Saturday 31 December 2011

Where did 2011 go???

I honestly have no concept of where 2011 went. we blinked and it was gone

roll on 2012. lets hope that it is a good one...

Z is for … we couldn’t think of a Zed

Therefore, Zed is for Happy New Year

We want to wish you a happy and healthy new year and we hope that 2012 treats you well.

Friday 30 December 2011

Y is for Yes

We love to say yes, we just need you to ask us a question.

Ask anything from money saving to new lighting technology.

Thursday 29 December 2011

X is for X ray

An X-ray is a widely used diagnostic test to examine the inside of the body. X-rays are a very effective way of detecting problems with bones, such as fractures. They can also often identify problems with soft tissue, such as pneumonia or breast cancer.

What are X-rays?
X-rays are a type of radiation. Radiation is a general term that refers to any sort of energy that can travel through space as either a wave or a particle. Examples of other types of radiation include:

•light,
•radio waves, and
•microwaves.
X-rays are similar to light, except that they have a much higher frequency, which makes them invisible to the naked eye.

Due to their high frequency, X-rays can pass through the human body. This makes X-rays ideal for looking inside the body.

Safety
X-rays consist of a type of radiation known as ionising radiation. Ionising radiation is high-energy radiation. It can damage the cells of the body and cause mutations in the DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), which can trigger cancer in later life. DNA is a type of acid that contains all human genetic material.

However, ionising radiation is only a threat to health when a person is exposed to a significantly high dose, such as after the disaster that occurred in the nuclear plant at Chernobyl in the former Soviet Union in 1986.

The doses that are used in medical X-rays are very low and are thought to be very safe. They are similar in strength to other sources of natural radiation that people are exposed to every day.

For example, Brazil nuts contain a tiny trace of a radioactive substance called radium, so are slightly radioactive. The radiation that you are exposed to during a typical chest X-ray is the same dose that you would receive if you ate four bags of Brazil nuts.

Wednesday 28 December 2011

W is for “Why be Happy When You could be Normal?”

2012 is the year for you to start reading books (whilst stuck in traffic trying to get home from the Olympics)

Synopsis - Includes stories about a girl locked out of her home, sitting on the doorstep all night; about a tyrant in place of a mother, who has two sets of false teeth and a revolver in the duster drawer, waiting for Armageddon; and, about growing up in an northern industrial town now changed beyond recognition, part of a community now vanished.

Tuesday 27 December 2011

V if for Van

We are wondering how long it is before we have a practical electrical van
We understand that unless you charge it with PV, nothing has ZERO EMISSIONS

We need something to do more than 60 MILES PER CHARGE

We need something that will reach the Motorway speed limit

We don’t think they will remain EXEMPT from MOT or the London Congestion Charge for long…




What do you get when you cross a snowman with a vampire?



Frostbite!

Monday 26 December 2011

U is for UK regulator removes electrical goods order

Britain's competition regulator said it would abolish a 13 year old order that prevents suppliers of electrical goods from recommending resale prices to retailers and from restricting or withholding supply from retailers.
The Competition Commission (CC) said on Thursday that significantly increased competition in the market for goods such as televisions and washing machines since the order was introduced in 1998 have removed the need for the safeguards it provided.
It said significant developments have included the entry of both grocery and online retailers into the supply of electrical goods, the increased ability for consumers to search and compare prices, as well as the emergence of new suppliers-both branded and retailer own-label.
The CC also considers that the Competition Act 1998 now provides an effective mechanism to address attempts to fix prices or restrict supply unfairly.
"This market has changed enormously since the order was introduced and there no longer seems any reason for these goods to require additional regulations in comparison with other consumer items," said CC Chairman Roger Witcomb.

U is for United Kingdom

We wonder with Alex Salmond’s war cry for independence we wonder how much longer it will be united…

We personally don’t think they have thought it through.

There is no direct precedent for whether Scotland would automatically remain an EU member or retain the pound after separating from the rest of the UK.

This, in turn, would likely mean would be forced to adopt the euro as the UK’s opt-out from the single currency would not apply.

It also suggested that Scotland would have to pay millions of pounds more into the EU’s coffers, because the UK’s rebate would no longer apply, as well as £8.4 billion to bail out euro members like Greece in future economic crises.

No wonder the SNP have refused point-blank to publish the legal advice they hold because it fatally undermines their case for separation.

Citing an independent Scotland’s increased financial contribution to the EU, she said the UK’s size, and strength gives it a negotiating and bargaining edge that Mr Salmond would lack.

The newly independent state would be outside the EU and would need to apply for membership of the EU in the same way as any other non-member.

This would make Scotland liable for loans to euro members, such as Greece and Italy, with “sovereign debt problems” and ensure it pays more into the EU budget than it receives in grants and Common Agricultural Policy payments.

Without the UK’s rebate, citizens in a separate Scotland would each pay £92 per year more into the EU than the country received.

Oil, Oil, Oil be seeing you...

enough of the politics, we hope you have a great time eating left over turkey and drinking

have a Great Boxing day!!!!

Sunday 25 December 2011

Its Christmas - who you gonna call in an emergency???

Its christmas and the lights go out??? who you gonna call.

well we dont have the number for the Ghostbusters, but our emergency call out number is

07746 243 248 (central beds area)

Happy Christmas, and in a way, we hope you dont need to call us, but we are there for you..

a sparky is for life, not just for Christmas.

Saturday 24 December 2011

Christmas is a time of hope.

Christmas is a time of hope. A time to set aside differences. To celebrate the renewal of the human spirit. And a time to avoid three groups of moaning gits: teetotal Christians, hipster atheists and Sparkies.

time to enjoy putting jam (cranberry jelly) on Turkey, grandma’s flatulence, the Pogues, uncomfortable new clothes.

Don't watch too many Christmas adverts, they are nothing to do with Christmas, they only want to sell you stuff you don’t need.

What did you get??? A telephone with a camera in it? A camera with a telephone in it?

Have fun explaining how Immaculate Conception works to your kids.

Please don’t point out that, while the Nativity is, of course, a holy and wonderful thing, Easter, with its centrepiece of betrayal, torture and crucifixion, is more spiritually rewarding.

Happy Christmas to the Atheists who think its all "disgusting" or "dangerously deluded".

Christmas is a time when believers and atheists hold a ceasefire; the centre ground is given over to the vast majority of people who hold no firm convictions either way.

Let's face it, it still is. I suspect we massively underestimate the level of agnosticism among churchgoers and God-deniers. The traditional agnostic version of the Christmas story – some sort of special baby born in a stable, vaguely symbolising hope for the human race if we could just get along with one another. Is that so bad?

The more atheists mock the Nativity as a fairy story, the more sense it makes. The more Christians sneer at Christmas as a vulgar secularised holiday with drinks, the better it sounds. Life's a wobbly conga of uncertainty anyway, with or without Mulled wine & tinsel.

All we can say is please, please just enjoy yourself and we hope you realise just how lucky you are…

No more hate groups on Facebook

stay away from Twitter - #stopmoaningaboutXmas

Are we better or worse off than we used to be? Was Christmas Past really more fun? Does it really matter, just enjoy it.

Happy Christmas

Happy Christmas

we are taking a break from the A - Zed, we just wanted to wish you all a very Happy Christmas

have a great time and we hope Santa brings you what you wanted - providing you have been a good boy or girl (or other)




Q: What does Mary Poppins want for Christmas???


A: Superclausfrageilsticexpidalisnowshoes.

have a lovely day tomorrow

Friday 23 December 2011

Team Photo

Aaron and Glen were on Holiday and karen had gone to see her nan

but here goes...


From left to right, Robert Sneddon (front), Steve Peacock, Chris Finn, Jason Goodman, Peter Hall, Tom Lane, Andrew Woolgar (Director), Darren Grace, Darren Meakin, Tim Kennedy, Ian Broadway (HR, QS), Robert Foott and Luke Woodcraft

one more missing, forgot about him, it was Me, Andy Timms, holding the camera...

Christmas Opening Hours & Emergency number

Please be aware that D A Woolgar Limited office will be closing for the festive period. The office will be closed for business from 1pm on Friday 23rd December and will re-open at 8.00am on Wednesday 28th. we will close from 1pm on Friday 30th December and will re-open at 8.00am on Tuesday 3rd January 2012.

If you do get any 'trouble' in that period - our emergency call out number is 07746 243 248

we wish you a Happy Christmas (or Seasons Greetings, if you prefer) and a Happy new Year!

we would all like to thank you for your support

T is for Television

We are excited by the new TV technology

LCD or plasma?
LCD TVs come in a much larger range of sizes and tend to use less power than plasma TV sets, but viewing angles can often be inferior. Plasma TVs are only available in large screen sizes of 37 inches or more but tend to do blacks better. They can be prone to screen burn, but we don’t think this is really an issue anymore.

What about LED TVs?
Ultra-slim LED TVs are LCD sets with one crucial difference – the handful of backlight lamps that illuminate the screen have been replaced by hundreds of smaller LEDs (light emitting diodes).

LEDs promise a number of advantages over the traditional backlit LCD.

Without the typically bulkier lamps illuminating the screen, LED sets can be designed and built to be even slimmer than traditional LCD sets. LEDs are also more energy-efficient than traditional bulbs.

Even better than that - What about 3D TV?

We are looking forward to a system where you don’t need the 3D glasses. As a glasses wearer, wearing two pairs is no fun, not to relax in your own home.

HD TVs that can display 3D TV pictures are the latest innovation to hit the high street. To watch, you'll need one of the new 3D-ready TVs, a pair of 3DTV glasses – and some 3D content to watch.

Look like the BBC will run a 3D TV service for the Olympics and you can get 3D Blu-ray players too.

3D technology isn’t new. Two cameras are used to record slightly different perspectives of the same image, which are displayed on screen as a double image. Polarising or active-shutter glasses filter a different image to each eye, creating the illusion of depth.

The 3D effect on the TVs we've seen is impressive, but the sets are expensive and now there's not much in the way of 3D content to watch. All 3D TVs can play back regular 2D content, too.


Father Christmas' sledge broke down on Christmas Eve. He flagged down a passing motorist and asked, 'Can you help me fix my sledge?'
'Sorry,' the motorist replied. 'I'm not a mechanic - I'm a chiropodist.'
'Well, can you give me a toe?'

:)

Thursday 22 December 2011

parliamentary committees are warn sub cuts may deal the industry a "fatal blow",

The Environmental Audit Committee and Energy and Climate Change Committee say ministers are right to make changes, but are doing so "clumsily".

Government plans include restricting access to solar subsidies to houses meeting energy efficiency standards.
Thousands of solar industry jobs could be at risk, the committees warn.

On Wednesday, a group of companies and environmental groups won a legal judgement against one of the changes.
Central to their campaign was the Department of Energy and Climate Change's (Decc) plan to halve abruptly the level of feed-in tariff (FiT) that small-scale solar installations attract, from 43p per kilowatt-hour (kWh) to 21p.

The FiTs are paid by energy companies to householders and communities to subsidise solar electricity generation.

It had been expected that the new tariff would come into effect from 1 April; but in October, the government said it would apply to anyone installing their solar panels after 12 December.

The High Court ruled that changing the tariffs before the end of an official consultation period was "legally flawed".

S is Solar Panels

We have been banging on about them all year, so virtually everything you need to know is in the archive.

nearly Christmas...




What do you call a bunch of chess players bragging about their games in a hotel lobby?



Chess nuts boasting in an open foyer!

Wednesday 21 December 2011

R is for Robus

We are impressed with the New R6060LED (office lighting)

LED Panel Light - 600mm x 600mm

  • Light output equal to 4x18W (replacement for fluorescent modular fittings)
  • Fits into standard sizes of ceiling grid, 15mm and 24mm
  • Complies with Part L1 and L2 of building regulations
  • 50,000 hour average lamp life. Up to 5 times that of a standard fluorescent
  • Emergency version - R6060LEDE-40
  • Simple to install and low/no maintenance
  • Low glare diffuser and 4000K colour ensures this product can be successfully used in offices, hospitals, restaurants, leisure, retail and educational centres
Suitable for PIR switching

nearly Christmas, getting exciting eh!!!!




What do you get if you eat Christmas decorations?


Tinsilitis!

Tuesday 20 December 2011

Legal battle launched over solar subsidy cuts

Government plans to cut financial incentives for solar electricity have created "huge economic uncertainty" and are "manifestly unlawful", the High Court was told.

The accusations were made by environmental pressure group Friends of the Earth (FoE) and two solar companies, Solarcentury and HomeSun, as they jointly launched an application for a judicial review.

They say Energy Secretary Chris Huhne is proposing "retrospectively" to cut feed-in tariff subsidies (FITs), payments made to households and communities that generate green electricity through solar panels, on any installations completed after 12 December this year

watch this space. we dont think the govt line will change as the FIT rate was probably unsustainable. but stranger things have happened.

Q is for Quit Smoking

lets face it, we all know its bad, but once you are hooked its hard.

we are lucky here, we now only have 1 (or maybe 2) smokers.

sorry to harp on about it, but you know why you should quit

How will my health benefit?

  • You will reduce your risk of developing illness, disability or death caused by cancer, heart or lung disease.
  • You will reduce your risk of gangrene or amputation caused by circulatory problems.
  • You will protect the health of those around you by not exposing them to secondhand smoke.
  • You will reduce the chances of your children suffering from asthma or glue ear.
  • You will improve your fertility levels and your chance of a healthy pregnancy and baby.
  • You will improve your breathing and general fitness.
  • You will enjoy the taste of food more.

How will my lifestyle improve?

  • You will save money - as much as several hundred pounds a month, if you're a heavy smoker.
  • You will no longer smell of stale tobacco.
  • The appearance of your skin and teeth will improve.
  • You will feel more confident in social situations - you won't be worrying about the secondhand smoke you create anymore.
  • As a non-smoker, you may even find you get approached more often by potential new friends and partners when out socialising.
  • Your home will smell fresh and you will no longer be staining your walls with tar.
  • You will reduce the risk of fire in your home.
time for me to shut up now!!!! the rest is up to you.




What do you get if you cross Santa with a duck?


A Christmas Quacker!

Monday 19 December 2011

P is for Photography

How long will the digital camera be the tool of choice for general snapping? With the growing number of iOS and Android, apps that are designed as photography tools and 8 mp cameras in phones, the only reason you would buy a camera now is for the better optics.

We (I) are Canon fans, but we have to say the new Sony’s are quite innovative.

Sony has started offering their latest translucent bodies, the SLT-A77V and the SLT-A65 late 2011.

The A77 (with A65) carries the one of the highest resolution APS-C CMOS sensor in the industry. Although 24.3 megapixels is, still a long way from those freakishly high-resolution Foveon sensors, this level of resolution is still new for a commercially affordable APS-C sensor.

Other than that we like the
Canon PowerShot G12
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2
Samsung WB650

Get snapping in 2012




How does Good King Wenceslas like his pizzas?



One that's deep pan, crisp and even!

Sunday 18 December 2011

O is also for Old Gadgets...

What do you do with old gadgets if you get new ones for Christmas?


Lets face it, we all love gadgets for Christmas, but whether you get a new smartphone or a plasma screen TV, you will probably have an old piece of equipment that you need to dispose of.

However, research suggests that many of us do not know how to offload our old and unwanted electrical goods in an environmentally suitable way.

in the UK throw away around a million tonnes of electrical items every year. Last year 38% of people said that they had disposed of a large electrical item such as a fridge and 44% had disposed of a small item such as a kettle or hair straighteners within the previous 12 months.

However, more than a third of people (35%) say they don’t know where to take electricals to be recycled, and the same percentage believe electrical goods can’t be recycled.

D A Woolgar tips are
  • Ask the retailer where you bought the product if they’ll take products back;
  • take small electrical appliances to your local civic amenity site; Tidy Tip
  • arrange for your local authority to collect larger electrical equipment (fridges, washing machines etc) – some authorities provide a free service and others charge;
  • arrange for an electrical retailer delivering new equipment to take away the old appliance;
  • contact your local community reuse scheme to find out if they accept electrical items.

Please don’t just chuck it in the bin, it just ends up un landfill… have a look, if the equipment has a wheelie bin sign on it. Its means you cant chuck it in there…


Twinkle Twinkle chocolate bar
Santa drives a rusty car
Press the starter
Press the choke
Off he goes in a cloud of smoke !


O is for Olympics.

well it had to be didnt it, probably the biggest thing of the year

The Olympic Spirit is neither the property of one race nor of one age. The Olympics are for the people, not corporate advertising, let the games begin. The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning but taking part; the essential thing in life is not conquering but fighting well.

But besides that, does anyone know where we can get tickets cos we really wanted to go. But the lottery was not kind to us.




What athlete is warmest in winter?


A long jumper!

Saturday 17 December 2011

our new apprentice modelling D A Woolgar Beanie hat

Doesn't Elise look great in a D A Woolgar Beanie


N is for Newspaper

How many more years will the newspaper survive, with the tablet such as the i-pad turning on virtually instantly and lasting 10 hours, and the environmental issues of use of resources (paper and ink) and the carbon footprint of distribution we think the humble tabloids days are numbered.

Our phone-tapping friends from Aus are experimenting with Micro payments and I haven’t read the Times on line since. Hence, the reason he wants to kill the BBC because we love and thrust their free news web site.

comments please!!!!




How did Scrooge win the football game?


The ghost of christmas passed!

Friday 16 December 2011

M is for Mobile phones

Mobile phones are changing so much. Apparently at the last Olympics, in the stadium the mobile phone use was 80% voice, 20% date, predictions for 2012 are 20% voice and 80% data. YouTube here we come :)

Almost half of Britons own a Smartphone.

The herculean battle over patents has made us laugh, like kids squabbling over a football in a playing field. It’s VHS vs. Betamax all over again, and both of them still have loads more to do, because as the technology gets better, so do the problems.

will the paranoid android beat the iphone by app depth alone. we think the market has already shown. but we dont want android to spiral into Chaos, the way Microsoft Windows did.

on a totally different note, we think computer sortware needs a rewrite from the ground up... Windows is a real mess, a mish mash of many stupid ideas and it cant be saved, it time to give up and start again. I want a lap top to be like an Ipad, push the button n in 5 seconds its working... challenge on




What kind of motorbike does Santa ride?


A Holly Davidson!

one more!!!

Who hides in the bakery at Christmas?



A mince spy!

Thursday 15 December 2011

Seasons Greetings





How do sheep in Mexico say Merry Christmas?


Fleece Navidad!

L is for lighting design

Make 2012 the year of Funky or creative lighting. Is you lounge just like your neighbours??? Well if it is, you may well have parked your car on the wrong drive..

No seriously, there are so many things you can do with light now and they need not cost a fortune.

We can show you the latest in lighting and gadgets for your home and garden, we have all kinds of bright new ideas to illuminate and enhance every aspect of your life.  

We can inspire you with everything from the most practical domestic necessities and the latest stylish looks to crazy ideas such as using an IKEA Christmas decoration as an all year round light




What's an ig ?

An eskimo's home without a loo !


Wednesday 14 December 2011

K is for Keyboard

Your computer keyboard is FIVE TIMES dirtier than your toilet seat - and could even give you 'qwerty tummy'

Computer keyboards can harbour more harmful bacteria than a lavatory seat, it has been claimed.
Many users are at risk of becoming ill with stomach bugs; according to the consumer group Which?
It warned that 'qwerty tummy', named after the first six letters on a keyboard, could sweep through workplaces after tests on equipment in its own London offices showed alarming results.


One keyboard was so dirty that a microbiologist ordered it to be removed, quarantined and cleaned.
It had 150 times the acceptable limit for bacteria and was five times as filthy as a typical lavatory seat.
Anyone who eats a sandwich or piece of fruit having been tapping on such a keyboard can pick up bacteria that could lead to a stomach upset.


The scientist swabbed 33 keyboards for food poisoning bugs e.coli, coliforms, staphylococcus aureus and enterobacteria and compared the results to those found on a lavatory seat and lavatory door handle.
Four of the keyboards were considered a potential health hazard and one was "condemned".


Two had "warning levels" of staphylococcus aureus and two others had "worryingly elevated" levels of coliforms and enterobacteria, "putting users at high risk of becoming ill from contact".
The expert said the findings were typical of offices all over Britain.








Why did the turkey cross the road?






Because he wasn't chicken!

Tuesday 13 December 2011

J is for Junk

It’s nearly a new year, time and opportunity for a clean out. If you are like most of us you have just been up in the loft to get your Christmas decorations down and the only other time you go up there is to get down the suitcases for the annual trip to warmer climes (or colder if you like to ski)

Lets face it your loft if full of stuff you never ever use. its time to have a clear out, and while you are up there, once it clear, throw some more loft insulation up there.

Monday 12 December 2011

House prices (Beds UK) 10 times average salary

HOUSE prices in Bedford Borough have been deemed “unaffordable” after a survey has revealed that they are 10 times the average salary.

The National Housing Federation has released figures from a survey that has shown that a whole generation of people is being locked out of the housing market.
The survey shows that people in Bedfordshire on an average wage, earning £21,923 a year, would have to save all of their pre-tax salary for three years to just put a deposit down on a house.
The Grand Union Housing Group (GUHG), parent company of Aragon Housing Association, has been joined by Bedfordshire Pilgrims and Aldwyck Housing Associations in calling on the government to build more affordable homes.
GUHG chief executive Alan Humphreys said: “There’s no doubt we are seeing increased pressure on social housing as more and more people are squeezed off the private property market by high prices and rising private rents.
“We urgently need the government to rethink its investments in creating new affordable homes.”
People in the borough would need to a salary of £46,724 to afford an average price property, or £29,998 for a lower-value home.
MP for Bedford and Kempston Richard Fuller raised the issue in the House Of Commons this week after he discovered, through his own research, that the average house buyer in 2007 will pay £250,000 more over 25 years than someone who bought a home in 1997.

I for Idiot

Our advice is - Do not quarrel with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.




What did Adam say on the day before Christmas?



It's Christmas, Eve!

Sunday 11 December 2011

H is for hexaflexagon

What is a hexaflexagon I hear you cry?

A hexaflexagon (also called a kaleidocycle) is a folded geometric figure that can be "flexed" to expose many sides. This craft is a 3-D hexaflexagon, made of six tetrahedrons.

Let 2012 be the year you get back in touch with your inner child.




What carol is heard in the desert?


O camel ye faithful!

Saturday 10 December 2011

G is for Green Goo

I have seen what looks like green gunk seeping out of some old twin and earth cables. What is it and what should I do?

Green gunge (also known as green goo) is sometimes seen exuding from the ends of older PVC insulated and sheathed cable.  It is normally seen in cables made in the 1960s and 1970s, but not generally seen in modern PVC cables.

Its origin is the plasticiser used to provide flexibility in the PVC polymer compound.  This is generally di-octyl phthalate, which over time or with excessive heat has reacted with the copper conductors to produce copper phthalate (hence the green colour) suspended in the liquid plasticiser.  The material is a health concern, so should be handled with care – gloves should be used and waste disposed of properly.
Although there does not appear to be a problem with the electrical performance or safety of the cable itself, any exuded gunge should be removed as it can cause corrosion or affect the action of switches and terminations, potentially resulting in tracking / overheating.  It can also cause cosmetic problems such as staining.  The affected circuits should be rewired as soon as possible.

The original manufacturer of the cable should be contacted if there are any additional questions.

G is for Golden Anniversary

Golden Anniversary (not for Greece)
2012 marks the 50th anniversary of the first Bond movie, 1962's Dr No, but oh, so much better than that, also D A Woolgar celebrates 50 years. Watch this space for updates. countdown to Aug 1 :) 

oh!!! and also Congrats to HM the Queen, it will be her Diamond Jubilee, which moves around the Bank Holidays, but as far as I can tell (long weekend 2nd - 5th June), we get more...

Much ado about nothing methinks.

I don’t get all this waffle about the EU veto / opt out. the only peaple who really care about it are the political commentators, no one in the pub really cares and they are the ppl who fund the eurozone (beer taxes etc)

I am neither Pro or against Europe.

It does seem that the PM was right, as most of the capital raised would come out of the UK due to the City of London being where a lot of it all happens

I have long worried about some of the rules that we have been tied into, many of them stupid, some of them ridiculous and many of them other countries blatantly flouting. Again, nothing will change, as we are not opting out of these rules, just the new ones, a kind of oki koki politics

Anyone who says we will be in isolation obviously has no concept of the EU at all. The EU is an ineffective old boys club. It’s expensive and doesn’t have teeth. Well if it does, it only has a menacing growl and a gummy bite.

So now, Germany and puppet Sarkozy has a new euroclub, one it has to fund virtually on its own. Do I care? Not really. Will it affect our ability to trade? Not really! As long as we have products ppl need, things will carry on regardless. Unfortunately once ppl realise this the question will be, why did we pay so much to be in this ‘old boys’ club. we didnt even get a membership tie and an aire of superiorority

For years, people have talked about a British veto. For years, it has existed as a threat never used. Not any more.

Although new central control mechanisms are supposed to be like a shock absorber / buffer this does not solve the Euro crisis, it merely makes the likelihood of the current problems recurring unlikely. There are still deep-seated problems related to governments acting like teenagers receiving their first pay packet and blowing the lot on beer.

As time goes by just watch how other European voters begin to react. Already the Swedes are beginning to realise that they may be better out than in; when others reflect on the cost of giving up more sovereignty they will then begin to behave in unpredictable ways.

Time will tell on this one! However, don’t worry, you, and I won’t even notice the difference?

Friday 9 December 2011

F is (sorry last one!!) can I wire my house in Flex???

Is YY cable suitable for use on fixed installations?

Yes, YY cable’s flexible layers make it attractive for linking fixed and mobile equipment – as well as projects involving light mechanical stress and fixed installations. It is found in use in transport infrastructure, building and construction and automation and process control industries as a signal and control cable for machine tools, in assembly lines and plant engineering.  If it is to be used in installations subject to the IEE Wiring Regulations, an assessment of equivalent safety and performance should be undertaken and recorded.  Care should be taken that any necessary mechanical protection is provided for the cable

now you know!!!




What's worse than Rudolph with a runny nose?



Frosty the snowman with a hot flush!

F is also for Flickering

We guess that by now you have your tree up (if you celebrate Christmas)

if you have modern lights, its pretty cool because they flicker and flash

buts thats all thats is suposed to flicker and flash. if your lights and socket are doing it... its probably time that you called us

if you do get in a jam.. our emergecy call out number is 07746 243248 (central beds, UK)

F is for Fit

We Have come to realise it's better to be fit than fat!!!! Always remember to be thankful for what you have no matter what life throws at you because there's always someone worse off than you....... your health is important. Don’t pay for expensive Gym membership, buy a bike, but please don’t sue us if you get knocked off by a bus. Swimming is good too, unless you can’t swim, then we suggest you avoid water.

as promised!!! a bit shorter...

Thursday 8 December 2011

E is for Energy Bills

It looks like the cost of energy will continue to be a hot topic for 2012.

As industry officials, consumer groups and a string of energy companies struggle with  making it easier to compare and switch suppliers.

So what can you do in the meantime?

There are two main ways of reducing bills: shopping around for the best deals and making their homes energy efficient. Doing both could save the average family hundreds of pounds every year.

Switching energy suppliers

Research by home insurance provider swiftcover.com has found gas and electricity bills are the biggest financial worry for Britons with 39 per cent having cited utility bills as their top concern – ahead of meeting mortgage repayments.

The fact is that relatively few people are shopping around. In fact, more than half of households have never switched, according to analysis by MoneySupermarket.com, and could be paying well over the top for their energy.

Those who aren't shopping around for the best deal are simply burning money as finding the right tariff for their consumption level and region means bill-payers could save on average £237 per year

Make your home energy efficient

The average home can save up to £280-a-year through being more efficient, according to the Energy Saving Trust (est.org.uk), which launches its annual Energy Saving Week on Monday with the focus being on how to take back control of your spiralling energy bills.

Richard Bryson, from the Trust, said that everyone could start saving money immediately by implementing some small changes around their homes.

For example, about £35-a-year can be saved simply by turning appliances off at the plug rather than leaving them on stand-by, while £60 can be shaved off the annual bill by turning the thermostat down by just one degree.

The first thing to do when looking to reduce your energy bills is to consider insulating your home with loft and cavity wall insulation as the savings which can be made by properly insulating your home are enough to get all homeowners to sit up and take notice.

According to the Trust, cavity wall insulation can save you about £135-a-year on fuel bills while insulating your loft will save about £175. Also worth considering is insulating beneath floorboards and filling gaps and cracks around floors and skirting boards.

Energy can also be saved depending on the products you buy. You can look for the Energy Saving Trust Recommended logo on electrical appliances, which is a quick and easy way to spot the most energy efficient models available. The Trust estimates that replacing an old, inefficient, fridge-freezer with an energy saving recommended version could save you £26-a-year.

Make money from energy

Installing solar photovoltaic cells – which can be put on your roof or walls and capture the sun's energy, which is then turned into electricity – can not only cut your bills but potentially make you money as well.

Once you have paid for the initial installation your electricity costs should be significantly reduced. The Energy Saving Trust suggests that a typical home solar PV system can produce around 75 per cent of the electricity a household uses in a year.

You can potentially make money on any excess electricity by selling it back to the grid through a scheme known as Feed-In Tariffs (cut December 2011 to half) However, solar installations do not come cheap. Although prices will vary, you will probably be looking at the best part of £10,000 - £12,000 and would be advised to check with your local authority building control officer that the work will comply with existing regulations.

sorry it was so long, promise F will be nice and short



What do Santa's little helpers learn at school?



The elf-abet!

Wednesday 7 December 2011

Raychem Certified Pro installer

we are now a Raychem Certified Pro installer of Underfloor heating. Certified Pro registration number is GB-A0067/11.

benefit exclusively from the 20 years Total Care Warranty you can now offer on underfloor heating installations.

contact our Customer Service if you are interested in the T2 variable heating solution.

http://www.woolgarelectrical.co.uk/

D is for Dark

Dark is a funny thing, we are quoted the speed of light, but does anyone know the speed of dark?

Please be aware, if you have too much dark, you may need to call us. Our emergency call out number is 07746 243 248

Tuesday 6 December 2011

C is for Candle

A candle may be all-romantic and stuff, but it is a naked flame and source of ignition in your house.

Using candles safely

  • Always place your candles/tea lights in a suitable fire resistant candleholder
  • Make sure the candleholder holds the candle/tea light firmly and is on a flat and stable surface to stop it falling over.
  • Always put the candleholder on a heat resistant surface like a ceramic plate (tea lights can melt plastic surfaces such as the top of a television or the side of a bath).
  • Always leave at least 10cm (four inches) between burning candles/tea lights and never place them under shelves or other enclosed spaces. Keep candles/tea lights, matches and lighters out of the reach of children and pets.
  • Keep candles/tea lights away from curtains, furniture and anything else that can catch fire. Keep loose clothing and hair away from candles/tea lights when they are lit.
Sorry for killing the romance…




Why did the Rudolph cross the road?



Because he was tied to the chicken!

Monday 5 December 2011

FIT update

Re the Government’s plan to reduce the Feed in Tariffs (FITs).
As proposed after December 12th, reduction in payments for PV systems are from 43p to 21p per kWh. The FIT scheme still delivers an excellent return in the region of 5% on investment.

The Government has stated it will consult with the industry before making a final decision. We look forward to have this opportunity to have our voice heard and draft our response by the deadline, December 23rd.
Due to the fall in installation costs it has been accepted that the tariff would need to be revised however it is clear there will still be an incentive for renewable technology.

We believe the foundation is now in place to make the renewable sector a sustainable and long term growth industry because of the issue of rising energy costs.

B is for Barbie

Barbie's letter to Santa

Dear Santa,
Listen you fat little troll, I've been helping you out every year, playing at being the perfect Christmas present, wearing skimpy bathing suits in mid winter, drowning in fake tea from too many tea parties. I hate to break it to you Santa, but it is DEFINITELY pay back time!!

There had better be some changes around here this Christmas, or I'm gonna call for a nationwide meltdown (and trust me, you don't want to be around to smell it!) So, here's my Chrimbo wish list for this year, Santa.

1. A nice, comfy pair of Jogging bottoms and a frumpy, oversized sweatshirt, pineapple if it HAS to be bloomin pink. I'm sick of looking like a an extra in TOWIE. How much smaller are these bathing suits gonna get? Do you have any idea what it feels like to have nylon and velcro up your bum?

2. Real underwear that can be pulled on and off. Preferably white. What bonehead at Mattel decided to be cheap and mold imitation underwear to my skin? it just makes me sweat.

3. A REAL man....maybe G.I.Joe. Hell, I'd take Tickle-Me-Elmo over that wimped out excuse for a boy-toy Ken. And what's with the earring??? in fact the new drummer elmo is a party annimal, after his last gig we got together and I had multiple 'lady crisis's", you know the thingies that make the TOWIE girls drop their kebab..

anyway? If I'm going to have to suffer with him, make us anatomically correct. Wink

4. Arms that actually bend so I can push the aforementioned Ken-wimp away once he is anatomically correct.

5. Breast reduction surgery. I don't care whose arm you have to twist, just do it!! (see note @ bottom)

6. A propper support bra. To wear until I get the surgery.

7. A new career. I need a new challenge, vet & teacher just don't cut it. anyway, the pensin for a teacher aint what it used to be... How about a systems analyst? Or better yet, a public relations senior account exec!! any chance you can get me Steve Jobs's old post.

8. A new, more post 2k persona. Maybe, civil rights activist Barbie (no pink tent's plz), complete with an ipad to blog from Westminster, and a nice pad to go home to in Kensington when it gets cold at night. oh and a P A who can spell check my Tweetin wouldnt go amiss too :)

9. No more McDonald's endorsements. The grease is wrecking my vinyl.

10. mattel stock options. It's been 37 years-I think I deserve it!

11. No more Tea.. I am sick of the stuff, from now on sell me with a Tassimo and a lifetime supply of Carte Noire Latte Macchiato.

and please tell Mr. Allmark (VP) that killing me off the increase sales is a violation of my civil rights, tell him to keep the bloomin Conrad Murray away from me. even if he does go into plastic surgery.

Okay Santa, that's it. considering my valuable contribution to society, I don't think these requests are out of line. If you disagree, then you can find yourself a new bitch for next Christmas. It's that simple.

Yours truly,Barbie




What bird can write under the Arctic Ocean?


A ball-point pen-guin.




B is for Bond, James Bond

We are looking forward to the next 007 adventure, starring Daniel Craig.
It is being directed by Sam Mendes, who won an Oscar for 1999's American Beauty.

The title of the 23rd James Bond film has been confirmed as Skyfall.

The latest 007 adventure will star Daniel Craig for the third time. Leading ladies have been confirmed as French actress Berenice Marlohe and Naomie Harris.
Skyfall is being directed by Sam Mendes, who won an Oscar for 1999's American Beauty.
Mendes said the storyline will take the secret agent to London, China, Turkey, and Scotland.
Oscar-winning actor Javier Bardem has confirmed he will play a villain in the new film.
Dame Judi Dench is returns as M, with MI6 under attack and the OXO building destroyed when the London Eye explodes… (Not necessarily trueJ)

Released in the UK on 26 October 2012. Can we wait that long? will the studio go bust? Please dont make him drive a Bently, the DBS was so much more funkier

Sunday 4 December 2011

A is also for app (from ESC makes home electrical safety easy)

The Electrical Safety Council (ESC) has launched a free smartphone app to help people ensure their families and homes are safe. The launch comes following a new study by ESC that finds millions of people in the UK expose themselves and their families to potentially fatal accidents in the home through simple electrical blunders because of an alarming lack of knowledge about the real danger of electricity.

The research from ESC reveals a dangerous level of ignorance about the perils of electricity in UK households. In the past year, almost one million people have repaired an appliance while it is still plugged in; despite the fact this can result in a fatal or serious injury. Other electrical ‘confessions’ included knowingly using faulty plugs or sockets (12.2 million people), ignoring burning smells coming from an appliance or socket (1.5 million people) and trailing cables near hot surfaces or cookers (2 million people). 
People are severely misjudging the risks involved with electricity.  At least one person dies each week from its everyday use, while 350,000 people are injured annually. Yet those surveyed were as concerned about having an electrical accident as they were of being in a plane crash, or getting struck by lightning. In reality, on average, only one person in the UK is killed by lightning each year and no one has died in a commercial plane accident in 11 years. 

Most electrical accidents can be prevented by a Residual Current Device (RCD), a life-saving device which prevents you from getting a fatal electric shock if you touch something live, such as a bare wire. It works by cutting power if there is a surge. However, the ESC study shows a serious lack of knowledge of this vital safety device: 70% of people surveyed do not know what an RCD is and almost half of all UK homes (49%) don’t have adequate RCD protection.  In contrast, smoke alarms are owned by 88% of the population but nearly half  (49%) of accidental house fires in the UK are caused by electricity.

The new ESC app allows anyone – whether they live in the home or are looking to move into it – to do a quick, visual check, to ensure its electrically safety. Designed to be as easy-to-use as possible, the app highlights potential dangers in each room and explains how to resolve simple, non-technical problems. Where more serious issues are flagged, people are advised to use a registered electrician. The app is available for iPhone and Android phones - just go to the App Store or Android Market, search for ‘Home Electrical Safety Check’ then follow the instructions to download.

Director General of the ESC, Phil Buckle, said: “Electricity has become vital to our lives since the formation of the National Grid, 76 years ago. Yet even though we are using more electrical products than ever before, there is a worrying gap between the public’s perception of electrical danger and the reality, with people making simple yet potentially fatal errors that can be easily prevented. The ESC’s Home Electrical Safety Check app was designed to bridge that gap. We wanted to create something which people would find effortless but essential. It can be used any time in your home. It can also be used as a basic tool when viewing accommodation, whether you are planning to buy or rent.  Landlords too, should find it useful, as it will allow them to review their properties to ensure tenant safety.”

For more information on all aspects of electrical safety visit the ESC website at www.esc.org.uk.

Flitwick Festive lights switch on TODAY @ 5.00

Its the switch on of the lights this afternoon - outside Barclays 3.30 - 5.00

fancy dress competition, winner get to turn on the lights :)

rides, carol singing, so please come along as Carol was a bit lonley singing all on her own.

come and join the fun and celebrate the start of the festive season in Flitwick.

A is for Apprentice – you’re hired

Not the stupid programme on the BBC with the arrogant sugar dude. We are looking for a 2012 apprentice. We didn’t find one in this years work experience lads (there weren’t any lasses), so there is an opening and its up to you to impress us to get the position… don’t wait till July 2012, because, by then it way well be too late. Make 2012 your year to be proactive.


we would like a quality candidate, sex is not important so Girls can apply too. we already have interviews lined up with Shannah Sherman and Claudia Finlayson so 2012 could be the first year we take on a female sparky...

we provide valuable hands-on induction and work experience programme.




How many letters are in the angelic alphabet?


25, The Christmas alphabet has "no EL"!


Saturday 3 December 2011

There is not a lot we can do about the chaos in the Eurozone, its all doom n gloom. so at D A Woolgar, we are going to attempt to celebrate the brighter side. we say 'hang it', forget the figures, forget the predictions, 2012 cant be all that bad.

we say there has to be things to look forward to in 2012

so we are going to attempt, I say attempt as we havent fully thought this through yet, to do a A - Zed countdown to 2012. yes guys and girls, its only 26 days till New Year...

prevent (electrcial) accidents

Most electrical accidents can be prevented by a Residual Current Device (RCD), a life-saving device which prevents you from getting a fatal electric shock if you touch something live, such as a bare wire. It works by cutting power if there is a surge. However, the ESC study shows a serious lack of knowledge of this vital safety device: 70% of people surveyed do not know what an RCD is and almost half of all UK homes (49%) don’t have adequate RCD protection.  In contrast, smoke alarms are owned by 88% of the population but nearly half (49%) of accidental house fires in the UK are caused by electricity.

Celebrity home improvers, Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan, want people to take charge of their electrical safety. Colin said: “We have seen plenty of dodgy wiring in our time but often it is the simple things that people could check themselves – such as a wire left near a hot surface or an overloaded socket – that can lead to a serious accident. We are urging everyone – including those looking to move into a new home – to download the free ESC app as a basic protection for themselves and their families.”

Friday 2 December 2011

greenhouse gas reduction goals

Ambitious greenhouse gas reduction goals may be eminently achievable using available technologies, a new study finds, although the virtual elimination of fossil fuel to generate electricity is required.

The widespread electrification of transportation and other sectors within 40 years is a key requirement to meet emission reduction targets, with residents plugging their electrical cars into decarbonized grids, according to the paper, published online Friday by the journal Science.

Electricity would largely replace petrol use, growing from 15 percent to 55 percent of end-use as petroleum would fall from 45 percent to 15 percent between 2010 and 2050, according to modeling. Reaching greenhouse gas reduction targets would also require the phaseout of all coal power plants at the end of their 30-year lifespans, leaving only CO2-producing power plants that use carbon capture sequestration, a yet unproven technology

good news, if it can be done, also its a long term goal

Millions in UK risking lives with basic electrical blunders

  • At least one person in the UK dies each week from an electrical accident and nearly 1,000 are injured every day
  • Complacency is leading to basic blunders, including repairing appliances whilst still plugged in
  • People don’t know the danger of electricity, citing plane crashes and lightning strikes as similar concerns, despite fatalities due to electricity being drastically higher
  • Celebrity home improvement experts  Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan urge UK to  download ESC’s new smartphone safety app to ‘bridge the gap’ between the public’s perception of electrical danger and the reality
A new study finds that millions of people in the UK expose themselves and their families to potentially fatal accidents in the home through simple electrical blunders because of an alarming lack of knowledge about the real danger of electricity. Today, on the birthday of the National Grid, the Electrical Safety Council (ESC) is launching a free smartphone app to help people ensure their families and homes are safe. 

The research from ESC reveals a dangerous level of ignorance about the perils of electricity in UK households. In the past year, almost one million people have repaired an appliance while it is still plugged in; despite the fact this can result in a fatal or serious injury. Other electrical ‘confessions’ included knowingly using faulty plugs or sockets (12.2 million people), ignoring burning smells coming from an appliance or socket (1.5 million people) and trailing cables near hot surfaces or cookers (2 million people). 



Thursday 1 December 2011

Regognised for taking on apprentices

Sorry to blow our own trumpet guys, by we really are great.

and as out training provider, JTL has sent us a 'employer recognition cert' :)

it gives a nice warm glow!!!!

Its D day

or should that be L day

today is the first day of trading for D A Woolgar Limited

Wednesday 30 November 2011

a Mahooosive wreath

Look at the wreath we purchased to fit for Flitwick Town Council



Mahoosive

my favorite quote of the day

heard on the radio... "give a man a gun, he will rob a bank. give a man a bank and he will rob the world"

Bath time television?

Having a waterproof TV in the bathroom can help you relax whilst watching your favourite
programme or movie. You can even install TVs that double up as mirrors when switched
off. By law all TVs have to be fitted into a wall cavity and the area around the screen
siliconed to prevent water getting in. You’ll need a depth of 75mm to 85mm so that the
screen sits flush with the wall. To prevent the screen steaming up the TV glass is heated.
You’ll also need speakers, which like the TV must be hardwired into the wall or ceiling.

Tuesday 29 November 2011

Melted choke / ballast

this is what happens if you stress a choke / ballsat by fitting a wrong lamp


meltdown :(

Sunday 27 November 2011

How can we help you?

Call us

Call our team today on 01525 404880 (out of hours emergency 07746 243 248*).

Email us

Email an industry specialist. We offer expert advice and its all free info@woolgarelectrical.co.uk

Saturday 26 November 2011

light a home to Part L and make it sexy

lets face it!!! you love incandescent lamps and all the world tells you have to use low energy

relentlessness of legislation has made it less of a distress decision and more of an opportunity for creativity.

‘Given the huge range of colour temperatures available in fluorescent lamps, and the improvements in LED sources, We believe that all but the most traditional of buildings can actually use energy efficient light sources

compact fluorescent are now old news and we are looking to LEDs has been the light quality and colour temperature of halogen – with varying and evolving degrees of success – these are different beasts and need a different approach to conventional lamps.

here's the 9 point plan, sorry, we know you like things in 10's but you will just have to put up with 9 :)

1 CONCEAL where you can
Low energy sources can actually add glamour to bedrooms with some forethought

The key is using the light source totally concealed to rely on the reflected light

2 EXPLOIT THE 1W LED
For steps, plinths, niches, low voltage fittings can be replaced with 1W LED fixtures. ‘Within Part L, the 1W fixture either doesn’t even count as its wattage is so low – fixtures of less than five circuit watts are excluded from the total luminaire count – or limited in groups of five with a dimmer to count as one circuit watt

3 INTEGRATE where you can
For a London residence, Firefly Lighting Design had to design not just to Part L, but to the BREEAM standard, where 75 per cent of all installed fittings had to be energy efficient. Integration was the key. ‘We worked with the architect to design lines of light integrated into architectural features such as the stairs,’ says Peter Veale. ‘This allowed us to create some breathtaking effects while allowing the clients energy leeway to choose their own bedside lights and pendants.’

4 USE DISPLAY DETAILS
Lighting shelves or niches can be about maximum effect with minimum energy, run LED strips behind glass shelves, Backlight niches and dim for artistic control

5 PLAY TO THEIR STRENGTHS
Rather than viewing low energy sources as a substitute, look at how their specific characteristics can work well

6 LAYER the light
Layering is a general lighting technique and energy efficient sources particularly benefit from the more dramatic effect it creates (discharge sources such as fluorescent used alone can produce a flat effect).


7 PICK YOUR LOCATION FOR HALOGEN
Do it in the kitchen, in the hall, on the stairs and in the bathroom, but keep it out of the bedroom and the lounge where you want a more relaxing atmosphere. Dimmable halogen is the best way to get really low light levels, and still get the best quality light. It’s a matter of using it sparingly and judiciously


8 MIMIC DAYLIGHT
Relating to the point above, unlike warm incandescent sources, cool white LEDs and fluorescent can be used to introduce a sense of daylight, using a mock skylight, in basements and other windowless places.

9 USE DIFFUSION AND REFLECTION
Related to concealing the fitting is diffusion and reflection, mellowing potentially harsh effects.  Try to ensure the light is delivered through some form of diffuser, or as reflected, or indirect, light – for example, bounced from a wall or ceiling

Friday 25 November 2011

Keeping warm in bathrooms


Underfloor heating will help you stay warm when you step out of the shower on a chilly
morning. It requires sub-floors to be laid, made up of 20mm of chipboard or plywood to
provide an even level and insulation, and then the heating is laid with a screed over the
top. If you’re not having floor tiles and choose lino or carpet instead you will need thicker
screed before laying the final floor finish, this will allow for the build up and even spread
of heat. A wall-mounted thermostat will need to be positioned where water can’t splash
and will generally be linked to a heat-sensing probe situated within the floor. It’s best to
choose a thermostat with a timer, so you can set when the heating comes on. This type
of system requires RCD protection.

All electric heaters and water heaters in a bathroom must be fixed and permanently wired
into the wall. Hot water central heating or underfloor heating is the safest way of keeping
a bathroom warm, but if you do have an electric room heater it must be out of the reach
of someone in the bath or shower – fixed at a greater distance than 0.6m. Electric heaters
should be controlled by a pull-cord inside the bathroom or by a switch located outside.

Thursday 24 November 2011

Lasers could replace LEDs for lighting


Sandia Labs and BMW suggest lasers could be an alternative to LED-based systems
Sandia conducted tests into the white light generated by diode lasers and discovered the human eye is as comfortable with it as it is with LEDs.

An important difference between lasers and LEDs is the efficiency of each, with LEDs reducing in efficiency at higher currents while lasers improve.

diode lasers are a worthwhile path to peruse for lighting

The tests – reported in LEDs Magazine – took place at University of New Mexico’s Centre for High Technology Materials, where 40 volunteers were seated in front of two near-identical scenes. Each both was illuminated by warm, cool or neutral white LEDs, tungsten-filament incandescent light or a combination of four lasers – blue, red, green, yellow – which combined were tuned to create white light.

Volunteers were asked to chose between alternatives – but were not told which source was being used – 80 times. Jonathan Wierer, involved in planning, calibrating and executing the experiments, said there was a significant preference for the diode-laser-based white light over the warm and cool LED-based white light. There was no statistical preference between the laser-based light and either the neutral LED-based or incandescent white light.

Comparing laser light with an incandescent bulb
Sandia’s experiment combined the output of four laser colours – blue, red, green and yellow – to create a white light source. The narrow beam is addressed via a suitable optical system.

Driving possibilitiesAt the same time as Sandia’s research, BMW demonstrated a prototype laser-based headlight system on its i8 Concept car, using blue lasers and phosphors.

BMW used blue lasers to illuminate a remote phosphor system, generating white light.

Driver safety needs to be addressed, insuring lasers are properly directed. BMW said the laser headlamps would be safe, as the illumination would be indirect.

Wednesday 23 November 2011

Electric cars need a lot better batteries

The electric car is on the car industry's agenda. Most car manufacturers tend to agree that, within three to five years, electric cars will have captured market share, or at least a niche; but most of them are still trying to find solutions to critical obstacles facing the electric car industry.

The problem is not in the car itself. Car manufacturers know how to produce comfortable and fast electric cars. Limited trip length is also not the main problem, since most manufacturers are targeting customers who intend to use the car for intra-city driving or the occasional inter-city drive. For these customers, being able to drive 150 km between charging stops, and even 250 km in the future, is certainly sufficient.
 
The real problem lies in two issues: battery cost, which is about £750; and recharging time. The high battery cost is a classic chicken and egg dilemma. In order for the price to drop significantly, the batteries need to be mass produced. But they cannot be mass produced until a large number of people purchase electric cars.
In order for the mainstream to overcome its natural reluctance to purchase an electric car and for it to become mass produced, the electric car needs to be available at a reasonable price, and be just as easy to use as a regular car - which is where the battery issue enters the picture. Fully charging the car battery at an ordinary house outlet takes between six and nine hours. That is an unreasonable amount of time required to recharge the battery for every 150-200 km. It forces the customer to adapt himself to the car and not the opposite. Three solutions have been offered to solve this problem:
 
1. The chargeable hybrid
This solution involves a small gasoline-powered auxiliary engine that can act as a generator so that the car can self-charge, or as an emergency backup in case the battery gets completely drained. This is an effective solution, but it is only an intermediate stage on the way to a fully electric car.
 
2. Changeable battery
This solution sidesteps the issue: instead of waiting an extended period of time to charge the battery, the battery is simply swapped out for another fully-charged battery. This solution is technologically applicable, with battery changing time similar to filling up a regular car with gas at a gas station.
This solution also enables the price of the battery to be separate from the price of the car, thereby bypassing the obstacle of the battery's high price, and exchanging it with the cost of long-term battery rental. Except that this solution has a few limitations that are currently holding back car manufacturers from adopting it. The main limitation is the high cost involved in planning which type of car to produce, or the conversion of existing cars to include the removable battery apparatus, as well as building the robotic stations for changing batteries, which is estimated at $1 million per station.
And lastly, the creating of a unified global standard for quick battery exchange is still a long way off, and until such a standard exists, each change station will be built to service a specific car model or make. In other words, there is a problem.
 
3. Quick charge
The third solution, which has had some breakthroughs in the last few months, is quick charge. This is the commercial charging of the battery using an industrial-strength battery, which shortens charging time to 30-40 minutes, and can be installed at gas stations or other points along the highway.
Four years ago, this technology had many limitations. It was very expensive, and the quick charging process damaged the batteries and drastically decreased their life span. But then the car industry reached a consensus regarding the quick charge issue. Seven large car manufacturers - Ford, General Motors, BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, and Volkswagen - agreed to a unified standard, which will lead to accelerated development.
Quick charge stations have another limitation, which will only exacerbate as more and more electric cars are deployed, and that is the traffic it creates on the electricity grid. Countries with sophisticated grids can handle this traffic, but electric companies in countries with outdated and limited electrical output, such as China, are hesitant to adopt this solution. For this reason, China is currently experiencing a struggle between the supporters of quick change batteries and the supporters of the battery exchange method.
By the time this struggle is settled in the West, there will already be hundreds of quick charging stations on a commercial or experimental level. In Israel, it appears, the solution to the charging problem has been decided from above by Shai Agassi's electric car venture Better Place.