Electric car

A green car powered by sunlight is now on the City's streets, thanks to an environmental 'drive' by Manchester City Council. The specially adapted Smart car, which runs on electricity and produces no exhaust emissions, has become the latest addition to the City Council's fleet.

Although the car's batteries are charged from normal power sockets, solar panels installed at the City Council's Hammerstone Road depot in Gorton are used to generate approximately the same amount of electricity needed to keep the batteries topped up. This electricity is then fed into the National Grid, meaning not only that the car can be charged at any time of the day or night, but also that the vehicle's mileage is carbon neutral.

The car is one of just 100 prototypes that have been produced, but Manchester's vehicle is exceptional as it is the only one powered by renewable energy. It will be used by members of the City Council's environmental services department for a wide range of essential trips around the City, such as visits to food premises needing inspections, regulatory visits to licensed premises and the monitoring of air quality in the City centre.

Councillor Richard Cowell, Manchester City Council Executive Member for the Environment, said: "This car produces no emissions like nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide - that means less pollution, better air quality and a healthier, cleaner and greener Manchester.

We're keen to promote the use of alternative energy sources, and this car will prove that electrical vehicles can and do work.  This is an important first which the City Council, and the people of Manchester, should be very proud of."

This is an individual demonstration project that seeks to raise awareness of the viability of electric vehicles across the City.

There are currently no charging points for electric vehicles in Manchester, but such a scheme is under consideration by the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) and the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE).

For more information on alternative vehicles and fuels, please visit the Cleaner Vehicles Campaign website.