EDF, the first sustainability partner of the London 2012 Games, hopes to fuel a boom in the number of people using electric cars in the build up to and after the Olympics.

The director of EDF's 2012 Programme, Gareth Wynn, told insidethegames: "The whole of our partnership with BMW is focused on sustainability and how we can inspire people to be more sustainable in their everyday lives.

"These MINI Es are fun to drive, and great cars so will be a powerful tool in showing people that to do things which are sustainable you don't have to give up things you enjoy."

As well as powering the MINIs, EDF also provides energy to the London Eye, Tower Bridge and will do so for the Olympic Park.

The company has also partnered with London 2012 to help cut carbon emissions through the Team Green Britain programme, which has over a million signatories to date.

The MINI Es are the latest in a line of initiatives aimed at promoting sustainability, and EDF also offer electric charging points which can be installed in homes, with a reduced energy tariff for charging cars overnight.

Wynn emphasised that the green agenda was key to the company's support for London 2012.

"It's one of the key reasons we signed up as the first sustainability partner," he said.

"For us it's a way to accelerate the sustainability agenda, and though it doesn't stop in 2012, the games accelerate it."

Also present at the announcement was Tim Brabants, Britain's Olympic gold medal winning sprint kayaker, who is also an athlete ambassador for EDF.

He told insidethegames: "[Sustainability] is really important.

"More and more electric vehicles are being used and with EDF's special rate for electricity and charging points will make it far more accessible for people who want to drive electric vehicles.

"I think you'll see more growth in this throughout the UK particularly."

Brabants also spoke of his excitement about next year's Olympic Games, with just over a year to go until the Opening Ceremony.

He said: "You can't fail to see something about the Olympics every day and it makes it really exciting.

"It's a unique experience compared to other Olympics where you don't see it in the build-up, whereas in London it is there every day."

Jochen Goller, the director of MINI UK, was also thrilled at the deal: "We can't wait for the Games to happen.

"There is one year to go and we are launching this partnership with EDF today so that we will be able to contribute to the most sustainable Games ever."

Goller also sought to dispel some of the arguments against using electric cars, which are growing in popularity in the UK, but are yet to take off on a large scale.

"We conducted a thorough trial with 80 drivers," he said.

"They found charging is easy, the range is not a problem because the average duration of a trip is 26 miles and they have a 100 mile range.

"Most of the people on this trial are now seriously considering purchasing an electric vehicle."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
April 2011: Olympic sponsors join forces to upgrade Tower Bridge for London 2012
March 2011: 'The Pod' sees 2.5 million British children engaged in sustainability ahead of London 2012
January 2011: Light show marks EDF Energy's new deal to showcase London 2012
January 2011: London Eye to carry name of Olympic 2012 sponsor after £8 million deal
June 2010: Coe helps London 2012 sponsor mark Green Britain Day