A team from Brookes is going to learn what it's like to drive a battery-powered car in an ambitious real-world trial taking place in Oxfordshire...

Oxford Brookes University is playing a central role in the world's biggest trial of electric cars. Scientists and psychologists at Brookes will analyse data from 40 electric Minis driven by householders across Oxfordshire to discover exactly how zero-emission vehicles cope with the demands of day-to-day driving.

It is the householders who will reveal just what it's like to own and drive an electric car in a project which could mark the next step in the evolution of the runabout.

In all, 80 drivers will use the cars for six months each and help BMW and the government, who are part-funding the project, weigh up the technical and social aspects of living with an electric vehicle.

The project represents a hugely exciting moment for the fledgling UK electric car industry. About 340 cars and vans built by different manufacturers will be involved in the trials up and down the country.

All the cars are fitted with data loggers so vehicle usage and driver behaviour can be tracked in real time.

Professor Allan Hutchinson, head of the Sustainable Vehicle Engineering Centre (SVEC) within the School of Technology, said he was very pleased the university was chosen by BMW to work on such a prestigious project, which could be a concrete step towards a sustainable motoring future.

"It is essential that environmental challenges facing the global automotive industry are tackled now," he explained.

"Car makers are increasingly looking at ways to replace conventional engines with low or zero-emission alternatives and help meet climate change targets."

"We're delighted to be working with BMW Group on this research project and to be able to build upon our extensive expertise in electric and hybrid vehicles."

The SVEC is a leading research centre in low emission vehicles and studies the commercial realities of introducing such vehicles onto the roads.

"Experts from the SVEC will be forecasting the business models and market for electric cars across Europe, too," added Professor Hutchinson. The year-long trial in Oxfordshire will produce huge amounts of data, both from the battery-powered cars and in terms of driver feedback, allowing experts from the SVEC to gauge the feasibility of the commercial roll-out of electrc vehicles.

Carefully assessing drivers' attitudes to, and their experiences of, electric cars will give the best clue of future public attitudes towards low carbon vehicles. In-depth driver feedback, gleaned by a team of Brookes' psychologists, will provide one of the best insights yet into public attitudes towards electric vehicles.

Engineers, mathematicians and statisticians from the SVEC will collect and analyse all the technical and subjective data, supported by the psychologists from the School of Social Sciences and Law.

To learn more about the Oxfordshire trials visit www.mini.co.uk and register to receive regular updates on the MINI E Project.