Electric cars are no longer the stuff of Tomorrow’s World features or weird concepts at motor shows. They are coming to a road near you – and sooner than you think.

Mitsubishi will later this year become the first major manufacturer to launch a fully electronic car in the UK – and there are plenty of rival offerings in the pipeline too.

See more pictures in our gallery below.

The new car is based on the firm’s trendy i-car urban supermini and is called the i-MiEV (Mitsubishi Innovative Electric Vehicle).

There are just five demonstrators in the UK ant the moment and I was among the first to drive one at a special event staged by Mitsubishi at Oxford University’s Begbroke Science Park, an institution known for its research into environmentally-friendly technologies.

The petrol version of the i-car was itself launched last year in the UK and its futuristic looks are the perfect showcase for the MiEV’s cutting edge technology.

The vehicle seats four, unlike other electric prototypes, and meets all current safety legislation.

Quick off the mark

It drives far better than you might expect too. The i-MiEV is no milk float and has masses of torque, making it extremely quick off the mark.

It will hit 60mph in 13 seconds and has a top speed just shy of 100mph. It never feels underpowered on the road.

It’s a slightly heavier car than its petrol counterpart because of its giant 200kg battery pack, but the extra weight makes it feel more planted on the road.

To get it started, all you do is switch it on, engage drive and off you go.

Eco mode

The car has a notably smooth automatic transmission and you can select an Eco mode which boosts range at the expense of reduced power.

This mode is ideal for congested roads during rush hour.

The i-MiEV is not entirely silent in operation. You’ll hear wind and tyre noise as you accelerate and when you put your foot right down the car emits a whine like a plane taking off.

For pedestrians it’s a different matter, however. They are far more likely to wander into your path if they cannot hear a conventional engine, so extra care needs to be taken in town centres.

Long range

The i-MiEV’s range is around 100 miles which means it should cope with most commuter trips. Charging takes six hours off the mains, or just 20 minutes from a Fast Charge terminal.

Mitsubishi is hoping for government support to create a national network of these terminals at car parks and motorway services.

And that’s all that this car really needs in order to become a viable proposition.

Mitsubishi will make its first batch of 2,000 i-MiEVs this year and the hope is that the UK will get 200 before the end of 2009.

The British on-road price is still to be determined and the current high value of the yen against the plummeting pound is causing a headache for Mitsubishi’s UK management team.

Expect it to be just under £20,000 – which may seem steep when the petrol version costs under £9,000. But just consider some of the financial benefits of running an electric car.

Value for money

Mitsubishi reckons covering 10,000 miles will cost a paltry £45. That compares with £800 for an economical diesel, capable of returning nearly 60mpg.

There are no harmful emissions, meaning no road tax or congestion charge, and neither should servicing prove troublesome.

The battery will be guaranteed for ten years or 93,000 miles, which should provide some peace of mind.

Mitsubishi’s UK chief executive Jim Tyrrell said he thought the car was hugely important for the firm.

“This is about changing the brand of Mitsubishi. We are known for our pick-ups and sports cars but are going to have to get used to selling low-emission passenger cars to the public.”

But revolutionary though it is, the i-MiEV won’t have things its own way for long.

A Smart EV (electric vehicle) is almost ready for production and Chevrolet, Nissan, Smart, MINI, Mercedes-Benz and Subaru all have similar vehicles under development – and that’s not including the electric-only smaller outfits like Reva, Nice and Think.

But the i-MiEV is ready to roll now and there’s a sense that it could be the right car at the right time.

Because if and when we come out of the current recession, I suspect this is the type of car we will increasingly be driving.

By Peter Carroll