UK to Road Test Electric Cars for 2 Years

In a move to jump start a nationwide effort to cut carbon emissions by 80%, the United Kingdom is conducting a real-world analysis of over 340 electric and plug-in hybrid cars over the next 2 years. Some of the cars to be tested include the Nissan all-electric vehicle, the all-electric Smart Fourtwo, the Mitsubishi i MiEV, and the Mini E.

According to the BBC, the test will begin at the end of 2009 and run for two years. The cars will be leased to individuals for 6-12 months, allowing researchers to discover the effect electric vehicles have on different lifestyles. In addition to the research, the program hopes to greatly increase the visibility of these all electric cars when used by drive-in commuters and busy families.

The project, which gets its £25 million funding directly from the British government, hopes to address the current shortcomings of electric vehicles, and to estimate how public life will change after a massive conversion to electric vehicles.