UK's Largest E-Car Trial By Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi's i-MiEV has become the first zero emissions fully electric city car to be used on the government funded Technology Strategy Board user trials.

It has a top speed of 81 mph, a range of 100 miles1 and can be trickle charged from flat to full in seven hours at any UK three-pin socket – costing under £1 for a full charge.

In addition the i-MiEV can be fast-charged from flat to 80% in roughly 30 minutes using the quick charger.

Genichiro Nishina, President and CEO of Mitsubishi Motors Europe, said the firm has taken an holistic approach to environmental and sustainability issues at every stage of the vehicle’s design, production and in-service lifecycle.

"The i-MiEV is the most prominent element of our basket of environmental solutions, which makes the prospect of ultra-low carbon transport a present-day reality."

Endorsing the programme as an i-MIEV driver in the trials, Quentin Willson, said: "These first EVs that go on the Technology Strategy Board's trial mark the start of a seismic shift in the sort of cars we drive and how we power them.

"The Mitsubishi i-MiEV is a forerunner of a transport revolution that eventually will change the world. At last here's an electric car that doesn't look like a church pew, seats four, does 80 mph and costs less than a quid to charge."

This is the first stage of a Government-supported UK-wide project to trial electric and ultra low emission vehicles – and begins in the West Midlands today.

The keys to 25 Mitsubishi i-MiEVs (Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle) will be given to independent drivers – including automotive expert Quentin Willson – to test over the next 12 months by the CABLED (Coventry and Birmingham Low Emission Vehicle Demonstrators) consortium in Centenary Square, Birmingham.

The project is worth £15 million and will trial 110 vehicles on the roads of Birmingham and Coventry.

UK-wide, 340 vehicles are being tested using funding from the Technology Strategy Board. As well as being the largest, CABLED is the first consortium to begin vehicle trials and has recently gained further public backing thanks to £2.5 million funding awarded by Advantage West Midlands (a regional development agency).

(PR)