A to B m a g a z i n e

Available for free download at www.atob.org.uk, at www.exacteditions.com or by annual subscription on 01305 259998

£15.00 (United Kingdom), £20 or US$32 (overseas airmail)

Issue 89 April 2012 A to B 40 Manor Road, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 2AX, England

ISSN 1460-0587 . tel 01305 259998

email (subscriptions & advertising) teresa@atob.org.uk (editorial) atob@atob.org.uk . web www.atob.org.uk

Editor David Henshaw . Administration Teresa Ridout Contributors Anthony Golding . Thanks to Peter Henshaw Printers Ian Allan Printing Ltd . Next deadline 28th May 2011

Thanks to everyone who responded to our digital printing consultation. The results (three to one against) were hardly a surprise, but we have at least confirmed that many of you would find digital impossible to live with. On the other hand, a surprising number of subscribers (including an octogenarian or two) are already accessing A to B using iPads and tablets, and that number is increasing very rapidly...We can’t stop the wheels grinding inexorably towards digital publishing, but we guarantee the paper magazine will remain in production for as long as it doesn’t actually make a loss, so if you want to keep paper, do stick with it. Meanwhile, you’ll see from the cover that I’ve tested my first electric car, and simultaneously received my second ever speeding ticket. As uncle Peter (Pod) Henshaw observes with unnecessary glee, Jeremy

Clarkson would be proud. DAVID HENSHAW

Contents A to B L e t t e r s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 F u t u r e S p e a k : Go i n g D i g i t a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 A to B News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 T h e Tr i a l : Ka l k h o f f A g a t t u I mpul s e C8 . . . . . . . . . 1 4 T h e Tr i a l : N i s s a n L e a f . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 De s i g n : F r i t s c h & Dur i s o t t i . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 Te c h n o l o g y : B a t t e r y Watc h . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 7 Tr av e l : Zen C y c l i n g . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 0 A to B Sm a l l s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 3

COVER: Nissan Leaf electric car under test, 16/3/2012 PETER HENSHAW

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A to B 89 Apr 12