Return of the RACV greenzone drive
The RACV 2011 GreenZone Drive will showcase the Mitsubish i-MiEv and the Nissan LEAF. The 2011 RACV GreenZone Drive is being staged by RACV and the Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) Automotive Partnership.
- (1888PressRelease) September 15, 2011 - AUSTRALIA'S first public low emission test drive program, held in Melbourne last year, was so successful it is to return in August 2011 with special guests on board.
The RACV-sponsored event gives members of the public an opportunity to test drive one of 14 new low or zero emission vehicles, to find out just how easy it is to drive an environmentally-friendly vehicle.
The RACV 2011 GreenZone Drive starts on Monday 29 August until Friday 2 September at the Rialto Plaza, 525 Collins Street, Melbourne.
On hand to demonstrate their prowess behind the wheel rather than the court will be champion netballers Sharelle McMahon and Micaela Wilson from the Melbourne Vixens who will put the vehicles through their paces on Tuesday, 30 August at 11am.
RACV Manager Environmental Programs and RACV GreenZone Drive spokesman, Simon Mikedis, said this year's event will showcase the increased range of low emission vehicles now available.
"This year we have two zero tailpipe emission cars for the public to drive, the Mitsubishi iMiEV, which was a huge success last year with GreenZone Drive testers, and the all-new Nissan LEAF, the first small zero emission competitor for the highly popular five-seater hatchback market," said Mr Mikedis.
"Like the Mitsubishi iMiEV, the new Nissan LEAF is already involved in the Victorian Government's Electric Vehicle Trial. These two vehicles in particular demonstrate how quickly the industry is moving forward to a zero emission driving future."
Other vehicles on offer to drive include the all-new Honda CR-Z hybrid the first of its type in the world, the freshly minted Audi A6 turbo-diesel luxury sedan as well as the Honda Jazz light segment hatch and a diesel-powered luxury Volvo XC60 SUV.
The highly fuel-efficient diesel-powered Volvos and Renaults, both recently voted the best at delivering driver satisfaction in a Roy Morgan poll of Australian drivers, will also be available to test drive.
Melburnians keen to sample a test drive on the specifically laid out GreenZone Drive route can book on line at www.greenzonedrive.com.au or on site at the Rialto on Thursday 25 and Friday 26th August ahead of the event, or during the week of 29 August - 2 September. Bookings are on a first come, first booked basis.
Mr Mikedis said although petrol had been excluded from the proposed Carbon Tax, the cost of running a vehicle and reducing their emissions was important to car owners.
With the current costs of eco-friendly cars, car insurance can be easily overlooked when trying to reduce the costs of running that vehicle. It is important that car owners use proper comprehensive car insurance in order to not sustain much higher costs in case of an accident which could lead to the write off of the vehicle.
"Of course, with a zero emission car, they never need to visit a petrol station again. This is only the second time an event of this type has been staged in the world, again showing how Australians can take a leading role in emissions awareness," he said.
Last year a significant proportion of people who took a test drive at the GreenZone Drive were RACV members, bearing out our research that RACV members want to do something practical to reduce their automotive emissions.
The 2011 RACV GreenZone Drive is being staged by RACV and the Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) Automotive Partnership with support from Shell, Michelin, the Global Fuel Economy Initiative and Better Place.
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