Toyota and EDF join forces in electric car scheme

The joint initiative will see the leasing of prototype electric cars to companies in London, which Toyota says will provide the UK government with a valuable insight into car recharging and infrastructure issues.

Toyota will lease 20 of its Prius Plug-in Hybrid cars to five London companies, while EDF Energy will set up car battery charging points at workplaces, on the street and at domestic locations.

The programme will pave the way for the commercialisation of the Prius Plug-in cars within the next few years, according to Toyota.

Toyota managing director Miguel Fonseca says the project “will deliver valuable insights into the behaviour and preferences of UK drivers as they engage with the technology for the first time and experience it in their everyday driving routines”.

EDF Energy managing director Martin Lawrence says: “The new Government has committed to a national recharging network for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

Sustainability is at the core of our business and it is work like this that helps EDF Energy meet the climate change targets set out in our new sustainability commitments.”

The prototype car can run for 12.5 miles and drive at 62 mph when running on its electric motor.

It is designed to complete most urban journeys without any fuel consumption or exhaust pipe emissions. The car automatically switches to the 1.8 litre petrol engine if the battery runs out in the middle of a car journey.

This story first appeared on pitch