Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy and Environment Minister Mark H Durkan have launched DRIVESHOW, a series of electric vehicle information and test-drive event to be held at venues across Northern Ireland.

DRIVESHOW is a joint initiative between the Department for Regional Development and the Department of the Environment.

The road show events will give private and business drivers an opportunity to see and test drive the latest electric vehicles on offer from manufacturers including BMW, Nissan, and Renault. It will visit Enniskillen, Coleraine, Cookstown, Newry, Larne, and Londonderry during February and March.

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Mr Kennedy said: "The ecar DRIVESHOW is free and open to everyone to find out more about the benefits of electric vehicles which are now available in showrooms.

"In the past year, the ecar Project has installed charge points at 174 locations across Northern Ireland.

"Drivers of electric vehicles or ecars are now never more than around 10 miles from a re-charging point.

"This is great news for the growing number of owners and for anyone thinking about using an electric car. New models are coming to market almost every month and with running costs of between two and three pence a mile, electric cars are a very real and sustainable option for drivers."

Mr Durkan said: "Our aim is to make the north a leader in carbon reduction. The use of electric vehicles, ideally powered by electricity from renewable sources, is an excellent way to decarbonise transport and, by reducing emissions from vehicles, will help contribute to our climate change, air quality and noise objectives."

(CD/MH)