Enemalta chairman Alexander Tranter and Investment, Industry and IT Minister Austin Gatt looked as pleased as punch yesterday, like boys playing with a new toy, when they had a go at driving the corporation’s new electrical car.

The pair literally looked like children playing with a new toy, both creasing into smiles when taking the new vehicle on a short test drive yesterday. The vehicle was bought by Enemalta to “lead by example”, according to Ing. Tranter. He said that the corporation took the decision to purchase the vehicle so as to reduce pollution in the city and complement the new pedestrian area and Controlled Vehicular Access (CVA) system. The vehicle will be used to ferry workmen around the capital and cost in the region of Lm9,000, which by electrical standards is relatively cheap.

Asked whether the corporation was considering the purchase of more vehicles, Ing. Tranter said: “We would definitely like to, but we will use this one first and see how it goes, as to whether it is a viable system or not.”

He also explained that Enemalta was considering using the vehicle to service cabling tunnels underground as it would cut risks dramatically due to there being no emissions from the vehicle. Ing. Tranter said the vehicle can hit 25kph and last all day without a battery top-up.

Minister Gatt said Enemalta was trying to lead by example and had already installed various fittings such as photovoltaic equipment, solar panelling and others. “Also, in four to five years’ time, the power station will be running on gas oil which will further reduce our emissions. Apart from that, we are hooking up to Sicily and in turn Europe’s mainland grid,” he said.

Dr Gatt explained that this would allow Malta to purchase green energy from Europe. While on the subject of electric cars, TMID brought up the Citicab issue and asked how it was faring. “Well, you had better ask them, but word is that they are doing very, very well,” said Dr Gatt, still with his mind on the electric car, more than anything else.

Ing. Tranter, who jokingly warned Dr Gatt not to go too far with the vehicle because he wanted a go at driving it too, also announced that Enemalta would be unveiling a micro wind turbine in Marfa. He said that this turbine would generate some 3.5 kilowatts of electricity, but would be used internally by Enemalta and not be fed into the grid.