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Electric car trials launched
Ben Bailey23 Jun 2009
Labour ministers drove electric cars on to the forecourt of London's historic Guildhall today to launch trials of low-carbon vehicles.
Transport Secretary Lord Adonis was at the controls of a Smart car, while Science Minister Lord Drayson drove a Mini E electric vehicle.
The Mini E will be tested in Hillingdon, west London, in one of eight trials in Britain in which members of the public and businesses will be invited to take part.
Other areas where tests will take place include Glasgow, Coventry, Birmingham, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Oxford. Cars being tested include a Ford Focus battery electric vehicle, Nissan vehicles and Peugeot electric cars.
The Government is putting £25 million into the project which is being organised by the Technology Strategy Board.
Lord Adonis said today: "People have doubted that electric and ultra-low carbon vehicles would come on to the market soon but they are available and the public will be able to drive them.
"We hope it will only be a short period of time before these vehicles come on to the market. We want Britain to be at the forefront of ultra-low carbon automotive technology, blazing a trail for environmentally friendly transportation."
Lord Drayson said: "This is the world's largest ever trial of electric vehicles."
He added that it was important that hard data on just how the vehicles worked and were driven was gathered in.
Lord Drayson went on: "If we can make the UK the best place to do the research and development into these vehicles, we can help secure the future of the UK motor industry."
Technology Strategy Board chief executive Iain Gray said: "The journey towards low-carbon transport will not be easy but the demonstrator programme which we are launching is a major step in the right direction."
AA president Edmund King said today's announcement was "a great leap forward on the road to a lower-carbon future", while Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders chief executive Paul Everitt said ultra-low carbon vehicles were "now mainstream business for the motor industry".
Reader views (8)
I am a new UK graduate working in Australia as a renewable energy researcher for an energy company who are currently looking into the possibility of trailing such a scheme in Australia. The fact of the matter is soon there will not be enough oil reserves for everyone and with soaring petrol prices coupled with the continued recession people are going to struggle to meet travel expenses, and a solution that not only solves this but that will actually help towards cutting CO2 emissions should be welcomed with open arms. The company Better Place has come up with a solution to the battery problem, by pledging to install all the infrastructure needed, before electric cars are even introduced to the mass market, meaning you will be able to either charge up your fixed battery or simply swap your depleted battery for a new fully charged one under their patented method, which was just successfully demonstrated in Japan in May. Ok, so you'll have to stop a little more frequently but surely that is an acceptable price for cheaper travel and to know you’re actually doing something for your planet? The Better Place scheme is already happening in Israel and Denmark, with these battery swapping and charging stations currently being installed ready for the release of electric cars to the mass market. As a young person myself, I find it so difficult to read cynical views of an older generation who don't want to change but won't be around to see the end results of continued high CO2 emissions
- Katie, Hobart, Australia, 28/07/2009 10:05
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But will the milk still be fresh when it's delivered? Or the co2 captured from the new coal fired power stations that are being built to generate the electricity?
- Alan, carlisle uk, 28/07/2009 09:05
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All very well, Evan, if you never want to travel more than about 50 miles. Even the most advanced electric vehicles would struggle to do say Cardiff to London in one go .... If you had the air con and radio on you'd probably fail to cross the Severn without a re-charge.
- Paul, London, 28/07/2009 09:05
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Green electricicy does exist, y'know, and it's a rapidly growing sector. Also, the electric motors are around 98% efficient verses around 25% for petrol. Think of that next time you fill up your motor, about £12 out of the £50 goes to move you around, the rest is £38 worth of heat and noise. That's why electrics are so much cheaper. Since buying one I'm saving (net) around £150 per month. Not bad.
- Evan, Cardiff, Wales, 28/07/2009 09:05
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Matt I am afraid that whilst an electric motor may have an efficiency of 98% under some circumstances but much worse under others, there are many other losses you have to include such as the battery itself - typically around 70% to 80% efficient + any gear train losses etc. In addition there are power station losses - typical efficiency around 29% - so end to end you get around 18% or worse. The £150 you save is not like for like as your electric vehicle does not equate overall to an ic powered vehicle in terms of speed capability, load carrying and range. And you have transferred the pollution problem to someone elses back yard. You could save even more money with a high performance diesel and have a far lower carbon footprint!
- Gordon, Cambridge; UK, 28/07/2009 09:05
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No matter how you make a car, they will always be traffic jams and congestion. So what is the point of it all ?
- Joe, Swanley Kent, 28/07/2009 09:05
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Low carbon. Apart from the millions of watts of electricity that will be needed to charge up these little rollerskates. That obviously comes for free when you look at the world through verdant-tinted glasses.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, the Scottish one, 28/07/2009 09:05
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More ecomentalist nonsense prompted by distortion of the facts and downright lies.
- Matt, London, UK, 28/07/2009 09:05
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