Electric cars to be widespread by 2020
The government’s Committee on Climate Change yesterday predicted that within twelve years four in ten cars on British roads would be electric if ambitious new targets to reduce greenhouse gases were to be met.
The Committee concluded that replacing petrol and diesel-powered cars with electric and hybrid models would dramatically reduce the environmental impact of road transport, which currently accounts for up to a quarter of Britain’s total CO2 emissions.
Lord Turner of Ecchinswell, the chairman of the committee, said that measures such as lower limits on the amount of CO2 produced by new cars and wider use of insulation and and smart meters to help reduce fuel bills were vital if Britain was to meet targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by a third over the next decade.
A spokesperson for the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) said: “Hybrid technology will be ready to replace conventional cars by 2012, but a wholesale switch from petrol and diesel-powered car can only happen if there are incentives or penalties to encourage change.”
Electric cars with bells on
Because electric cars are much quieter than petrol or diesel models they may need to be “fitted with bells” or some other warning system to ensure people hear them coming, Lord Turner has said.
In a study conducted by the University of California, pedestrians heard a petrol-engined Honda Accord moving at 5 miles per hour three seconds before it reached them – by the time they heard an oncoming Prius, it had already passed by.
Electric cars: What’s good, what’s not so good
| Electric cars: What’s good | what’s not so good |
|---|---|
 In environmental terms, probably the best car option around especially if the electricity it uses comes from renewable sources |
 Generally low top speed (although electric cars can have surprisingly quick acceleration, so they can keep up with city traffic without any difficulty) |
| Zero emissions from the car itself makes it a saint in the city |
Limited range and lengthy recharging times means they are not suitable for long journeys |
| Extremely quiet |
The batteries cause pollution problems when the time comes to dispose of them |
|
Exempt from the London Congestion Charge, no road tax and only pennies per mile to run |
Expensive to buy |
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