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MP hails electric vehicles funding
Wearside MP Sharon Hodgson has welcomed plans for the North East to hold the world's biggest on-road trial of electric vehicles.
As reported in the Echo, Sunderland's Nissan plant and the Washington-based Smith Electric Vehicles are part of a consortium which has won Government funding to kick-start the low-carbon transformation across the country.
The consortium, which also includes One North East and Ford, will trial and produce 35 electric vehicles as part of a 10million project across the country.
Mrs Hodgson, MP for Gateshead East and Washington West, said: "The North East has always been at the forefront of technological progress and will now be taking the reins in developing electric vehicles.
"Local companies and experts now have the chance to showcase the innovation and creativity of our region.
"I have long been impressed by the work of local firms in developing electric vehicles and I know that this Government funding will be of value not only to the North East, but to the whole of the UK."
The Government's Technology Strategy Board announced last month that the North East is one of eight regions receiving funding for the project, and will receive a 3.9million share.
Nissan will be importing 15 purpose-built cars from its Japanese homeland, while Smith will provide a selection of electrically-powered taxi cabs, people carriers and a minibus.
Newcastle City Council is also part of the consortium and will be installing 40 vehicle charging points across the city in the next year.
The aim is to test the vehicles in real-life situations and to help develop a new infra-structure that could support electric cars.
Nissan plant boss Trevor Mann told the Echo: "This is about a new technology.
"People understand and are used to the internal combustion engine – they know where to fill up, they know how long a tank is going to last.
"This trial is going to help us understand how people need to adapt – if at all – to running electric vehicles."
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Friday 10 February 2012
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