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UWA staff are driving one of only a handful of totally electric cars in Western Australia.

Facilities Management, which is committed to sustainability, took delivery of the Mitsubishi Innovative Electric Vehicle (i-MiEV) in mid-May and, in its first week, about a dozen staff clocked up close to 300 kilometres in it.

The i-MiEV replaces a standard petrol-fuelled Mitsubishi Lancer. It is used for travel to construction sites, off-campus meetings and other UWA sites.

Director of FM, Clint Walker, said there were only ‘dozens' of these cars in Australia. It was purchased with advice from Professor Thomas Braunl (Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering), the University's expert on electric cars, who also helped FM with options for charging the vehicle

"We're very happy with the i-MiEV," he said. "GM-Holden makes an electric car, the Volt, which is not yet available in Australia.  The other option was a Nissan LEAF, but the capital cost and the  neater, more efficient i-MiEV vehicle swayed our decision decision."

The car is charged using mains electricity in the basement carpark of the Ken and Julie Michael Building.  It takes a few hours to charge an empty battery to 80 per cent of its capacity or overnight to gain full capacity. The vehicle offers a range of up to 130 kilometres on a ‘full tank', costing just $5 in electricity.

Its carbon footprint is 40 per cent less than a petrol-powered vehicle.  If it was powered with solar energy, the footprint would be zero: 100 per cent less than a petrol car. It also costs 70 per cent  less to run than a standard petrol vehicle.

The i-MiEV cost $29,000 and has most of the features expected of a 21 ^st century car: USB port, iPod port and air-conditioning.

The small four-door car is surprisingly roomy and even Mr Walker, with his 195cm frame, finds it reasonably comfortable. It can reach a speed of 100km/hour and its engine is almost silent.

To round up their suite of sustainable transport methods, FM staff take a bus using a Corporate Smart Rider to attend meetings and make use of a fleet of bicycles, including an electric bike, for short trips around the Crawley/Nedlands campus.

Media references

Michael Sinclair-Jones (UWA Public Affairs) (+61 8) 6488 3229 / (+61 4) 00 700 783
Trish Howard (UWA Sustainable Development) (+61 8) 6488 7540