Two different takes on the next generation of electric car were launched in Wellington today, with both efforts rewarded by the government.
Mitsubishi's and Hyundai's fully electric prototypes are in New Zealand for trialling before commercial release.
"I think it is the way of the future," says Environment Minister Nick Smith. "My view is that the revolution that started today is as significant as that which occurred a hundred years ago when we moved from steam engines to the internal combustion engine. But the big gain is that it is just so much better for the environment. The big gain is that is just so much better for the environment."
But it is the technology gains which have allowed for practical fully electric cars.
The Mitsubishi iMiev has a top speed of more than 130km/h and a range of 160km/h. It takes just seven hours to fully charge and many of the old problems that plagued electric cars have been overcome.
The petrol-to-electric conversion costs $1 to run per 100km. And in an attempt to lighten the hefty $50,000 price tag, the government has announced plans to drop road user taxes on electric cars - saving drivers a further 8c a kilometre.
While the Hyundai conversion is available now, the next generation Mitsubishi will not be available until next year.
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