Electric cars: Birmingham road test

May 8 2009 By Edward Stephens

THIS time next year electric cars could be a common sight on the streets of Birmingham if the bid for Government money to turn the second city into “electric city” is successful.

And if Birmingham does get the green light the ev’ie from the Electric Car Corporation is likely to be one of forerunners.

It’s the first full four seater electric car to go on the market, making it the first practical electric car to go on sale.

To take a look into the future I took one of the cars for a spin around the streets of Birmingham - as well as along the M6.

The ev’ie is based on the Citroen C1. The ECC takes the Citroen donor car and removes the conventional petrol engine, substituting batteries under the bonnet and in the area where the petrol tank was. Twenty five batteries to be exact, giving the little car a range of just over 60 miles.

For a full re-charge it takes six to seven hours plugged into a domestic 13 amp socket, which costs around 90p.

The idea is that you charge the batteries up over night or - if Birmingham does get the go-ahead for plug in points around they city -– while you are at work.

Unlike some electric cars no boot space is taken up with batteries, making it far more practical than its rivals.

From the outside there is nothing to distinguish it from a conventional C1. Even on the inside everything looks normal - except that the rev counter is missing, replaced by a small battery gauge to tell you how much power you have left.

The first shock doesn’t come until you turn the ignition key – and wonder why the car hasn’t started. In fact the motor is running but all is silent.