Electric cars - In March this year, Mitsibushi announced that the i-MiEV would sell in the UK for £38,699 once launched.  This is before applying the government's electric vehicle £5,000 subsidy.

UK Government - It is expected that the high-profile Plugged-in Places scheme, will not be effected by the government's upcoming spending review.  Hopefully this means that the rollout of electric car recharging networks expected for major cities will continue.

UK market - according to a recent survey by one of the big insurance firms one in five motorists in the UK would now consider buying an electric car.  This is linked directly to the plans announced by the new Coalition Government to offer grants to those who wish to purchase an electric vehicle.  

UK Electric Car Subsidy - Announced yesterday, drivers in the UK could get up to £5,000 from the Government if they buy an electric car.  Good news if you are in the market for a new electric vehicle?  Yes.  However, be warned the number of grants available is small and will be considerably less than previously planned.

Electric charging points - Earlier this month Elektromotive announced its biggest-ever order for Elektrobay recharging points for the north east of England.

International developments - Something from our friends across the water, Industrial designer Yves Behar has announced the unveiling of the new GE Wattstation.  This is a component part of General Electric’s ‘ecomagination’ initiative.

Electric cars - so, the debate on Call Kaye on Radio Scotland this morning was whether you would switch to an electric car or not?  Interesting callers but no real revelations.  The usual supects were raised with regards disadvantages:

Limited range and options for charging electric cars
The lack of performance compared to regular vehicles

Electric car obstacles - reported in a couple of papers yesterday was the potential problem with the large proportion of city dwellers who live in tenement and flat accommodation (specifically in Scotland) and the issues this pose for people switching to electric cars.  Parking is one problem when you live in a city flat, although this applies to ordinary vehicles too, but the big issue is how to charge an electric car when you live 1 or more storeys up?!  

Electric car infrastructure - Is this the birth of 'petrol' stations for electric cars?  The first public trial of a system that 'refills’ electric cars in minutes will be launched this month.  Better Place a Californian company will test its automated battery-swap stations in Tokyo.