02 August 2010
Switch EV is a Technology Strategy Board project, with additional support from One North East, which will see 35 electric cars take to the roads of the North East very shortly.
Nissan, the lead partner, is providing the very first LEAFs to be driven in the UK, with 15 vehicles being distributed between companies and individuals across the region. They will replace commuting vehicle, work as pool cars and will join the local car club fleets. Joining the LEAF will be CUE-V cars from Avid, a family sized vehicle perfect for commuting and demonstrating Avid’s M3 powertrain technology, top of the range Liberty Electric Range Rovers, prestige vehicles with all the comfort and style of an ICE Range Rover, but fully electric, Smith Electric Vehicles Edison, a 9 seater mini bus and 5 LTI taxis which will be joining the Newcastle taxi fleet.
The vehicles will have data loggers installed, recording all trips made, the recharging cycles completed and their impact on the battery performance of the vehicle. The information gathered will include all auxiliary power usage, for example heating or air conditioning, and will also take monitor the terrain, investigating the effect of hills and regenerative braking on the vehicle performance. The data will be collated and analysed by project partner Newcastle University through their Transport Operations and Research Group.
FTS are providing overall project management for the program and are central to the consortium. Specific roles include working with the vehicle manufactures to ensure on schedule delivery of vehicles according to their specifications, the user trial selection and management and communications supporting the trial.
A project website,
www.switchev.co.uk, will be updated regularly with news of the trial.