News story

13 October, 2000

MP Tries Car of the Future

Northavon MP Steve Webb has test-driven a new electric car which could radically reduce the pollution caused by road traffic. The MP tried out the new Ford "Think City" car at the recent Liberal Democrat conference. This two-seater vehicle has a top speed of over 50 mph and can go for 55 miles before the battery needs to be recharged. It is particularly well suited to short journeys in cities and towns and is practically silent when being driven.

A further environmental advantage of the vehicle is that it is made of recyclable polyethylene - a thicker version of the same material used to make shopping bags. This bodywork is also likely to be more durable than traditional cars because it is corrosion-free. The car is planned for commercial production and will be on sale in America in the next 18 months.

Speaking after his test-drive, Steve Webb said:

"Having never driven an automatic before it took a little getting used to, but I was amazed how quiet the vehicle was. Clearly it will be some time before this type of vehicle can replace a traditional family car used for long journeys, but I am sure that it has a great future as technology develops. A vehicle which is emission-free and quiet whilst being driven could make a big contribution to our quality of life, and I hope that more car companies will develop vehicles of this sort"

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