Coventry and Warwickshire councils' hope for electric cars

Two councils have joined forces at an electric vehicle show to highlight Coventry and Warwickshire's place at at the forefront of the motor industry.

The councils said firms based in the city, where a 12-month electric vehicle trial has been held, are leading research into the green sector.

The authorities are exhibiting at Cenex Low Carbon Vehicle show in Northampton on Wednesday and Thursday.

The stand will be "a showcase for inward investment", the councils said.

Three low-carbon vehicles developed in the areas will be on show - the Microcab which uses hydrogen fuel electric drive, the battery powered Tata Ace EV and the Mia in which Evida, which recently relocated to Coventry, will be showing its latest battery technology.

An electric vehicle charging post similar to those installed around Coventry as part of the 12-month Coventry and Warwickshire Low Emissions Demonstrator (CABLED) project will be on show.

Motorists have been trialling about 50 cars using charging points in Coventry and Birmingham since last year in what experts said is the largest study into long-term low carbon vehicle use.

In July, results from the government-backed project stated that electric vehicles offered a "viable urban transport solution".

"Coventry and Warwickshire is at the heart of the British automotive industry, with a global reputation for impressive innovation," Coventry City Council and Warwickshire County Council said.