Vic: Govt to trial environmentally friendly cars

AAP General News (Australia)
12-12-2001
Vic: Govt to trial environmentally friendly cars

MELBOURNE, Dec 12 AAP - The Victorian government today took delivery of 10 environmentally
friendly cars that run on petrol and an electric motor.

Eighteen Toyota Prius (Prius) cars will eventually replace six-cylinder vehicles in
the government fleet in a two-year trial.

Premier Steve Bracks said the trial was part of the government's plan to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions.

"The government is committed to balancing its social, economic and environmental responsibilities,"

Mr Bracks said.

Toyota said the Prius, a hybrid car, used a 33-kilowatt electric motor and a petrol
engine that almost halved fuel consumption compared to a conventional vehicle in city
driving.

Mr Bracks said the hybrid cars would save the government about 30,000 litres of petrol a year.

The state opposition welcomed the decision to trial the hybrid cars but said the government
should be encouraging the production of low-emission vehicles in Victoria.

The Prius is a fully imported vehicle.

AAP tsc/gfr/las

KEYWORD: CARS

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