News Archives - Bright Red L Driving School

January 5, 2023February 8, 2023

Tesla Model 3 Training Car

The New Training Car Has Arrived

The Bright Red L now uses a Tesla Model 3 training car, continuing the commitment to training in an EV.

Tesla Model 3 Training car. Automatic driving lessons in Portsmouth.

The new training car is here after nearly four years using Nissan Leaf EVs as training cars. The new training car is a Tesla Model 3. The Leafs have both been brilliant even as an ageing design in the EV world. When considering the replacement for a training car I kept coming back to the Tesla Model 3. There are many more EVs available now, even compared to two years ago, however, none seemed to offer much more than a Tekna specification Leaf. None could offer a charging experience the Tesla Supercharger network offers either.

December 21, 2020November 21, 2022

Goodbye Leaf, Hello Leaf

Goodbye 30kW Leaf, Hello 40kW Leaf

Using an electric car for driving lessons has proved very successful. Pupils have enjoyed learning in my previous 30kW Nissan Leaf. Running costs have been tiny and the on street residents charging bays installed by Portsmouth council have worked well for overnight charging. So in August I picked up a newer 40kW Leaf. Not quite new, a 10 months old ex demonstrator that had done very few miles.

January 22, 2020December 21, 2020

More Residents Charging Bays in Portsmouth

Another 79 electric car charging points are to be installed in Portsmouth. This is great news in a city which has very few homes with off street parking, Portsmouth council are making it possible for residents to own and run EVs. I have benefited from the first phase of 37 residents chargers installed last year. Without them It would be very difficult for me to own and run my Nissan Leaf. Read more in the Portsmouth News

May 13, 2019January 6, 2021

Recharging Point Made

At last the urban charging bay is complete. However, fossil fuelled cars blocking charging bays are a big problem to an EV owner with a low battery. There is a now little plate by the charging space I use saying “Electric vehicle recharging point only” this little piece of metal means ICE cars will get a ticket if they block the space. Portsmouth Council have confirmed this in an email so I shall report ICEing using the myPortsmouth app.

April 30, 2019January 6, 2021

Urban Baywatch

I’m becoming obsessed with a parking bay! The one I use to charge with the new Ubitricity charging points in Portsmouth. There’s a problem in so much as it’s not quite an EV charging bay yet.

Just over two months into Nissan Leaf ownership and it’s fabulous. The car is smooth, quiet, fast and the running costs are about 15% of putting petrol in my previous Toyota Auris Hybrid. There’s no way I’d want to go back to an ICE car. Being an early adopter of running EV on public charging in Portsmouth has brought it’s frustrations though. I will say mainly caused by ICE cars but also because Portsmouth City Council seem to have fallen apart completing the on street charging project.

April 5, 2019December 21, 2020

Electric Driving Test Passes

Electric Driving Test Pass 1 — Shannon the first electric pass

This week has sen the first two tests in the Electric Instructor Nissan Leaf at the Portsmouth Driving Test Centre. Both were passes.

First Time Pass

The first test was Shannon who passed first time after four months of weekly lessons. She was looking forward to the weekend when she could go car shopping.

March 26, 2019December 10, 2020

Electric Instructor visits Air Ambulance

Electric instructor and helicopter — SDIA Members with the HIOWAA helicopter

Last weekend, along with other members of our local instructor association, I visited the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance base at the Thruxton race track in Hampshire. Our association, SDIA, are raising money for the air ambulance and they kindly offered to show us around.

March 11, 2019September 15, 2022

The Day Portsmouth Launched on Street Charging

Electric Instructor Charging Nissan Leaf

The on street chargers in Portsmouth are being installed. It resulted in me attending a launch for the media at the first charge point installed as well as being interviewed on the radio.

Lamp Posts Charge Cars

This is really good news the charge points are going in. The one across the road from me is still two green paint marks on the kerb with red paint marks on the pavement and lamp post, it should be installed over the next week.