EVs in a cold climate - Mitsubishi to trial electric cars in icy Quebec

Quebec's power utility Hydro-Québec has announced it is to team up with Mitsubishi to road-test 50 electric Mitsubishi i MiEVs in the Canadian province as part of research that could have significant implications for the wider electric vehicle industry.

The C$4.5m (£2.6m) project will aim to assess the performance of the vehicles in harsh winter conditions, and represents the first initiative of its kind to include the participation of a car manufacturer, a public utility, a municipality and the local businesses in the city of Boucherville, which will use vehicles in their fleets.

There have been widely-documented concerns that electric vehicle batteries perform significantly less effectively in cold temperatures, reducing the range of cars between recharges. The trial is likely to study the extent of the problem and will monitor the vehicles' charging behaviour, the driving experience and overall driver satisfaction in winter temperatures that average between -10 and -25 degrees.

"This new pilot project is part of our action plan for the electrification of vehicles," said Thierry Vandal, Hydro-Québec chief executive. "It will allow us to advance our knowledge of the technology and its integration into our grid, which in turn will help us plan the necessary charging infrastructure for homes, offices and public places."

In related news, Quebec became Canada's first province to adopt California's strict auto emission standards last week. From 2012, new passenger vehicles will only be able to emit 187 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre, falling to 127 grams per kilometer by 2016.