The world’s most efficient electric family car

A year after the Edison 2 Very Light Car (VLC) scooped the $5m Automotive X-Prize, an electric version of the four-seater has been unveiled that delivers the equivalent of 294mpg, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency

The original Edison 2 four-seater design uses a rear-mounted, single-cylinder motorcycle engine running on a blend of 85 per cent ethanol and 15 per cent petrol to produce 40 horsepower and deliver 120mpg.

However, unlike the electric vehicles built solely to break fuel efficiency records, the Edison is capable of accelerating from 0 to 60mph in 12 seconds and reaching a top speed of 100mph.

Studies on efficiency carried out by the Edison team initially led them away from the significant added weight of batteries needed for an electric or hybrid drive, but the new eVLC (electric very light car), concept is powered by a 10-kWh battery pack that charges from a household socket in six hours.
The car has a range of up to 114 miles.

A spokesperson for the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) said: “If the battery-powered cars on sale today represent an evolution those powered by the internal combustion engine, then the Edison is a revolutionary vehicle; a four-seater car designed from the ground up for optimum efficiency with a performance comparable with most city cars.”

Edison VLC – X-Prize winner

The X-Prize Foundation sets challenges and offers prizes to encourage innovation in four categories.

• Energy and the environment
• Life sciences
• Exploration
• Education and global development

Making your car greener now

Until cars like the Edison2 are available to buy, there are simple eco-driving techniques you can adopt to save up to £300 a year on fuel.

There are also indirect ways in which you can make your motoring greener.The ETA offers an entirely carbon-neutral breakdown recovery service for your car from less than £24 a year.