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Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's dream of a green car industry has begun to materialise at The University of Western Australia where zero-emission, sustainable transport is already being tested.

Students in the Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics have converted a five-door economy car into a renewable energy vehicle (REV) that will be launched at UWA, at 12.30pm on Thursday, November 20 and will be available for test-drives.

Project director Associate Professor Thomas Braunl explained that after looking at hydrogen techniques in previous REVs, the team had developed a plug-in no-pollution electric commuter car.  The team is now in the process of converting a high-performance sports car, based on the ‘Lotus Elise'.

"Although electric cars are not a new invention recent advances in motor, battery and controller technology make them a viable alternative to petrol cars," Professor Braunl said.

"Students and staff at UWA are developing electric zero-emission vehicle technology using the latest research.  Our REV project generates its own clean power using grid-connected solar panels on the roof of the Faculty building.

"The converted economy car achieves speeds of up to 120km/h and costs as little as $1.40/100km to operate.  The petrol version of this car costs more than $10.00/100km to run."

Professor Braunl said the converted Lotus sports car would not only be clean and green, but would also boast motor control, drive-by-wire and driver-assistance systems.

The car will also be on public display on Thursday, November 20 from 5pm to 6pm at Scitech as part of the Going Places exhibit and on Friday, November 21 from 10am to 2pm in Perth's Central Park Foyer, as part of the ResourCity program.

Media references

Associate Professor Thomas Braunl (Project Director)  (+61 8)  6488 1763  /  (+61 4) 02 017 315
Janine MacDonald (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 5563  /  (+61 4) 32 637 716