HILLINGDON is taking the lead in London in a pioneering scheme testing electric cars. Five families are acting as guinea pigs for the project, and during the pilot, which began on July 14, these households - picked from more
than 300 applications - will use the electric version of the Ford Transit Connect as their family car for three months.
Each family will keep a diary of the everyday use of the car, and the data gathered will be used to evaluate the social and technical aspects of living with a plug-in vehicle.
Councillor Keith Burrows, Hillingdon's cabinet member for planning, transportation and recycling, said: "We are delighted to be involved in this latest project, which will see our network of charging points for electric cars grow, as well as providing a unique opportunity for some of our residents to get involved."
The trial is one of only eight in different areas in the country, part of the government's s25million, snappily titled Ultra-Low Carbon Vehicle Demonstrator Programme.
It is hoped the scheme will spark interest in alternative, sustainable modes of personal transport.
The borough is working in partnership with the Ford Battery Electric Vehicle Consortium of Ford, Scottish and Southern Energy and the University of Strathclyde.
The seven-seat station wagons can run for up to 80 miles on a full charge. Higher speeds drain the battery more quickly.
Each household gets a personal charger so they can power up at home, and there are already half a dozen public charge points in the borough, with more to be installed.
