Mitsubishi cars to be used in low-carbon trials

As part of the Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Programme (LCVPP) run by Cenex, the UK’s first Centre of Excellence for low-carbon and fuel-cell technologies, two cars will become part of the fleet at Gateshead Council, two at Newcastle City Council, one at Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council and one at Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council.

The delivery of these electric vehicles to the North East follows the first part of the Cenex ‘Smart Move’ trial, which involved all four of the local authorities now using the i-MiEV and gave hundreds of drivers the chance to drive an electric car through placements in vehicle fleets and at public test-drive events.

One of the key findings of a report into the trial found that vehicle fleets like those at local authorities could provide a successful early market for electric vehicles.

i-MiEVs have a range of 80 miles and a top speed of 81mph

Councillor Jennie Beaumont, Stockton Borough Council’s cabinet member for the environment, said: ‘We already use some electric vehicles to collect rubbish from public bins but this is the first time we have our own electric car for general use.