So you can do a 12,000-mile journey for just £115.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/motors/ken_gibson/2664454/12000-miles-for-just-115.html

ELECTRIC cars are dominating the headlines in motoring news.

They were the talk of last month's Frankfurt Show - Europe's biggest motoring event - with almost every motoring firm displaying a model.

But the majority of new electric cars are still a year or two away from hitting the road - except for the Mitsubishi MIEV supermini I first tested 18 months ago.

That's how far ahead Mitsubishi were.

And 25 British motorists will soon get behind the wheel of the car for a year-long, Government-sponsored trial to assess how feasible electric cars really are for daily British life.

Mitsubishi had more than 3,000 applications to join the tests and they're so confident of the MIEV's success they have ordered a further 500 for 2010.

Further confirming the car's appeal, both Peugeot and Citroen have signed up to sell the electric motors with their badges and interior trim.

And Mitsubishi are set to extend the electric range. This week they also released a bigger version called Cargo and the PX-MIEV, a 4x4 hybrid which they claim will deliver 117mpg.

So just how good is the MIEV? I spent a couple of days driving it around on my everyday chores, including the weekly shop, to find out.

Road Test: MITSUBISHI MIEV

HOW do you fancy paying less than a quid to travel almost 100 miles? Interested?

I thought so. At standard electricity rates, it costs just 96p to fully charge a Mitsubishi MIEV supermini. So you can do a 12,000-mile journey for just £115.

If that doesn't get your attention, the car's futuristic looks should, with a two-tone paint job and electric plug graphics.

And then there is the fact it is almost silent, which is another reason why people tend to stop and stare as you go past.

When you turn the key to start the engine, it's so quiet you aren't even sure it has worked until you see the instrument dials flicker into life.

The instruments are also different. The speedo is shaded in different colours, with green indicating maximum economical driving and dark blue for braking and recharging the battery.

The electric driving experience is completed by an automatic gear box with an Eco mode which limits excessive power going to the electric motor, plus a B brake range to apply the regenerative brake more aggressively going down hills.

Most people expect the MIEV to have the get up and go of a sedate golf buggy, but they are in for a surprise.

The car has a real turn of speed, with a strange whooshing noise that sounds oddly sporty and that makes driving around town more entertaining and relaxing.

The MIEV can quickly hit a top speed of just over 80mph.

On the negative side, the faster you go the quicker the electricity gauge does down.

Even if you know the MIEV is capable of between 80 and 100 miles per charge, depending on how you drive, you also end up checking the gauge a lot. The makers call it "range anxiety", but it's actually no different than traditionally assessing how much fuel you have left and how far you can drive with a warning light flashing.
KEN DRIVES THE MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC MIEV AND CHARGES IT UP
Long shot ... MIEV is capable of between 80 and 100 miles per charge

Dynamic In the MIEV, a battery light flashes. But if you run out of electricity you can't pop to a garage. There is no nationwide infrastructure of electric charging points, although they are due in the next couple of years.

Which means you are more careful and tend not to slip much below half a tank on the gauge before recharging at home or the office.

The recharging process itself is simple. There is a power point where the fuel filler gap normally is and you just screw in your plug extension and then plug it into your electric point in the garage at home. I fully charged the battery in just over six hours.

But what about if you live in a block of flats? At the moment you are snookered, which is why car firms are pushing the Government and electricity companies to press on with a network of re-charging points in all cities as a priority.

As for the rest of the package, the MIEV is just like driving a normal supermini. In fact, it's bigger than most, with ample space for four tall adults despite its compact 3.395metre length because the 16kWh Lithium-ion battery is stored under the floor. The 47KW electric motor is under the bonnet where a normal engine would go, so there's also a useful-sized boot.

The cabin is modern and well-finished, while having batteries under the floor provides a more stable and dynamic driving proposition.

Which all makes the MIEV great around town, although you will still need a second car for long motorway journeys.

KEN DRIVES THE MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC MIEV AND CHARGES IT UP
Formally charged ... Ken plugs the Miev in

Which only leaves the price - the car's one sticking point at around £25,000. However, Mitsubishi are looking to lease the MIEV on a £350 monthly charge. And as well as cheaper fuel costs, they require only minimal servicing and with zero emissions, there are no road tax or congestion charges.

Mitsubishi UK boss Lance Bradley believes that within three years the price of buying and running a MIEV will be on a par with, or cheaper than, the running costs of a traditional supermini. But for now, the MIEV is still the best value electric car on the road.

Road Test: MITSUBISHI COLT CLEARTEC

IF you don't want to join the electric revolution but do want a "green" alternative, then Mitsubishi's Colt ClearTec could be worth a test drive.

The Colt is one of the best-looking superminis, with the shark-like grille of its big brother Evo giving it some extra visual attitude.

But the rest of the ClearTec is totally geared to more economical and greener motoring, with a list of engine and mechanical tweaks to boost your mpg and reduce your CO2 emissions.
KEN DRIVES THE MITSUBISHI CLEARTEC
A Cleartec choice ... Colt is one of the best looking superminis

The 1.3-litre engine is fitted with a stop/start system that automatically cuts the engine in heavy traffic, boosting fuel economy and helping to reduce emissions to 119g/km - and your road tax to just £35. The engine also uses higher viscosity engine oil, while the higher ratio fifth gear is again tailored to economy, plus you get low-rolling resistance tyres.

As for performance, the engine fits into the adequate category and the handling is also pretty much what you'd expect, while fuel economy is a healthy 56mpg for a petrol engine.

The cabin is roomy and nicely laid-out but the plastics feel a bit cheap.

The cost of going green with the ClearTec is £9,595 but if you have an old banger the Government scrappage scheme will reduce the price to £7,595.

And with the scheme extended for a few months, the car will remain very good value.


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