Drivers in the region have until the end of October to be in with a chance of being one of the first people to get their hands on the hotly-anticipated electric Renault Zoe for a year by booking a test drive through a new website designed to promote the benefits of EVs.

Charge Your Car (CYC), the region’s Plugged in Places scheme, is encouraging motorists thinking about making the switch to EV to book a test drive via the new Why Not Electric? website before Tuesday, 30th October to be entered into a competition to win a state-of-the-art Renault Zoe for a year, courtesy of CYC and Benfield Renault – Newcastle. The Renault Zoe is a striking compact five door hatchback which won’t be launched until early 2013.

The website www.whynotelectric.com highlights the savings and benefits that both businesses and domestic road users can make by introducing EVs as company or pool cars, or by using them for everyday journeys. A key feature is the fuel calculator which enables people to work out the saving they could make by replacing their petrol or diesel engine car with an EV.

It also draws attention to the many financial incentives that businesses can take advantage of, such as the benefit-in-kind tax advantages for switching to a vehicle with no CO2 emissions; the grants that are available through Charge Your Car to install EV charge points at work and at home; and the fact that businesses with EVs in their fleet can qualify for 100 per cent first-year capital allowance.

Josey Wardle, project manager for Charge your Car, says drivers considering making the switch should book a test drive now while there is still a chance to win a Renault Zoe. She said: “Electric driving is here and now and the best way for people to experience the benefits for themselves is to get behind the wheel. What more incentive is there than to do just that by booking a test drive and being in with a chance to win a state-of-the-art Renault Zoe for a year?

“Not many people realise that to fully charge an electric vehicle at home costs around £2.60 – the same as many people’s morning cappuccino – and with the costs of many electric models coming down, the costs savings can really add up. I hope that many more people give EVs a go and they too could be reaping the benefits.”

Charge your Car is responsible for developing the North East’s EV charging point network, which has to date put in place almost 500 public and domestic chargers. The scheme caters for regular and ad-hoc EV users via its membership scheme and innovative PAYG facility.

To find out more about making the switch to EV or to book a test drive, visit www.whynotelectric.com