Electtrica

Socket star promises 50p fill-ups

A new electric city car promises super-cheap motoring and home recharging

Auto Express Car Reviews

17th September 2007

This tiny two-seater is the latest electric car to hit UK streets. Called the Elettrica, it mixes Italian design flair with British engineering know-how.

Built in Milan, the newcomer is the first battery vehicle to feature powerful lithium-ion cells, giving a top speed of 45mph and a useful 70-mile range.

Charging up won’t be a problem, either, as it can be plugged into a household socket – and a full refill costs only 50 pence! A further cash saving incentive is its exemption from road tax. What’s more, if you live in London, you’ll also be able to avoid paying for parking and the congestion charge.

Despite its compact size, the maker claims the Elettrica is very safe. A strong aluminium safety cage – similar to the Tridion system in the Smart ForTwo – means it has passed EU crash regulations.

As with the Smart, it gets clip-on body panels in various colours, plus leather and a CD player. Prices start at £12,750.