U.S. Embassy San Jose Adds First Electric Car to its Fleet
San Jose, December 09, 2011
US Ambassador Anne Andrew and a group of employees show the MIAV electric car
The US Embassy San Jose is proud to announce the newest vehicle in its fleet – a fully electric Mitsubishi MIEV. Purchased locally, the car is believed to be one of the first of its kind on the road in Costa Rica: the car is not a hybrid – it does not have a gasoline engine.
The vehicle will be used by employees in the Embassy’s general services office whose job requires they make frequent trips around town.
Adding the car to the Embassy motor pool reflects the Embassy’s commitment to save energy and reduce carbon emissions in support of a greener future for Costa Rica.
Ambassador Anne S. Andrew said the electric car presents an opportunity for the Embassy to lead by example, “One of the ways to drive change forward is to get in the driver’s seat. So that’s what we’re going to do – get in the driver’s seat of this electric car. I hope it’s the first of many for the Embassy in San Jose.”
Like all electric cars, the MIEV is a good choice for the kind of short trips Embassy employees make every day while doing their jobs. It can travel at speeds up to 90 kilometers per hour and has a range of about 150 kilometers per charge.
According to Ambassador Andrew, full-size electric cars like this one have a future in Costa Rica. “It would be the perfect vehicle for a taxi. As the price of oil goes up, electric cars become more and more affordable,” she said.
At a time when the world, including Central American countries, are participating in the UN Climate Change Summit searching for solutions to the issue of climate change, the technology and innovation found in cars like this one offer one way forward.