Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield, Contributing Writer

Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield is a self-confessed petrol head. She grew up in a carless family but was able at a very early age to name cars passing her on the street while other girls her age were more interested in Barbie Dolls. Although she trained as a classical musician she’s now a full-time broadcaster and journalist, covering green fuels and tech. After passing her driving test she’s owned a wide selection of cars, including a 1962 Morris Minor Woodie Hotrod; a single seat electric bubble car; a ’92 Honda Prelude; a ’91 Volvo 240; a ’04 Toyota Prius Plug in Hybrid (which she converted herself); an ’85 VW electric factory built rabbit; and a ’09 Smart ForTwo CDI Nikki specializes in electric vehicles, but also enjoys clandestine gas-guzzling, working on the rule that the larger and noisier the better. She is also loves riding motorcycles, but currently doesn't own one. Nikki also hosts the TransportEvolved podcast. She lives in Bristol UK with her wife, their two daughters and their Border Collie.

Articles

Nissan Goes Solar With Electric Car Charging Station at TN HQ Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield February 28, 2011

While the majority of its vehicles will be gasoline powered for the foreseeable future, Nissan North America has taken more steps towards zero emissions motoring for its headquarters in Franklin, TN...
What Happens When Electric Volvo Meets Pole? We Find Out
Volvo is well known in the automotive world for its safety record. In fact, Volvo is so concerned with safety that it is driving towards a future goal of having no fatalities or casualties in any of its cars by 2050. So what happens when you combine Volvo’s legendary safety record with its...
Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield February 25, 2011

2011 Geneva Auto Show: Electric Car Preview
It’s the end of February, which means that winter is almost over for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, and Geneva’s prestigious autoshow is just days away. This year we’ve been given unprecedented access to many of the cars due to debut at this year’s show, but in case...
Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield February 25, 2011
EVCup Shifts a Gear as Le Mans Competitors Sign Up
The American Le Mans Series may not be as popular or as iconic as NASCAR, but it is serious, big buck stuff. So when Le Mans race veterans announce their intent to compete in this year’s EVCup, we know the time to take all-electric motorsport seriously has arrived. Founded by Lord Drayson...
Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield February 24, 2011
2011 Mitsubishi i Passes European Crash Tests, Could do Better
It may be getting a complete redesign for the U.S. market, but the european version of Mitsubishi’s i electric car has obtained 4 out of a possible 5 stars in the european-wide car safety tests. In results announced yesterday by the European New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP) the sub-compact...
Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield February 24, 2011
Europeans Suffer as 2011 Nissan Leaf MSRP Rises to $50,310
Oh dear, Nissan. You’re struggling to fulfil worldwide demand for your first ever production electric vehicle, and then you go and put the price of your revolutionary car up. At least, that’s what buyers in Europe are faced with from March 1. Even before the first Nissan Leaf has been...
Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield February 23, 2011
Want a Virtual Electric Car? There’s an App For That Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield February 22, 2011

Ever since Apple announced it would allow third party developers to build and sell applications for its iPhone smart phone, we’ve seen a whole range of applications from the silly to the...

Want an Electric Car Like the Nissan Leaf? Prepare to Wait
You’ve seen the adverts, been to the test-drive and placed down a $99 deposit for Nissan’s all-electric Leaf. Of course, there’s something you probably weren’t told about at the time of reserving a place in the queue. Patience. Save for a few hundred lucky individuals, the...
Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield February 22, 2011
VIDEO: Hack of 2011 Nissan Leaf Provides Faster Charging, But is it Safe?
Charge Anxiety, the fear that your electric car won’t charge up as quickly as you need it to may be one step further away if you’re a 2011 Nissan Leaf owner willing to throw caution to the wind and hack your $25,000 bundle of joy. At least that’s the message coming from a select...
Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield February 22, 2011
BMW to Rename MegaCity as BMW i3, Promises Plug-in Hybrid
Its just about to launch trails of its rear-wheel drive electric Active E sedan, but German automaker BMW has just announced a whole new sub-brand for electric and plug-in hybrid BMWs. Called the BMWi, the range will encompass BMW’s eco-conscious vehicles and offer unprecedented...
Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield February 21, 2011
2012 Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid, 2011 Geneva Auto Show Exclusive Preview
In a little over a week, Volvo will be unveiling its latest plug-in electric vehicle to the world at the 2011 Geneva Auto Show. But just like last week when we were given an exclusive pre-Geneva peek at the Nissan ESFlow electric sportscar concept in Frankfurt, Volvo invited us a few weeks ago to...
Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield February 21, 2011
Nissan ESFlow Electric Sportscar Concept: 10 Facts You Didn't Know
You heard the announcement, saw the artists’ sketches, speculated on its specifications and followed our live tweets from its pre-2011 Geneva Auto Show sneak-peek press day - but after a day in its presence here are 10 things we’d like to share with you about Nissan’s ultra-sexy...
Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield February 18, 2011

EXCLUSIVE: What Killed The Electric Car? For G-Wiz, Other Electric Cars Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield February 16, 2011

It’s been a mainstay of British eco-chic for nearly a decade, but the little Indian four-wheel ‘car’ which can be found buzzing around the streets of London will no longer be sold...
2011 Nissan ESFLOW Concept: What Do YOU Want to Know?
Announced last week just three weeks ahead of its debut at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, the Nissan ESFLOW Concept two-seat all-electric sports car has already created quite a stir. With a lightweight Aluminium chassis, composite body and the same laminated lithium-ion battery pack found in the 2011...
Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield February 16, 2011
2011 Geneva Auto Show: Land Rover Range_e Plug-in Hybrid
Love them or hate them the veritable Land Rover isn’t exactly the most fuel efficient vehicle on the planet. But at the upcoming 2011 Geneva Motor Show LandRover will be unveiling a concept development vehicle that it hopes will make the brand a little more environmentally conscious. Dubbed...
Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield February 16, 2011
2011 Geneva Auto Show: Toyota IQ EV Preview
Until last spring, Toyota had never seemed that keen on producing an all-electric car, claiming battery technology just wasn’t ready for an all-electric car - despite having produced an all electric crossover SUV back in the late 1990s. Since then however, things have changed a lot. Not only...
Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield February 15, 2011
How Do You Hide a 2011 Chevrolet Volt? Let us Count the ways...
Just how do you hide a 2011 Chevrolet Volt? In a Cave? Under a bridge? Switch badges with a Prius? Hide it in an oil refinery? How about the planet Dagobah? These are just some of the tongue-in cheek methods being suggested by Chevrolet Volt owners nationwide to help the 2011 Chevrolet Customer...
Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield February 15, 2011
2011 Smart Electric Drive: Will Fewer Dealers Cut Electric-Car Access?
Yesterday we heard the news that Mercedes-Benz will take over Smart car distribution in the United States from Penske Automotive Group. The independent dealer network had started distributing the Smart ForTwo in 2008 with a total of 77 dealers nationwide. But with Mercedes-Benz only taking-over...
Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield February 15, 2011

Tesla Launches New Stores, Pulls Out of Singapore Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield February 14, 2011

It’s no secret that the stereotypical Italian sports car is fast, fiery and molto fortissimo. But fans of fast sports cars now have a new sports car to lust after with the official launch of...
How Child-Friendly is the 2011 Nissan Leaf?
For those who don’t know or have forgotten, the name for Nissan’s first mass-produced electric car is an acronym: Leading Environmentally-friendly Affordable Family car. But is the 2011 Nissan Leaf really a family-friendly car? When examining a car for suitability for a family there are...
Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield February 14, 2011
Does YOUR Valentine's Day Gift Plug In? This Tesla Does
Okay, let's get the schoolyard jokes about buying your female companion a motorised whirring gift for valentine's day. We know you have a much more sophisticated set of tates than that. But how do you buy your partner an exciting, fast, luxurious gift bound to get her blood pumping without...
Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield February 14, 2011
Porsche Goes Electric with e-Boxster Test Mini Fleet
Ask most consumers to describe a Porsche and they’ll describe the classic Porsche Boxster: a rear-wheel drive, mid or rear-engined car designed for the driving enthusiast rather than the casual commuter. Large, noisy engines have always been a prerequisite. Until now. We heard last summer...
Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield February 11, 2011
Nissan Gives Waiting UK Buyers Loaner Cars, But Not For Leaf
If you’re one of the many expectant 2011 Nissan Leaf owners around the world what we’re about to tell you may make you feel a little sick. While Nissan obviously struggles to meet consumer demand for its all-electric hatchback, company executives in Europe are offering those waiting for...
Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield February 11, 2011
Could Your Electric Car Insurance Be Higher Than You Expect?
Arranging insurance for your new car is always a stressful and unpleasant business. Often overlooked, it has a direct impact on your driving habits and your pocket book. But unlike gasoline cars, electric cars are not yet fully known by the insurance industry, causing some potential headaches for...
Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield February 10, 2011