F&I Management & Training

Five minutes to fill up a conventional car at the pumps versus five hours to charge an electric car, is just one of the challenges of the "electric car revolution". The switch from petrol and diesel cars to electric vehicles will be a giant leap and needs pioneers to lead the way, according to the AA president addressing Durham County Council today (2/03/10).

Edmund King will argue that there is a role for Electric Vehicles (EVs) but that local authorities are essential to help progress with:

• The need for pioneers


• The need for early adopters - fleets - local authorities


• The need for incentives - national and local i.e. free parking


• The need for infrastructure - charge points


• The need for planners with vision


• The need to overcome range anxiety


• The need to address cost of batteries, safety issues


• The need for quick charge (5 minutes to fill up petrol v 5 hour EV charge)


• The need a change of attitudes towards vehicle ownership.

King also points out that we will remain reliant on petrol and diesel for many years, giving vehicle manufacturers the opportunity to develop technology for electric vehicles. But depleting oil supplies and increasing demand mean now is the time to develop a good, sustainable, alternative and get drivers used to a completely different method of propulsion/use. Now drivers need to see some direction in a replacement for their existing cars, even if mass electrification is a little way off.