The latest electric vehicle, nicknamed ‘Sparky', stopped in Ottawa Wednesday as part of a national tour.
The i-MiEV, manufactured by Mitsubishi Motors, runs on an electric motor the size of a case of beer. The vehicle is quiet and is about the same size as most subcompact vehicles already on the market.
The car, which is already sold in Japan, will be available in Canada by the end of 2011 with a price tag of $30,000 to $40,000. It's poised to compete with other electric and hybrid vehicles that will start hitting the Canadian marketplace this year.
"I think it's just great. It's good to see the mainstream car makers coming out with these vehicles," said Ottawa resident Allan Poulsen, whose family is hosting the vehicle while it's in Ottawa.
Poulsen had an electric-powered truck for years, and is a supporter of green technologies. His wife, Julie, is part of Kanata's environmental movement. Their family has a zero-carbon footprint.
