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SEStran-backed electric car project zooms ahead

Date: 28th March 2012

A SEStran-backed project to assess the capabilities of electric cars has been a major success.

The experiment, carried out at Jewel & Esk College, with backing from SEStran and Midlothian Council, involved 4 electronic vehicles provided by Mitsubishi. Thirty staff and students at the college used the vehicles for routine journeys between the college’s campuses. Over 934 individual journeys took place, covering an average distance of 5.1 miles, with a total of 11000 miles travelled throughout the life of the project.

A cost-effective charging post for electric vehicles, has also been developed by JEC students during the project, which may have wider applications for electric vehicles nationwide.

SEStran Chair, Cllr Russell Imrie said:

“SEStran provided £25,000 of funding to kick-start this project as part of our commitment towards seeking sustainable solutions to modern transportation needs”.

“As petrol becomes ever more expensive and traffic grows heavier, it is vital that we find robust, practical alternatives to internal combustion vehicles. This project has revealed that modern electric cars can be cost effective, clean and efficient, with a typical electric car journey costing 3p a mile, compared with 17p a mile for an average petrol car”.

“The results speak for themselves; electric cars are cheaper, cleaner and more environmentally friendly”.

“SEStran looks forward to working with our partners in this project to further explore the potential of electric vehicles to contribute towards a cleaner, more sustainable transportation system for the future”. 

Professor Steve Tinsley, Director of Innovation and Enterprise at Jewel & Esk College, added:

 “The Electric Vehicle Project is proving to be a very successful initiative in terms of value for money, levels of engagement and information gathered”.

 “The project provides an unique opportunity for motor vehicle industry and academics to work together and monitor the usefulness of the electric vehicle”.

 “While statistical data has been gathered to understand the performance of the vehicles, the experiences of individuals using the cars on a daily basis has also been collected and is extremely insightful. The project has enhanced our understanding of the role of the electric vehicle and its contribution to a future transport solution for Scotland.”

 

ENDS

SEStran - South East of Scotland Transport Partnership - is one of seven new Statutory Regional Transport Partnerships (RTP) created by the Transport (Scotland) Act 2005 and is a partnership of eight local councils covering the Borders, Clackmannanshire, East Lothian Midlothian and West Lothian, Edinburgh, Falkirk and Fife.

For further information, please contact:

Andrew Dougal, SEStran Communications Officer

T: 0131-524-5161

M: 07889-010-291

E: Andrew.dougal@sestran.gov.uk

 Notes

 All cars since September have covered a total of 11000miles

 Dec-Feb there has been 962 individual journeys

 With an average trip distance of 5.1miles max.

 The cost per mile equals £0.03 compared with £0.17 for an average petrol car

 EV approx payback time at break-even 80000miles

 JEC Staff and about 30 students were involved with the planning and execution of this project

 JEC have developed a cost effective charge post with the help of the engineering students

 Charge post is a marketable product and JEC have made 5 to date