Episodes

  • Electrifying a classic car
    May 11 2023

    In the final episode Mel and Giles go on a special adventure. Under the arches by the Thames they meet Matthew Quitter who runs London Electric Vehicles, they take an electric Austin Healey for a drive and go to Essex to see the 1950s Bristol that Mel's husband wants to electrify.


    Tortoise is a newsroom devoted to slow journalism.


    For early access and ad-free listening subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts or join Tortoise for £60 a year.


    As a member you’ll also get our newsletters and tickets to live events. Just go to tortoisemedia.com/slowdown.


    If you’d like to further support slow journalism and help us build a different kind of newsroom, do consider donating to Tortoise at tortoisemedia.com/support-us. Your contributions allow us to investigate, campaign and explore, and to build a newsroom that is responsible and sustainable.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    37 mins
  • A bumpy ride
    May 3 2023
    Mel and Giles drive the Polestar 2. In this episode they discuss whether it matters that this Scandi car is made in China, what's driving the shift towards electric vehicles and Mel comments on the bumpy ride. Thank you to Octopus Electric Vehicles for providing the car and the expertise. For early access and ad-free listening subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts or join Tortoise for £60 a year. As a member you’ll also get our newsletters and tickets to live events. Just go to tortoisemedia.com/slowdown. If you’d like to further support slow journalism and help us build a different kind of newsroom, do consider donating to Tortoise at tortoisemedia.com/support-us. Your contributions allow us to investigate, campaign and explore, and to build a newsroom that is responsible and sustainable.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    32 mins
  • Oh-MG
    Apr 26 2023

    In this episode Mel and Giles drive the MG4. It's the best selling EV on the market and Mel can see why. They also discuss charging at home and Mel compares plugging it in overnight to putting on her slow cooker.


    Thank you to Octopus Electric Vehicles for providing the car and the expertise.


    For early access and ad-free listening subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts or join Tortoise for £60 a year.


    As a member you’ll also get our newsletters and tickets to live events. Just go to tortoisemedia.com/slowdown.


    If you’d like to further support slow journalism and help us build a different kind of newsroom, do consider donating to Tortoise at tortoisemedia.com/support-us. Your contributions allow us to investigate, campaign and explore, and to build a newsroom that is responsible and sustainable.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    31 mins
  • It’s all about Enid
    Apr 19 2023

    Giles and Mel drive the BMW i4 M50. Before they set off they get talking to Mel's neighbour Enid and Giles finally manages to connect his phone to the car.


    Thank you to Octopus Electric Vehicles for providing the car and the expertise.


    For early access and ad-free listening subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts or join Tortoise for £60 a year.


    As a member you’ll also get our newsletters and tickets to live events. Just go to tortoisemedia.com/slowdown.


    If you’d like to further support slow journalism and help us build a different kind of newsroom, do consider donating to Tortoise at tortoisemedia.com/support-us. Your contributions allow us to investigate, campaign and explore, and to build a newsroom that is responsible and sustainable.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    32 mins
  • Car-dashian
    Apr 12 2023

    Mel and Giles test drive the Genesis GV70 and meet an engineer fixing one of the chargers at Heston services. They also discover that the car can get you out of a tight spot.


    Thank you to Octopus Electric Vehicles for providing the car and the expertise.


    For early access and ad-free listening subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts or join Tortoise for £60 a year.


    As a member you’ll also get our newsletters and tickets to live events. Just go to tortoisemedia.com/slowdown.


    If you’d like to further support slow journalism and help us build a different kind of newsroom, do consider donating to Tortoise at tortoisemedia.com/support-us. Your contributions allow us to investigate, campaign and explore, and to build a newsroom that is responsible and sustainable.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    31 mins
  • Abba singalong
    Apr 5 2023

    Mel and Giles get to grips with one-pedal driving in the Volvo C40 and discuss how green the electricity is that charges your battery.


    Thank you to Octopus Electric Vehicles for providing the car and the expertise.


    For early access and ad-free listening subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts or join Tortoise for £60 a year.


    As a member you’ll also get our newsletters and tickets to live events. Just go to tortoisemedia.com/slowdown.


    If you’d like to further support slow journalism and help us build a different kind of newsroom, do consider donating to Tortoise at tortoisemedia.com/support-us. Your contributions allow us to investigate, campaign and explore, and to build a newsroom that is responsible and sustainable.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    35 mins
  • Musk-y funeral parlour
    Mar 29 2023

    Mel and Giles put the Tesla Model Y through its paces on a narrow country lane. They also talk to Alex about charging etiquette, who is low on battery and waiting for a charger.


    Thank you to Octopus Electric Vehicles for providing the car and the expertise.


    For early access and ad-free listening subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts or join Tortoise for £60 a year.


    As a member you’ll also get our newsletters and tickets to live events. Just go to tortoisemedia.com/slowdown.


    If you’d like to further support slow journalism and help us build a different kind of newsroom, do consider donating to Tortoise at tortoisemedia.com/support-us. Your contributions allow us to investigate, campaign and explore, and to build a newsroom that is responsible and sustainable.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    34 mins
  • Nineties nightclub
    Mar 23 2023

    Mel and Giles test the Hyundai IONIQ 5. In this episode Giles struggles with the sound system and reminisces about interviewing Elon Musk. Mel drives on some country roads and they also discuss the environmental impact of building electric vehicles.


    Thank you to Octopus Electric Vehicles for providing the car and the expertise.


    Tortoise is a newsroom devoted to slow journalism.


    For early access and ad-free listening subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts or join Tortoise for £60 a year.


    As a member you’ll also get our newsletters and tickets to live events. Just go to tortoisemedia.com/slowdown.


    If you’d like to further support slow journalism and help us build a different kind of newsroom, do consider donating to Tortoise at tortoisemedia.com/support-us. Your contributions allow us to investigate, campaign and explore, and to build a newsroom that is responsible and sustainable.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    39 mins