"How low can we go?" was the question addressed by a panel discussing the future for electric vehicles in terms of emissions. Chaired by actor, author and green car enthusiast Robert Llewellyn, the issues raised included 'range anxiety', 'recharging' and 'resale value', all of which are no longer problems, such have been the tech advances over a short period.
Fiona Howarth (pictured), engineer and CEO of Octopus Electric Vehicles, looked forward to the day when we never have to go to a petrol station again, because our affordable EV is silently recharging at home while we sleep. Improving the charging infrastructure was a national priority, a point accepted by Jesse Norman, Under Secretary of State for Transport and Hereford MP, though he said that as the sector expanded, government subsidy would be less essential. "We already throw a lot of taxpayers' money at this."
Mike Hawes, CEO of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, stressed the need, and the demand, for domestic (including blocks of flats), workplace and off-street recharging points, and it was agreed that plugging into lamp-posts was the obvious answer.
In tackling the commercial vehicle sector of HGVs and white vans, there is a mountain to climb, as 99% are still diesel-fuelled. But the technology is available, said Hawes, and "competition breeds innovation". Tony Whitehorn, CEO of Hyundai, added that hydrogen cars also had a future as a green alternative, and that the zero-emission juggernaut was not the stuff of science fiction. "After all, sci-fi is often a prediction of the future".
If you liked this, you might enjoy event 295 on climate change, tonight at 5.30pm.