University Engineers Take to the Roads in Electric Car Trial

Two University of Birmingham engineers will take part in a government supported UK-wide project to trial electric and ultra low emission vehicles, when 25 Mitsubishi i-MiEVs (Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle) will be given to independent drivers, including motoring journalist Quentin Willson, to test over the next 12 months. The project is run by the CABLED (Coventry and Birmingham Low Emission Vehicle Demonstrators) consortium, led by global engineering consultancy, Arup. This is the largest of eight regional teams to participate in the £25 million Technology Strategy Board's Ultra Low Carbon Vehicle Demonstrator competition as well as the first to begin vehicle trials. Professor Kevin Kendall and Waldemar Bujalski from the University of Birmingham's School of Chemical Engineering will both be handed the keys to their new Mitsubishi cars at the launch which takes place at Birmingham's Centenary Square on Saturday 12th December 09. Both are experts in energy, future fuels, and hydrogen fuel cells. Professor Kevin Kendall said, 'The Mitsubishi vehicle is the best electric car I have ever driven and I look forward to commuting in such an efficient, economic and clean machine.' Waldemar Bujalski said, 'I'm very excited to participate in the low emission demonstration programme, the first of this kind in Europe. I believe that electric vehicles are the right starting point for achieving substantial reduction in carbon emission in short to medium term and the Mitsubishi iMiEV is a fine example of electric vehicle technology available today.