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UK’s first mass-produced electric car now on sale
Thursday, 21 April 2011
The nation’s green motoring experts have high hopes as the UK distributes its first mass-produced electric car to dealerships nationwide.
While many motorists have previously been put off by the idea of electric-powered vehicles due to their poor designs, irritating battery life and extortionate price tags, the Nissan Leaf could be the answer for families across the country.
The Nissan Leaf has been compared to a petrol Ford Focus in terms of performance, although it is driven at only a fraction of the greenhouse CO2 emissions and has been available to purchase since the end of March.
Over 600 motorists have been on a waiting list for the Leaf’s unveiling. Interested parties can claim a £5,000 Government grant towards the cost of the £30,990 vehicle while owners will also be exempt from road tax and congestion charges.
It is thought a fully-charged Nissan Leaf will last up to 110 miles, and Nissan calculates that the cost of fully charging its car battery will cost roughly £2 in electricity. Therefore, switching to an electric car could save motorists up to £1,500 a year in running costs.
Andrew Close, European manager for powertrain forecasts at HIS Global Insight, said: “It might be the first year people notice electric cars driving around – normal people rather than G-Wiz owners.
“But 2011 will not see any breakthrough in volume, though it will be a considerable jump from before. 2011 is way too early, £5,000 or not – the vehicles are expensive, constrained in supply and there are still too many good [conventional car] alternatives.”
These conventional car alternatives include purchasing reliable used cars and damage-repairable vehicles at an online salvage auction. At ASM Auto Recycling our salvage auction includes a range of cars, vans and bikes for sale that can be obtained more than 50 per cent cheaper than the same model bought from a showroom – once repaired!
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