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Plugging into government

Posted on 28 September, 2015

Mitsubishi’s Outlander plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) is the first and only one of its type to be represented in the government’s catalogue of vehicles approved for its agencies’ consideration. In announcing the structure of the next five-year all-of-government (AoG) vehicle purchasing contract – designed to help more than 250 agencies make dollar-saving and emissions-reducing purchase decisions – Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce says the contract has been future-proofed to accommodate hybrids and electric vehicles as demand develops. “Of three hybrids now listed by the AoG, only the Outlander is a plug-in, which most of the time drives on low-cost electricity, recharging its batteries from the grid when stationary and, when necessary, from its petrol engine,” says Tony Johnston, Mitsubishi’s fleet sales manager. “The car’s range per tank is typically 1,000km or more, so it’s eminently suitable for intercity driving as well as urban use with relatively little use of carbon-sourced fuel." The purpose of the AoG purchasing exercise, adds Johnston, is to review submissions for data on safety, environmental impact, fitness for purpose, warranty and total cost of ownership (TCO) over five years/100,000km. “TCO isn’t something the average motorist worries about much, but when you’re managing a big fleet it’s a very big part of the decision-making process,” he says. “In the case of the public sector we’re talking a very large fleet, with potentially millions of dollars to be saved.” The latest AoG catalogue includes five Mitsubishi model types and 15 specification choices – from the 1.2-litre Mirage, through to the Lancer, ASX, four Outlander options and seven variations of the Triton.