In order for companies getting into the electric vehicle business to have a chance to be financially viable, they are going to need help from governments. That means incentives to help offset the vastly higher initial cost of such vehicles as well as a means to charge them. General Motors and Elektromotive are getting together to "educate" British parliamentarians about what needs to happen in order to make EVs a financially viable proposition.
They will attend the annual conferences for the two leading political parties, Labour and the Conservatives in the coming weeks. Elektromotive will bring its charging station and GM will bring a prototype Vauxhall Ampera (aka Chevy Volt) for MPs to try out. GM and Elektromotive will be encouraging the politicos to invest more in building out a public charging infrastructure in Britain so that when EVs become more widely available, people will be able to juice them up.
[Source: Elektromotive]
press release
22 September 2009
MPs LOBBIED TO BACK VISION FOR ZERO-EMISSIONS MOTORING
In a bid to increase cross-party political support for a shift towards zero-emissions motoring in the UK, Brighton-based Elektromotive is collaborating with car giant General Motors (GM) to educate MPs about emerging electric vehicle (EV) technologies and the need for a nationwide infrastructure of recharging stations. During the forthcoming Labour and Conservative Party conferences, both companies will offer politicians firsthand experience of Elektromotive's Elektrobay charging station and Vauxhall's extended-range electric vehicle (E-REV), the Ampera that will be on sale in 2012.
While the government has already taken steps to accelerate the introduction of eco-friendly vehicle technologies, car makers and suppliers are calling for clear and decisive policies to facilitate and underpin their long-term investments. Elektromotive and GM will demonstrate their products and brief MPs to highlight the real-world feasibility of mass adoption of zero-emissions motoring.
On 28 September the companies will engage with members of the Labour Party during their conference in Brighton, followed by the Conservative Party conference on the 5 October in Manchester.
The advent of mass-production of EVs is fast approaching. Advanced technology applied to these vehicles means they will provide the same functionality and performance of a regular vehicle. For example, the five-door Vauxhall Ampera features an innovative extended-range propulsion technology that provides more than 300 miles of uninterrupted driving. Electricity drives the Ampera's wheels and the 16kWh Lithium-ion battery will power the car for journeys up to 40 miles. For longer trips, a petrol or E85-fuelled engine generator will charge the battery.
When such vehicles go on sale, consumers will switch in greater numbers to electricity-powered cars, and will demand an appropriate recharging infrastructure. With aspirations of Britain becoming the world's leaders in zero-emissions motoring, various government-backed schemes are already underway to install what could become the world's largest recharging infrastructure. Elektromotive will play a major role in these plans, installing large numbers of Elektrobays to provide charging facilities by roadsides, in car parks, at the work place and at homes.
"It is vital the government keeps the introduction of electric vehicles at the top of its agenda," commented Calvey Taylor-Haw, the Managing Director of Elektromotive. "Britain must be prepared for the arrival of mass-produced electric cars by putting in place a suitable charging infrastructure. By showing the MPs how this technology works, and highlighting the fact it is available now, they will gain a true understanding of the how fast the industry is developing. Hopefully, this will encourage them to push for more projects across the UK that will see the installation of electric vehicle charging facilities."
Launched in 2006 in Westminster, London, the British-designed-and-produced Elektrobay is the global standard for electric vehicle charging technologies.
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