It’s no secret that the way people think about driving and the impact their own vehicle has on the environment is changing.

Over the last few years we have seen the motoring industry deliver advancements in vehicle technology and alternative fuels, with hybrid vehicles now parked in the garages of a number of South Australian homes.

The electric vehicle is the latest motoring technology to hit South Australia, and RAA is among the first in the state to put the first mainstream modern electric vehicle on the market, the i-MiEV (Mitsubishi innovative electric Vehicle), to the test.

Over the next few months, RAA motoring experts will be testing the i-MiEV on South Australian roads, in South Australian conditions so we can report back to our members on all of the positives and negatives of owning such a vehicle.

We will be putting the manufacturer’s specs aside and will independently look at how far it travels, how the heating and air conditioning affect its range, if it works better in hot or cold conditions, how it drives – does it handle like a golf cart that’s struggling or does it feel like any other small car?

We will also be looking at how much it costs to own and run.

While electric vehicles are a common sight on many European roads, this is a first for South Australia and I know there is a mixture of many excited people and a number of sceptics awaiting its wider release.

By running this trial, RAA hopes to better inform you about this new technology before it hits the market next year.

Stay tuned!