11 November 2008 – Electric smart cars part of PLC’s eco-trials
Trails of fully electric smart cars are underway by Amey PLC - design, project and asset management consultants to the highway, railway and property services.
Oxford, Birmingham and Plymouth have been chosen as the locations for the trial of the Mercedes-Benz smart ed (electric drive) cars. Smart ed is not a hybrid car. It is powered solely by electricity and ‘re-fueled’ by plugging the standard 3-pin plug into a household power socket.
Smart ed emits no carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide or particle matter of any description and smart’s tree-planting scheme makes the smart ed completely carbon neutral.
Based on a standard smart fortwo model, smart ed has a top speed of 60 mph and can do up to 70 mph on a full charge. Running costs are equivalent to 300 miles per gallon.
The trial, which also involves electric cars from other manufacturers, is part of a wider initiative to help fleet operators reduce their carbon emissions.
In addition to the smart car pilot Amey is trialling UK built MODEC 7.5t emission free electric lorries.
Talking about the trials Amey chief executive Mel Ewell was reported as saying: ‘It is time for councils and businesses to prepare themselves now for a more sustainable future.
We are always looking for new and innovative ways to minimise our own carbon footprint and we can help our customers to do the same.
‘We will be monitoring the performance of these vehicles closely with the aim to roll out a larger fleet of low-carbon vehicles.’
In addition to the smart ed electric car trials other initiatives that Amey are considering to help reduce their carbon footprint are video conferencing, car share schemes, speed limiters and driver training.
Smart ed is as due to go into mass production in Germany in 2010. A UK launch date has yet to be announced.
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