Who needs a city car when you can rent a golf buggy?
Each has a small 5kWh battery powering a 4kW electric motor and giving a range of 30 miles. Charging is via London's lamp-post network or a roof-mounted solar panel, which, after a day's sunshine, can provide a six-mile top-up.
However, for all its clever electronics, a Yo-Go buggy is still a golf cart, right? In fact, the vehicle is homologated for UK roads, so it's now classified as an L6e quadricycle. Its body has been redesigned, too, to make it more practical and weatherproof.
Even so, my fear of being the laughing stock of the capital's road users is not helped by the sight of my test buggy awaiting me at Yo-Go's Parsons Green parking spot. The small vehicle looks only a couple of rungs up the evolutionary ladder from the rickshaws that clog London's West End.
And what city needs yet another electric 'personal mobility' solution? My scepticism isn't helped by the buggy's questionable weather protection, its basic plastic interior (although the two seats look comfortable) and its twin rear-mounted boots, which can't be locked.
At least the foot pedals marked 'Stop' and 'Go' appear to be foolproof and, save for indicators and a windscreen wiper, there are few extras to distract the inexperienced driver. Driving the buggy is just a case of 'unlocking' it, belting up, selecting D for drive and pressing the Go pedal.
Thanks to its low weight, the buggy surges forward effortlessly; helped by fairly aggressive brake regen, it stops easily too. Independent front suspension absorbs the worst of the area's battered roads, and although the buggy is narrow, its track is just wide enough to clear speed cushions.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
6 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Vogue readers furious after spotting 'disturbing' AI models in an ad in the prestigious magazine
It looks like fashion label Guess is not shying away from using artificial intelligence in its ad campaigns - after the brand ran a two-page spread in this month's August edition of Vogue that was 'produced' by an AI marketing company. The advertisements appeared about halfway through Vogue's August print issue, showing a woman with bouncy, long blonde hair modeling two different outfits on separate pages. The images were not part of Vogue editorial, but instead, presumably paid advertisements for the Guess brand that appeared in the famous fashion bible. In one ad, the model sat at a café table with a cup of coffee, wearing a light blue romper covered in mesh floral detailing, as well as a gold watch and necklace from the brand. The other photo depicted the same AI model in a black-and-white chevron print dress, carrying a matching Guess handbag in front of a 'shop' filled with hats in their window. In the fine print on the side of the ad, it read that the campaign was produced by 'Seraphinne Vallora on AI.' Seraphinne Vallora is an agency that designs 'editorial level AI-driven marketing campaigns and cinematic videos,' its campaigns featured not only in Vogue but also in Elle and Harper's Bazaar. On its website, London-based founders Valentina and Andreea stated that they wanted to use AI to brands' advantage. 'We want to harness the incredible power of AI to revolutionize marketing images. We realized that AI offered a cost-effective, hassle-free path to design brilliance,' the website reads. 'No more expensive travel or complicated arrangements, We wanted to make it all accessible, to companies of all sizes. 'An easy solution to market their companies without the stress and complications.' Daily Mail reached out to Guess for comment. But the advertisement didn't seem to slip past eagle-eyed fashion fans, as it went viral on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday morning. Popular account Pop Crave posted a TikTok made by user @lala4an, which showed the ad. However, Pop Crave incorrectly claimed that Vogue was using the AI models - when it was in fact Guess. But even so, it looks like many fashion fans weren't happy with the choice, as they furiously responded to the Pop Crave post. 'This is kinda sad. There's so many people who would love to be on the magazine just for them to be giving these opportunities to AI…' one user wrote. Another agreed, 'That's disturbing. This is the direction AI should not be going in... wow.' 'AI is not even sparing the fashion industry,' someone else typed. One X user pointed out, 'Great. The new beauty standard will be, literally, unobtainable because it's not real.' Others, however, thought that it was a great sign for the future. 'The future is here. Takes less time and much cheaper to make,' someone shared. Another agreed, 'Well, it's cheaper.' The advertisement comes just one year after OpenAI and Vogue's publishing parent, Condé Nast, announced a partnership together, per BBC. The deal involved allowing ChatGPT and its search engine, SearchGPT, to display content from Vogue and its other publications like GQ. The deal was reported to be multi-year.
The Independent
10 hours ago
- The Independent
Lewis Hamilton's frank response to Christian Horner's departure
Lewis Hamilton has paid tribute to Christian Horner following his departure as Red Bull team principal a fortnight ago. Horner, 51, was in charge of Red Bull for 20 years, during which the team secured 14 world championships. Hamilton, now at Ferrari, described Horner's work at Red Bull as 'remarkable' and acknowledged his skill in running such a large organisation. He recalled an initial meeting with Horner in 2005 when Hamilton was looking to enter GP2, noting they didn't 'hit it off from the get-go'. Hamilton wished Horner all the best, despite their long-standing rivalry on the Formula 1 circuit.
BBC News
10 hours ago
- BBC News
Driver and passenger die in collision with HGV on A17
A man and a woman have died in a two-vehicle collision. Norfolk Police said the incident happened on the A17 at Clenchwarton, near King's Lynn, when a Mercedes-Benz GLC 220 Sport Premium collided with a white Volvo HGV at about 09:51 BST on Thursday. The road was closed at the Pullover Roundabout while emergency services, including fire and ambulance, attended. The force said the driver of the Mercedes, a man, and a female passenger died at the scene. The road remains closed and Norfolk Police said it would like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the collision or who has any relevant dashcam footage. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
