The DemoEV project conducts research related to the use of electric cars in Malta. It is co-funded by the European Union’s LIFE+, a financial instrument supporting environmental and nature conservation projects throughout the EU.

The project involves the participation of the government, Transport Malta, Enemalta and the Gozo Ministry and has a fleet of 24 battery-operated vehicles – three different types – namely the Renault Fluence, the Mitsubishi i-MiEV and the Renault Kangoo.

The Renault Fluence was revealed in September 2009, at the Frankfurt Motor Show in the form of a concept car, before being presented at the Paris Motor Show in 2010 in its definitive form. This all-electric saloon is aimed at private buyers or fleet owners looking for a prestige vehicle that respects the environment.

The design of the Fluence is modern and sleek. From its headlights and the details in its grille, to the specially blue chrome – a signature that this belongs to the exclusive Renault Z.E. range. The style of the Renault Fluence Z.E. rocks the status quo: stating that you can be intelligent, elegant and ahead of the game at one and the same time.

A major innovation on Renault electric vehicles is the preconditioning system. When the car is plugged in, the driver can programme preheating or precooling of the cabin. An Eco Mode function is also available on Renault Fluence. Activating this function limits operation of the air conditioning and heating system to increase range by up to 10 per cent.

The Mitsubishi i-MiEV was given the ‘Most Advanced Technology’ award at the 2009-2010 Car of the Year Japan final judging. Innovation and efficiency are assured by its brake energy regeneration system which captures kinetic energy during deceleration and converts it into electric energy to recharge the battery as you drive.

Consisting of 88 cells, the i-MiEV’s high-capacity lithium-ion battery pack offers an impressive 160km cruising range per charge. It’s smooth and quiet, even while accelerating and produces no vibrations at all when stopped.

The MiEV is powered by an electric motor mounted under the trunk that sends 66 horsepower and 145 lb-ft. of instant torque to the rear wheels. Power is provided by a 16-kWh lithium-ion battery located under the chassis.

Individuals registering an electric quadricycle may apply for a grant of €1,500

In the ideal driving conditions the i-MiEV can go 130 kilometres on a single charge. Although Mitsubishi claims that the car can achieve a top speed of 81 mph, don’t expect it, nor the tradi-tional zero-to-100kms sprint, to come quickly.

Revealed at the Hanover Motor Show in 2010, the Renault Kangoo Z.E. was voted International Van of the Year 2012. It was the first electric vehicle to win this title. It is a simple but highly technologically advanced and incredibly eco-friendly convenient van. Reliable, practical and functional with features identical to the petrol or diesel model on the road. Under the bonnet is a motor developing 44 kW, the equivalent of 60 hp. It runs on a lithium-ion battery with an energy capacity of 22 kWh, placed under the floor.

It is fully adjustable with a loading space that ranges from 1.3 to 4.6 m³ and a 650kg load capacity.

Something that Renault products have become known for is their ingenious and practical storage areas, and the Kangoo is no exception.

The transport sector is one of the main drivers of the Maltese economy and the services industry. The government’s impetus to reduce pollution and to have a cleaner environment is not just a declaration on paper, but is about adopting a policy that will see the tangible introduction of a clean transportation system.

The government is striving to introduce more renewable fuels to sustain an economically-viable and more environmentally-friendly transport sector. The Transport Ministry is committed to the implementation of electro-mobility because it believes that it is one of the solutions that will enable Malta to achieve its 2020 climate change and energy targets.

The relevance of electric mobility to the Malta land transport situation will have a number of different beneficial aspects. These will range from effects on traffic emissions, transport energy use, patterns of electricity generation, and effects on health, urban planning and road communications.

The Ministry for Transport and Infrastructure, in conjunction with Transport Malta, have launched a scheme in the form of a grant to be an incentive for the purchase of battery electric vehicles and battery electric quadricycles.

Any electric vehicle registered under this scheme can be used solely for private use. An eligible person shall only be entitled for one grant under the scheme. If the individual is registering an electric vehicle with the required specifications one may apply for a grant of €4,000. On the other hand, those individuals who register an electric vehicle and de-register another motor vehicle which is at least 10 years old from the year of manufacture may apply for a grant of €5,000.

Individuals registering an electric quadricycle may apply for a grant of €1,500.

From outside, most electric cars look exactly like fossil fuel-powered cars. An electric car lacks a tailpipe and gas tank, but the overall structure is basically the same. Under the bonnet, instead of a huge engine all you will see is an electric motor and its controller. The electric motor needs no oil, no tune-ups, and since there are no tailpipe emissions, it does not necessitate any smog checks.

The electric vehicle power source is the battery which acts as a ‘gas tank’ and supplies the electric motor with the energy necessary to move the vehicle. This gives the car acceleration. When the vehicle is idle there is no electrical current being processed, so energy is not being used up. The controller acts as a regulator, and controls the amount of power received from the batteries so the motor does not burn out. This battery powers all of the electronic devices in the car, just like the battery in a gas-powered car.

Everything else in the electric car is basically the same as its gas-powered equivalent: transmission, brakes, air conditioning, and airbags. Since electric vehicles use an electric motor, the driver can take advantage of the motor’s momentum when pressure is applied on the brakes. Instead of converting all the potential energy in the motor into heat, like a fossil fuel-powered car does, an electric car uses the forward momentum of the motor to recharge the battery. This process is called regenerative braking.

There are close to 100 electric car charging stations in Malta and Gozo.

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