Step on the electric!

Mark Alcock with the new car

FULLY charged and ready to go — Oldham has become the first council in the North-West to trial an innovative electric car.

The Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle (MiEV) has a top speed of 87mph and can do 100 miles on a full overnight charge which costs only £1 from a standard plug socket.

Environmental health officers will use the car for a week and it will be available for sale in the UK next month.

There are currently only three of the cars in the country and it has already sold out in Japan after winning the Most Advanced Technology award.

Councillor Mark Alcock, cabinet member for environment and infrastructure said: “Oldham Council is working hard to save energy and be as energy efficient as possible to reduce harmful climate changing emissions. This trial will enable the council to assess how effective these vehicles are in delivering cleaner, greener services.” Other recent green initiatives introduced by the council include free-to-loan energy monitors available at libraries across the borough and improvements to the council’s bin wagon fleet with all new vehicles now equipped to reduce harmful emissions by 40 per cent.