29:28,320 --> 00:29:31,320
not unlike the one
that drives your washing machine.
575
00:29:34,360 --> 00:29:35,640
This is brilliant.
576
00:29:36,800 --> 00:29:38,480
I like it.
577
00:29:38,520 --> 00:29:42,400
'The Sinclair C5 wasn't actually
fitted with a washing machine motor,
578
00:29:42,440 --> 00:29:44,960
'although it was made in a factory
that built them.
579
00:29:45,000 --> 00:29:48,000
'The 12-volt motor it did have
could completely burn out
580
00:29:48,040 --> 00:29:49,880
'on even a mild hill, though,
581
00:29:49,920 --> 00:29:53,880
'so it was fitted with these
user-unfriendly pedals, too.
582
00:29:53,920 --> 00:29:57,400
'It might make you look like a
kamikaze reject from a Tron movie,
583
00:29:57,440 --> 00:30:00,760
'but it was actually the product
of some incredibly forward thinking
584
00:30:00,800 --> 00:30:03,840
'by its genius inventor -
Sir Clive Sinclair.'
585
00:30:03,880 --> 00:30:07,560
It's ideal for shopping,
for, you know, going to the office,
586
00:30:07,600 --> 00:30:09,720
going to the station,
going to school.
587
00:30:09,760 --> 00:30:11,760
Any relatively short-range trip.
588
00:30:11,800 --> 00:30:15,400
'He was so proud of his baby
that he even named after himself.
589
00:30:15,440 --> 00:30:17,400
'That C stands for Clive.
590
00:30:17,440 --> 00:30:19,720
'Yes, it's the Clive 5.
591
00:30:19,760 --> 00:30:21,760
'I told you it was cool.'
592
00:30:21,800 --> 00:30:24,960
Sir Clive Sinclair gave many of us
our first pocket calculator.
593
00:30:25,000 --> 00:30:28,840
He also introduced my generation
to the marvels of computing,
594
00:30:28,880 --> 00:30:32,440
with the ZX81 and the ZX Spectrum,
and they were brilliant.
595
00:30:32,480 --> 00:30:34,400
He was a clever man.
596
00:30:34,440 --> 00:30:36,520
Sorry, I mean he IS a clever man.
597
00:30:36,560 --> 00:30:39,000
Cos, despite this,
he's still alive.
598
00:30:41,240 --> 00:30:43,160
'In fact, he wasn't just smart,
599
00:30:43,200 --> 00:30:46,280
'the man was damn near clairvoyant.'
600
00:30:46,320 --> 00:30:49,200
I believe firmly that all cars
601
00:30:49,240 --> 00:30:51,560
ought to be electric
by the next century.
602
00:30:53,240 --> 00:30:55,480
Back in 1985,
when this was launched,
603
00:30:55,520 --> 00:30:59,680
the environment hadn't yet become
a mainstream force in politics
604
00:30:59,720 --> 00:31:02,600
and fashion,
so this was very modern thinking.
605
00:31:02,640 --> 00:31:04,600
'There were plenty of advantages.
606
00:31:04,640 --> 00:31:07,960
'It was under 400 quid
and five miles on this thing
607
00:31:08,000 --> 00:31:11,280
'would only relieve you
of one penny in running costs.
608
00:31:11,320 --> 00:31:13,200
'You didn't have to tax or insure it
609
00:31:13,240 --> 00:31:16,000
'and you didn't need
an MOT or number plates.
610
00:31:16,040 --> 00:31:19,120
'Plus, if you were a feckless youth,
it got even better.'
611
00:31:19,160 --> 00:31:21,960
Strictly speaking,
the C5 is not a car.
612
00:31:22,000 --> 00:31:24,960
In the eyes of a law,
it's an electric tricycle,
613
00:31:25,000 --> 00:31:28,440
which means anybody
aged 14 or over can drive it.
614
00:31:28,480 --> 00:31:30,920
Ride it. No, drive it.
Whatever you do.
615
00:31:32,160 --> 00:31:33,520
'For some reason, though,
616
00:31:33,560 --> 00:31:36,600
'not everyone was thrilled
about the idea of unlicensed kids
617
00:31:36,640 --> 00:31:39,400
'hammering around the highways
on a plastic tricycle.
618
00:31:39,440 --> 00:31:40,720
Argh!
619
00:31:40,760 --> 00:31:41,960
I'm very unhappy
620
00:31:42,000 --> 00:31:43,120
that it's being sold
621
00:31:43,160 --> 00:31:44,840
without essential safety equipment.
622
00:31:44,880 --> 00:31:46,720
I wouldn't like to
let my children out in it.
623
00:31:46,760 --> 00:31:49,080
REPORTER: Are you happy
at the thought of 14-year-olds
624
00:31:49,120 --> 00:31:51,040
taking this onto the road? No.
625
00:31:51,080 --> 00:31:52,840
There are one or two other issues.
626
00:31:52,880 --> 00:31:55,520
Because you are so low,
a lot of people don't see you.
627
00:31:55,560 --> 00:31:58,080
They only feel you
as they run over you.
628
00:31:58,120 --> 00:32:02,320
Your head is at about
the same height as a lorry's exhaust
629
00:32:02,360 --> 00:32:03,480
and, er...
630
00:32:03,520 --> 00:32:06,320
there's no reverse gear.
Did I mention that?
631
00:32:06,360 --> 00:32:09,240
It is catastrophically slow as well.
632
00:32:09,280 --> 00:32:10,880
But it's quite good fun.
633
00:32:10,920 --> 00:32:15,240
Because it's so small,
the sense of terror at 50mph
634
00:32:15,280 --> 00:32:18,320
is like nothing
I've ever experienced before.
635
00:32:18,360 --> 00:32:21,080
DRAMATIC MUSIC
636
00:32:21,120 --> 00:32:22,400
Oh, for God's sake!
637
00:32:23,720 --> 00:32:25,600
Engaging pedals as well.
638
00:32:26,880 --> 00:32:29,360
I can see why it's got
the little drain holes in the seat.
639
00:32:29,400 --> 00:32:31,480
I thought that was
to let the rain out.
640
00:32:32,640 --> 00:32:33,760
Th...
641
00:32:33,800 --> 00:32:34,800
Agh!
642
00:32:34,840 --> 00:32:37,080
DRAMATIC MUSIC CONTINUES
643
00:32:37,120 --> 00:32:39,760
LORRY HORN BEEPS
Yes, all right!
644
00:32:39,800 --> 00:32:41,680
LORRY HORN BEEPS REPEATEDLY
645
00:32:41,720 --> 00:32:43,760
Oh, come on!
646
00:32:43,800 --> 00:32:47,000
Agh, I can go in this lane,
cos I'm technically a bicycle!
647
00:32:48,360 --> 00:32:49,960
Stick that in your tipper!
648
00:32:51,160 --> 00:32:52,360
HE LAUGHS MENACINGLY
649
00:32:53,600 --> 00:32:57,320
'So forward thinking alone,
alas, just wasn't enough.'
650
00:32:57,360 --> 00:32:59,600
REPORTER: The critics
say it's not safe.
651
00:32:59,640 --> 00:33:01,400
REPORTER: The C5 has been a flop.
652
00:33:01,440 --> 00:33:04,640
REPORTER: Eight months later,
retailers have slashed prices
653
00:33:04,680 --> 00:33:08,120
of the C5 trike
to try and shift their stocks.
654
00:33:08,160 --> 00:33:09,880
HORN BEEPS
655
00:33:09,920 --> 00:33:12,040
THEY SHOUT
Keep going.
656
00:33:12,080 --> 00:33:14,880
'To try and keep his much-abused
electric dream alive,
657
00:33:14,920 --> 00:33:17,040
'Sir Clive even
sold his computer business
658
00:33:17,080 --> 00:33:19,880
'to that bloke off The Apprentice.'
659
00:33:19,920 --> 00:33:22,280
REPORTER: It was confirmed today
that the assembly line
660
00:33:22,320 --> 00:33:24,960
has reverted
to producing washing machines.
661
00:33:25,000 --> 00:33:27,880
'The Clive 5 was not alive.'
662
00:33:27,920 --> 00:33:30,400
So, in the end, everybody suffered,
663
00:33:30,440 --> 00:33:32,760
because Sir Clive
lost a load of his money,
664
00:33:32,800 --> 00:33:36,880
we didn't get the low-cost, electric
urban transport solution we wanted,
665
00:33:36,920 --> 00:33:40,880
and we also ended up with Alan Sugar
barking at us from television.
666
00:33:40,920 --> 00:33:42,200
What a bum deal!
667
00:33:43,840 --> 00:33:47,560
One of the criticisms regularly
levelled at Sir Clive Sinclair
668
00:33:47,600 --> 00:33:51,520
and his Clive 5 is that he never
did any market research.
669
00:33:51,560 --> 00:33:54,400
Well, good for him, I say,
because market research
670
00:33:54,440 --> 00:33:56,640
wouldn't have given us
the home computer,
671
00:33:56,680 --> 00:33:58,680
or television, for that matter.
672
00:33:58,720 --> 00:34:01,440
Progress, as George Bernard Shaw
once said,
673
00:34:01,480 --> 00:34:04,320
"depends on the unreasonable man".
674
00:34:04,360 --> 00:34:07,640
If he'd done any market research,
he'd never have built this
675
00:34:07,680 --> 00:34:10,480
and then we wouldn't know
what a daft idea it is.
676
00:34:10,520 --> 00:34:12,240
THAT is progress.
677
00:34:13,680 --> 00:34:15,520
The C5 was just a stepping stone.
678
00:34:15,560 --> 00:34:17,200
It's a learning exercise.
679
00:34:17,240 --> 00:34:19,960
But what it leads to
is very much more important.
680
00:34:21,160 --> 00:34:24,600
'And, fast forward 30 years,
and we appear to have solved
681
00:34:24,640 --> 00:34:28,840
'the feeble battery issue
that bedevilled Clive's invention.
682
00:34:28,880 --> 00:34:31,120
'Today, there are
electric vehicles out there
683
00:34:31,160 --> 00:34:34,480
'that have side-stepped
the battery issue altogether.'
684
00:34:34,520 --> 00:34:36,960
Now, this is something
I approve of immensely.
685
00:34:37,000 --> 00:34:39,280
It's a hydrogen fuel cell car.
686
00:34:41,560 --> 00:34:43,480
It's the Hyundai ix35.
687
00:34:43,520 --> 00:34:46,040
It's actually the first truly
commercially available
688
00:34:46,080 --> 00:34:47,560
fuel cell car in the world.
689
00:34:49,160 --> 00:34:52,680
It will cost you £53,000,
but new stuff is expensive.
690
00:34:52,720 --> 00:34:55,760
Remember the first video players,
the first digital cameras.
691
00:34:57,000 --> 00:34:58,680
A few rich people have to buy them,
692
00:34:58,720 --> 00:35:00,920
then the idea will catch on
and we can all have them.
693
00:35:00,960 --> 00:35:02,760
Then it becomes a car of the people.
694
00:35:08,800 --> 00:35:11,840
Anyway, look, the interesting thing
about a fuel cell car
695
00:35:11,880 --> 00:35:13,640
is that it's really an electric car.
696
00:35:13,680 --> 00:35:15,760
The wheels are driven
by an electric motor.
697
00:35:15,800 --> 00:35:18,640
But, instead of having a battery
that has to be recharged,
698
00:35:18,680 --> 00:35:21,520
it has a hydrogen fuel cell,
which is...
699
00:35:21,560 --> 00:35:24,520
well, you can think of it
as a sort of on-board, miniature
700
00:35:24,560 --> 00:35:26,720
electricity generating station.
701
00:35:26,760 --> 00:35:30,440
And a very good one, because the one
in this car makes 100 kilowatts,
702
00:35:30,480 --> 00:35:33,280
which means you could
run your house off it.
703
00:35:39,800 --> 00:35:41,680
And the great thing
about the fuel cell car
704
00:35:41,720 --> 00:35:44,560
is that you simply fill it up
with liquid hydrogen,
705
00:35:44,600 --> 00:35:48,200
which takes about the same amount
of time as it does to fill a petrol
706
00:35:48,240 --> 00:35:50,640
or a diesel car up
with conventional fuel.
707
00:35:50,680 --> 00:35:52,800
And the range of this car
on one fill-up,
708
00:35:52,840 --> 00:35:56,000
if you drive carefully,
is 350 miles or so.
709
00:35:56,040 --> 00:35:59,680
And then you can fill it up again,
which will take you three minutes
710
00:35:59,720 --> 00:36:02,680
and then you can do another
350 miles.
711
00:36:02,720 --> 00:36:03,840
What's not to like?
712
00:36:06,920 --> 00:36:08,520
'How does it work?
713
00:36:08,560 --> 00:36:10,480
'Brace yourselves.'
714
00:36:10,520 --> 00:36:13,600
Look, this does all get a bit
"double chemistry with Mr Stink",
715
00:36:13,640 --> 00:36:16,200
so I'll try and keep it
reasonably simple.
716
00:36:16,240 --> 00:36:19,120
Hydrogen in the tank
at the back of the car
717
00:36:19,160 --> 00:36:22,600
combines with oxygen in the air
to make electricity.
718
00:36:22,640 --> 00:36:25,040
So, in that sense,
it's a bit like a fossil fuel,
719
00:36:25,080 --> 00:36:28,400
it relies on the atmosphere to work.
Good.
720
00:36:28,440 --> 00:36:31,560
The other interesting thing
is that the hydrogen in the tank
721
00:36:31,600 --> 00:36:35,640
combines with the oxygen in the air
to give us, as an exhaust,
722
00:36:35,680 --> 00:36:39,320
er...water, which is H2O, remember.
723
00:36:39,360 --> 00:36:40,720
Hydrogen and oxygen.
724
00:36:42,920 --> 00:36:44,960
You can drink it.
725
00:36:45,000 --> 00:36:48,240
This all sounds very
Friends Of The Earth,
726
00:36:48,280 --> 00:36:50,240
but there is a catch.
727
00:36:50,280 --> 00:36:53,320
Currently, there are only
four hydrogen filling stations
728
00:36:53,360 --> 00:36:56,720
open to the public in Britain.
And one of them's in Hendon.
729
00:36:56,760 --> 00:36:59,680
And that's awful,
because the know-how has been around
730
00:36:59,720 --> 00:37:01,440
for longer than you think.
731
00:37:01,480 --> 00:37:05,160
There are two bits of technology
on this car that predate
732
00:37:05,200 --> 00:37:08,960
the flatulent internal combustion
engine in Benz's Motorwagen.
733
00:37:09,000 --> 00:37:12,040
To be honest, they predate
the original Rover safety bicycle,
734
00:37:12,080 --> 00:37:15,480
which was the inspiration
for every bike you see over there.
735
00:37:15,520 --> 00:37:17,240
Now, one of them
is the electric motor.
736
00:37:17,280 --> 00:37:19,080
That's not such a surprise, maybe.
737
00:37:19,120 --> 00:37:22,040
But the other one
is the fuel cell itself.
738
00:37:22,080 --> 00:37:24,560
The basic principles of which
were worked out
739
00:37:24,600 --> 00:37:26,920
back in the middle
of the 19th century.
740
00:37:26,960 --> 00:37:29,480
The technology
is perfectly understood,
741
00:37:29,520 --> 00:37:32,280
it's perfectly reliable,
it's perfectly usable.
742
00:37:32,320 --> 00:37:34,880
The only thing we are waiting
for to make this
743
00:37:34,920 --> 00:37:37,760
fabulous dream of hydrogen happen...
744
00:37:37,800 --> 00:37:40,680
is a hydrogen infrastructure.
That's all we need.
745
00:37:40,720 --> 00:37:43,360
Everything else,
like this Hyundai...
746
00:37:45,120 --> 00:37:46,280
..is ready.
747
00:37:49,080 --> 00:37:51,040
It's extraordinary, really,
748
00:37:51,080 --> 00:37:55,440
to think that we may be on the brink
of a people's car revolution.
749
00:37:55,480 --> 00:37:57,440
But, despite this exciting progress,
750
00:37:57,480 --> 00:38:00,480
there's still one deeply unreliable
component in this.
751
00:38:00,520 --> 00:38:02,400
And all cars.
752
00:38:02,440 --> 00:38:04,080
That component, of course,
753
00:38:04,120 --> 00:38:06,120
is me. Or you.
754
00:38:06,160 --> 00:38:08,240
Whoever. The driver.
755
00:38:08,280 --> 00:38:09,480
CRASHING
756
00:38:09,520 --> 00:38:11,920
Most leading carmakers
are already experimenting
757
00:38:11,960 --> 00:38:14,680
with elements
of driverless technology.
758
00:38:14,720 --> 00:38:16,920
And tech giants Google
have gone the whole hog
759
00:38:16,960 --> 00:38:19,760
and are trying to eliminate
the steering wheel altogether.
760
00:38:19,800 --> 00:38:23,400
All you have to do is sit in it
and look stupid.
761
00:38:23,440 --> 00:38:24,960
ENGINE REVS
762
00:38:26,520 --> 00:38:30,360
Now, Audi think
rather differently about all this.
763
00:38:34,240 --> 00:38:37,280
They say the car will be autonomous.
764
00:38:37,320 --> 00:38:40,080
It will be a robot car
for all the boring bits.
765
00:38:40,120 --> 00:38:43,080
So driving along the motorway,
heavy stop-start traffic,
766
00:38:43,120 --> 00:38:45,640
all that sort of thing. But then...
767
00:38:45,680 --> 00:38:48,240
when it comes to fun time,
you can take over.
768
00:38:52,280 --> 00:38:56,360
I'm in my Audi RS7
with 552 horsepower
769
00:38:56,400 --> 00:38:59,200
and I'm on a track day in Spain,
770
00:38:59,240 --> 00:39:01,000
in Catalunya, in fact.
771
00:39:09,040 --> 00:39:10,560
ENGINE DIES
772
00:39:10,600 --> 00:39:11,720
DOORS BEEP
773
00:39:11,760 --> 00:39:13,320
Ooh!
774
00:39:13,360 --> 00:39:14,600
How did I do?
775
00:39:14,640 --> 00:39:18,160
2 minutes, 20. 2:20? Yep.
776
00:39:18,200 --> 00:39:20,520
Yeah, I think
it'll go faster than that.
777
00:39:22,000 --> 00:39:24,640
ENGINE REVS
778
00:39:27,560 --> 00:39:29,200
'This, if you haven't guessed,
779
00:39:29,240 --> 00:39:32,560
'is the experimental
autonomous version of the RS7.'
780
00:39:34,640 --> 00:39:38,520
So, Thomas Muller, very briefly,
please. How does it work?
781
00:39:38,560 --> 00:39:41,040
James, the car works
like a professional race driver.
782
00:39:41,080 --> 00:39:42,880
You know, it knows
the track already.
783
00:39:42,920 --> 00:39:46,120
Through differential GPS and through
cameras, it's a complex technology.
784
00:39:46,160 --> 00:39:48,560
Depending on the stability
of the car,
785
00:39:48,600 --> 00:39:50,160
depending on the driving dynamics,
786
00:39:50,200 --> 00:39:53,360
it's going to choose the best path
to go through all this course.
787
00:39:53,400 --> 00:39:55,840
But, in the end, it's like
a professional race driver.
788
00:39:55,880 --> 00:39:58,160
What, so it makes excuses
all the time?
789
00:39:59,280 --> 00:40:02,520
'So, can a car capable
of analysing track conditions
790
00:40:02,560 --> 00:40:04,480
'to follow the best racing line
791
00:40:04,520 --> 00:40:07,680
'beat a car journo
with years of experience?
792
00:40:07,720 --> 00:40:10,560
'To find out if
it can better my time of 2:20,
793
00:40:10,600 --> 00:40:14,640
'it's going to take me captive
for a high-speed lap.'
794
00:40:14,680 --> 00:40:19,040
All I actually need to do
is keep my thumb on that button
795
00:40:19,080 --> 00:40:22,440
and the car will drive me round.
That's it.
796
00:40:22,480 --> 00:40:25,480
And I was about to say I'll just get
the seat in the right position
797
00:40:25,520 --> 00:40:27,800
for the pedals and everything,
but I don't need to.
798
00:40:27,840 --> 00:40:30,280
Technically, I could sit
in the back and do this.
799
00:40:30,320 --> 00:40:31,600
But they won't let me.
800
00:40:31,640 --> 00:40:32,960
So...
801
00:40:33,000 --> 00:40:34,600
goodbye, cruel world.
802
00:40:39,720 --> 00:40:42,240
Right. If I hold this button,
803
00:40:42,280 --> 00:40:43,640
the car will go.
804
00:40:46,160 --> 00:40:47,840
And I mustn't touch anything.
805
00:40:49,040 --> 00:40:50,120
ENGINE REVS
806
00:40:50,160 --> 00:40:52,960
MUSIC: Lonely Boy
by The Black Keys
807
00:40:53,000 --> 00:40:54,080
That feels weird.
808
00:40:55,640 --> 00:40:58,360
Don't brake. Don't brake.
Don't brake.
809
00:40:58,400 --> 00:41:01,160
It's braking for me.
Excellent. That's a result.
810
00:41:03,200 --> 00:41:06,640
Actually, this is the hardest thing
I've ever done.
811
00:41:06,680 --> 00:41:10,920
Don't touch the steering wheel.
I'm not touching the pedals.
812
00:41:10,960 --> 00:41:13,080
Into the right-hander.
813
00:41:13,120 --> 00:41:15,840
It's drifting across.
It's done that properly.
814
00:41:17,000 --> 00:41:19,800
Brakes! Brakes!
Argh, that's the hairpin.
815
00:41:19,840 --> 00:41:21,240
That's slowed right down now.
816
00:41:21,280 --> 00:41:23,560
It's going to give it the beans
as it comes out of there.
817
00:41:23,600 --> 00:41:25,480
ENGINE ROARS
818
00:41:25,520 --> 00:41:26,960
70, 80.
819
00:41:27,000 --> 00:41:28,600
Agh, I don't like this one!
820
00:41:28,640 --> 00:41:30,000
Don't touch the brakes!
821
00:41:33,320 --> 00:41:35,160
Oh, God. This is the long straight.
822
00:41:35,200 --> 00:41:37,320
Here we go. 88, 88, 90, 91.
823
00:41:37,360 --> 00:41:38,760
Now it's 100.
824
00:41:40,280 --> 00:41:41,680
That's about 120.
825
00:41:45,200 --> 00:41:47,360
Ooh.
826
00:41:47,400 --> 00:41:49,960
Ooh, might have to edit
some of that out.
827
00:41:50,000 --> 00:41:52,520
Come on, I've just done
the vorsprung.
828
00:41:52,560 --> 00:41:55,360
And now on the home finish straight.
It's going straight.
829
00:41:55,400 --> 00:41:57,280
I'm going to take my finger
off the button.
830
00:41:57,320 --> 00:41:59,280
And there it is. It's a car.
831
00:42:05,080 --> 00:42:08,000
I wasn't scared in the slightest.
832
00:42:08,040 --> 00:42:09,040
'Maybe not,
833
00:42:09,080 --> 00:42:12,800
'but the car's own lap
was eight seconds faster than mine.
834
00:42:12,840 --> 00:42:14,960
'In racing terms,
that's the difference between
835
00:42:15,000 --> 00:42:18,560
'a night out with James Hunt
and a night in with James May.
836
00:42:18,600 --> 00:42:20,880
'And that's a slightly
depressing thought.'
837
00:42:20,920 --> 00:42:24,440
A lot of people say, the autonomous
car will be the end of driving.
838
00:42:24,480 --> 00:42:28,600
I think, actually, it could be
the end of the car, as we know it,
839
00:42:28,640 --> 00:42:31,960
as a means of just getting around,
because, if we can develop a system
840
00:42:32,000 --> 00:42:34,440
that clever,
that keeps us all apart,
841
00:42:34,480 --> 00:42:37,560
why not use it
to get around up there?
842
00:42:37,600 --> 00:42:39,840
Because that's where
all the space is.
843
00:42:39,880 --> 00:42:42,920
And then the car can become a hobby.
844
00:42:44,240 --> 00:42:45,280
Excellent.
845
00:42:46,960 --> 00:42:50,880
'All right. So maybe I'm getting
carried away with the flying thing.
846
00:42:50,920 --> 00:42:54,200
'But autonomous technology
is already with us.
847
00:42:54,240 --> 00:42:56,680
'My i3 can park itself, remember.
848
00:42:56,720 --> 00:43:00,360
'However, just as in 1900,
we still don't know for sure
849
00:43:00,400 --> 00:43:03,600
'what the people's car
of the future will be.
850
00:43:03,640 --> 00:43:06,320
'Even the old ideas
refuse to go away.
851
00:43:06,360 --> 00:43:07,760
'Remember steam cars?'
852
00:43:07,800 --> 00:43:09,920
Chuffa-chuffa-chuffa-chuffa...
853
00:43:09,960 --> 00:43:12,320
'People are still experimenting
with those.
854
00:43:12,360 --> 00:43:14,720
'This one does 160mph.
855
00:43:16,040 --> 00:43:17,520
'And turbines?
856
00:43:17,560 --> 00:43:21,120
'The fastest car on earth
is powered by a jet engine.
857
00:43:21,160 --> 00:43:23,040
'With some help from a rocket.'
858
00:43:23,080 --> 00:43:24,680
ENGINE REVS
859
00:43:24,720 --> 00:43:27,680
'Good old TVR
has risen from the ashes...'
860
00:43:27,720 --> 00:43:29,560
Blackpool uber alles!
861
00:43:29,600 --> 00:43:33,680
'..and has plans
for an all-new car, again.
862
00:43:33,720 --> 00:43:36,200
'And Clive Sinclair -
he still dreams
863
00:43:36,240 --> 00:43:39,160
'of an elegant,
electric transport solution.
864
00:43:39,200 --> 00:43:41,520
'Until that happens,
he's funding this -
865
00:43:41,560 --> 00:43:43,560
'the electric A-bike.
866
00:43:43,600 --> 00:43:46,360
'So, where does this leave
the man in the street?'
867
00:43:46,400 --> 00:43:49,480
I actually think
we're in a golden age of the car,
868
00:43:49,520 --> 00:43:52,040
because, for about 120 years or so,
869
00:43:52,080 --> 00:43:54,080
it developed very slowly.
870
00:43:54,120 --> 00:43:56,160
It just crept along incrementally.
871
00:43:56,200 --> 00:43:58,160
But, all of a sudden,
we're looking at things
872
00:43:58,200 --> 00:44:01,280
like new methods
of propulsion, new materials,
873
00:44:01,320 --> 00:44:04,120
possible autonomy, connectivity.
874
00:44:04,160 --> 00:44:08,480
It's all really fantastic stuff, but
it is very much work in progress,
875
00:44:08,520 --> 00:44:11,960
because - here is a slightly
depressing statistic -
876
00:44:12,000 --> 00:44:15,720
the real-world range
of my electric BMW i3
877
00:44:15,760 --> 00:44:17,960
is about 75 miles.
878
00:44:18,000 --> 00:44:20,400
The real-world range
of the electric Baker
879
00:44:20,440 --> 00:44:23,120
we saw right at the beginning
of the programme...
880
00:44:23,160 --> 00:44:24,840
it's about 75 miles.
881
00:44:26,200 --> 00:44:27,840
Hm.
882
00:44:27,880 --> 00:44:29,200
Right, to the Batmobile.
883
00:44:29,240 --> 00:44:32,080
MUSIC: Batman Theme
884
00:44:37,720 --> 00:44:41,600
HE LAUGHS MENACINGLY
885
00:44:43,240 --> 00:44:44,800
POLICE SIREN WAILS
886
00:45:13,280 --> 00:45:15,640
Subtitles by Red Bee Media
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