Electric city car enters Irish market

Hard shoulder: French electric car firm Aixam has introduced its latest model to Ireland. The Mega City Electric car claims a range of 80km on a single charge, with a top speed of 64km/h.

Prices start at €16,799 for the two-seat version, with a four-seater available from €16,999. Sold by Green Machines in Terenure, a spokesman said the sole Irish dealer expects to sell between 100 and 200 over the next 12 months.

The Mega City is built on an aluminium chassis; Aixam claims the body is 100 per cent recyclable. The battery takes eight hours to recharge from completely flat, but you can top it up regularly. It can get an 80 per cent charge in 2.5 hours. Aixam claims the car meets minimum car impact safety standards. It comes with a two year/unlimited mileage warranty.

Robert Nolan, managing director, Green Machines says: "The range of 80km is more than enough for what is meant to be mainly a second car in the household, used for town runs."

© 2008 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times