ELECTRIC VEHICLE ADDED TO (SYDNEY) CITY FLEET

ELECTRIC VEHICLE ADDED TO CITY FLEET

By Clover Moore, Lord Mayor of Sydney, CLOVER'S eNEWS  - Friday 10 September 2010 - No. 513

On Tuesday the City took another step towards the cleaner transport
system we have committed to in Sustainable Sydney 2030, when I
accepted the keys to the City's first electric vehicle, a new
Mitsubishi i-MiEV.

One of the first electric vehicles to be released in Australia, the
City will trial the new i-MiEV in CBD operations and evaluate data
collected in order to compare its energy consumption and emission
benefits against petrol, diesel and hybrid powered vehicles. The
City's new electric vehicle is one 40 which have been leased to
government departments, councils and companies around Australia ahead
of its release in Australia next year.

Using a large-capacity lithium-ion battery system and a compact, high
output electric motor in place of a petrol engine, the i-MiEV will
produce no exhaust emissions. Its power will be supplied by the 240
solar panels that have been installed on Sydney Town Hall, with
charging taking place in less than eight hours using a standard 15 amp
power point located in our Kent Street car park.

With close to 85 per cent of Australian urban commuters travelling
less than 100 kilometres per day, it is more important than ever to
explore low-carbon transport alternatives. Each day, more than 700,000
cars travel through the City of Sydney - significantly contributing to
smog, greenhouse gas pollution, congestion and noise. Electric
vehicles, together with improved public transport, walking and
cycling, can help reduce these environmental impacts.

The City will trial the i-MiEV for 6 months as part its commitment to
reduce fleet emissions by 20% before 2014. This trial follows the
opening in May of Australia's first on-street electric vehicle
charging station in Glebe for use by car share company GoGet, which
uses a retrofitted Toyota Prius hybrid vehicle.

The City's fleet has 43 hybrid vehicles, which use around 40% less
fuel than conventional vehicles, and renewable energy systems such as
solar hot water or solar electric systems are being installed across
our buildings.

Information
* Mitsubishi i-Miev:
www.mitsubishi-motors.com.au/microsites/i-miev
* GoGet Carshare Electric Vehicle:
www.goget.com.au/newsflash/hybrid-electric-toyota-prius.html