Council to trial three electric cars

Mail Maribyrnong
Wednesday 4/6/2008 Page: 5

AS petrol prices climb at a dizzying pace, Maribynong City Council is taking a step towards sustainability, equipping itself with three electric-powered cars. In a move the council believes is an Australian first, it will establish the fleet of retrofitted electric Hyundai Getz vehicles - which cost $50,000 each. They will be delivered in about three months and used in a 12-month trial. Maribynong believes it will be the first council in Australia to operate such a fleet.

It expects to prevent about 13 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions by using the fleet for its traffic and local laws operations for the 12-month trial. The cars will be partially funded by the Sustainability Fund of Victoria, which is testing seven electric vehicles in local government organisations. Such cars will also be part of a 12-month University of Ballarat study, analysing the potential benefits of running an electric vehicle fleet.

Electric cars use no petrol and are charged by electricity, with energy stored in a battery. A fully charged electric car has enough power to travel 100 kilometres. From a regular power point, they take about four hours to fully charge. However, with the council's 'super charger', the fleet cars take about one hour to fully charge from 'empty'. A full charge uses 10 kilowatt hours of power, or about $1.40 worth of the council's green electricity - from wind, solar and other renewable sources - in contrast to a petrol-powered car, which costs about $11.50 to drive 100 kilometres.