MASDAR LAUNCHES ELECTRIC-VEHICLE PILOT

Masdar launches an Electric Vehicle pilot in collaboration with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., to determine the viability of the technology as a broader transportation solution for Masdar City

                                                                                                                  

ABU DHABI – 15th January, 2011 – Masdar, today announced the commencement of an Electric Vehicle (EV) pilot in collaboration with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI). The Masdar pilot will involve electric cars and test the feasibility of EV technology as a point-to-point transportation solution for Masdar City. The pilot will also offer residents of Masdar City and employees of Masdar access to a smart and sustainable transportation system throughout the testing period.

Masdar City, as an open technology platform, will work with various electric car manufacturers and a consortium of related technology providers to find new and improved ways to integrate sustainable transportation systems. MHI’s intelligent IT infrastructure system will act as the pilot’s platform from which the vehicles will be managed. Through the pilot, Masdar will test and validate the performance of EVs and various charging solutions in the region’s climate conditions and patterns of vehicle usage.

“The launch of this pilot project is important to validate an electric vehicle transportation system for Masdar City and the region. This project will provide regional reference to the car-manufacturers, battery and other technology providers. We look forward to collaborating with local entities and global technology companies to implement an Electric Vehicle fleet management solution”, said Buthaina Al Mazrui, Project Manager in Strategic Partnerships at Masdar. 

The Masdar transportation platform will enable parties to collaborate with Masdar and supply the necessary rapid charging stations and the intelligent communication systems that will integrate into Masdar City’s existing infrastructure. The EV fleet will join the already operational Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) vehicles, a system of electric-powered, automated, single-cabin vehicles that offer the privacy, comfort and non-stop travel of a transportation service, and the reliability of a public transport system.

In the first three months of the one year pilot, Masdar will deploy a fleet of 10 Mitsubishi Motor’s  i-MiEV new-generation electric vehicle. A five-door hatchback, that seats four, the i-MiEV has a cruising range of 150 km and is the first mass-produced, 100% electric vehicle on the market. The  i-MiEV is powered by a 16 kWh lithium-ion battery, has a top speed of 130 km per hour and by using a quick charging station, can be charged from empty to 80% in 30 minutes.

“Masdar City provides a real-life setting for residents to use our new vehicle technology, and to begin to rely on electric-powered forms of transportation – as the future will depend on it,” said Mr. Kinya Watanabe, General Manager MHI Abu Dhabi Office. “Working closely with Masdar, MHI is pleased to introduce state-of-the-art technology regarding EV community.  MHI, as system integrator of transportation systems, will support Masdar toward the realization of EV community in Masdar City.”