The Journal: North East Drivers asked to take part in Switch EV

June 30, 2010, Adrian Pearson, The Journal

MOTORISTS across the North East are to be asked to take part in the nation’s first electric car trials.

Families and businesses are being asked to volunteer to drive one of the new electric vehicles for up to six months as part of a scheme to study battery and recharging performance for the vehicles. Manufacturers are hoping the open invite will cure the region of any “range anxiety” which would hold people back from buying a new electric car.

They believe a “word of mouth” approach alongside a new website during the three-year trial will increase the take-up of the environmentally friendlier cars.

The Switch EV project will see 35 new passenger vehicles hit the roads across the region from September, but drivers interested in the trial can register from today.

A small rental cost is expected to be applied to the vehicles and the cars will be capable of being recharged at home.

It comes following an announcement in February of an £8m funding package to pay for the installation of 1,300 plug points for electric cars in the North East.

Organisers say the trial will include the Nissan Leaf, an electric vehicle which will eventually be built in Wearside.

The £10.8m trial will also feature Liberty Electric Cars Range Rover electric vehicles, and a nine-seat Edison Minibus from Smith Electric Vehicles.

Across the region the change to what experts call the low-carbon economy has been lead by development agency One North East.

Their efforts have seen Nissan promise to safeguard thousands of jobs in Sunderland and placed the region at the centre of the new growth in wind turbine manufacturing.

Chris Pywell, head of strategic economic change at One North East, said: “The low carbon vehicles sector has put the North East on the international map in the past 12 months and this unique trial will be a major step forward for the development of electric vehicles in the UK.

“Switch EV will give people in the North East the first chance to travel in these innovative new electric vehicles, all developed by companies in the North East.

“Alongside our advanced infrastructure of 1,300 charging points, these vehicles will help demonstrate to drivers that the switch to low carbon transport is a serious, viable option.”

Experts at the University of Newcastle will be working with Cramlington-based company Comesys to study the performances of the Switch EV vehicles.

Companies or individuals wanting to find out more about getting involved in the trial should contact Liz Gray at Future Transport Sytems by email at info@futuretransportsystems.co.uk or on 0191 243 1622.

For more information visit www.switchev.co.uk