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<H5><B><FONT size=+1>Transport Experts Spark Global Electric Car
Industry</FONT></B></H5><B>LONDON, UK</B>, October 27, 2008 (ENS) - Cars around
the world will one day be propelled by electric motors, transportation expert
Daniel Sperling told a meeting of international transportation experts and
policymakers in London today.
<P></P>
<P>Sperling said the transformation of automobiles and the entire automotive
industry has begun with gasoline-electric hybrids, and will continue in the next
decades with the wide adoption of plug-in electric hybrids, battery-only
electric cars, and fuel cell electric vehicles. </P>
<P>Director of the University of California Davis Institute of Transportation
Studies, Sperling was the keynote speaker at the first meeting of its kind,
where industry experts and government officials are strategizing on how to
jumpstart the mass market production of low carbon and electric vehicles. </P>
<P>British Prime Minister Gordon Brown called for the conference after
discussions about transportation energy reform this summer at the Jeddah
International Energy Conference in Saudi Arabia, the G8 Summit in Tokyo, and the
British International Motor show in London. </P>
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<H5>Manufactured in Canada, the Zenn electric car is displayed at the
Linden Hills Co-op in Minneapolis, Minnesota. <FONT size=-2>(Photo
courtesy <A href="http://www.lindenhills.coop/" target=_blank>Linden Hills
Co-op</A>)</FONT> </H5></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<P>"I am delighted that the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, has shown such
leadership by taking this first critical step forward in the UK," said Sperling.
"He is to be commended in calling this important international meeting and
setting the ball rolling for a low carbon vehicle future for the UK." </P>
<P>The two-day conference is hosted by the United Kingdom's Department for
Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. </P>
<P>New initiatives to put Britain at the forefront of a green motoring
revolution by encouraging a mass market in electric and hybrid cars have been
announced today. </P>
<P>With the potential to create up to 10,000 new British jobs and help preserve
many thousands more, the electric car push comes as part of wider plans by the
Brown Government to make the most of the low carbon economy, with estimates that
around a million green jobs could be generated by 2030. </P>
<P>Fulfilling the prime minister's pledge this summer to speed up the delivery
of low carbon and electric vehicles for ordinary motorists, experts from across
the globe are gathered in Whitehall today to examine how to turn this into a
reality. </P>
<P>At the meeting, Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon set out the government's next
steps to deliver a £100 million commitment to accelerate the emergence of
greener vehicles. </P>
<P>Motor manufacturers will be invited to bid for the opportunity to participate
in a £10 million project to run electric car and ultra-low carbon vehicle
demonstration projects, overseen by the Technology Strategy Board. </P>
<P>As a result, 100 electric cars will be provided in UK towns and cities by the
end of 2009 to allow motorists the opportunity to provide feedback on the
practical steps needed to make greener motoring an everyday reality.</P>
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<H5>An electric Zecar by Stevens, a new British manufacturer of electric
cars and vans, top speed 56 miles per hour <FONT size=-2>(Photo courtesy
<A href="http://www.stevensvehicles.com/"
target=_blank>Stevens</A>)</FONT> </H5></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>"Electric cars
and other low carbon vehicles, like plug-in hybrids, cut fuel costs and reduce
harmful emissions. If we can inspire more people to use them, it will help us to
make a positive impact on climate change," said Hoon.
<P></P>
<P>Research and manufacture of electric vehicles is an emerging industry that
ministers say has the potential to create new jobs and safeguard existing
employment in the UK. </P>
<P>Secretary of State for Business, Lord Mandelson, said, "Investment in greener
motoring forms part of our plan to put the UK at the forefront of the new low
carbon revolution. We know our automotive sector has a global reputation for
taking forward new technology and we want the UK to be at the heart of new
developments in electric vehicles." </P>
<P>Up to £20m has been dedicated to UK research into improving technology that
could make electric and other green cars more practical and affordable. </P>
<P>Lord Drayson, Minister of State for Science and Innovation, said, "The
technologies for low carbon vehicles are developing fast, whether for
all-electric, hybrid or alternative fuels. The challenge for the UK is to ensure
industry takes full advantage of this shift and explores opportunities now, to
position itself as a world leader in low carbon vehicle technology in the long
term." </P>
<P>"To do this, the government-funded Technology Strategy Board is providing
further investment of up to £30m to support industry R&D and demonstrations
of electric and other low carbon vehicles," said Drayson. </P>
<P>Technology Strategy Board's Chief Executive Iain Gray, said, "Low carbon
vehicle technology is exciting, practical and, most importantly, real. Such
vehicles are already on our roads and as the technology continues to improve
rapidly, they will only become more effective and more widely used. Low carbon
vehicles offer the combined advantages of reducing our reliance on oil and
reducing emissions." </P>
<P>The government is working with energy companies and the National Grid to
assess the impact on the electricity system of the widespread use of electric
drive vehicles. </P>
<P>The government has committed to facilitate the roll-out of infrastructure for
charging electric vehicles and to collaborating with other countries to develop
international standards. </P>
<P>To encourage the mass production of green vans for the first time, the
Department for Transport announced today that 10 companies have been shortlisted
to bid to provide electric and low carbon vans to public sector bodies such as
the Royal Mail, as part of a £20 million program to ensure all road transport
emissions are reduced. </P>
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<H5>Battery-powered Citroën Berlingo electric vans line up at the ELCIDIS
goods distribution service in La Rochelle, France. <FONT size=-2>(Photo by
L. Hoon)</FONT> </H5></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>The 10 companies are: Ford,
Mercedes Benz, Citroen, Ashwoods, Land Rover, Modec, Smiths, Electric Vehicles,
LDV, Nissan and Allied Vehicles.
<P></P>
<P>Shortlisted to bid on a low carbon van are Ford, Mercedes Benz, Citroen,
Ashwoods, and Land Rover. </P>
<P>Approved to bid on an all electric van are Modec, Smiths, Electric Vehicles,
LDV, Nissan, and Allied Vehicles. </P>
<P>Transport Secretary Hoon said, "Vans make up around 15 percent of road
transport emissions in the UK, and their emissions are rising more than any
other mode of road transport. </P>
<P>"That's why we are committed to this new program to help kick-start the
market," he said. "In the public sector there is considerable demand for vans so
we want to use our spending power to lead the way in developing lower carbon
options that will appeal across the board." </P>
<P>Liverpool, Newcastle, Gateshead, Coventry, Glasgow and Leeds will be among
the first councils to allow the green vans on their streets. </P>
<P>On Tuesday, discussions will continue at Millbrook, Bedfordshire at the
National Low Carbon Vehicle event. </P>
<P>Participants in the meeting include industry, academia and government
representatives from Japan, India, France, Germany, the United States, Canada,
Portugal, Belgium, Switzerland, Spain, Denmark, Israel, Czech Republic, Norway
and Sweden.
<P align=center><FONT face="Times New Roman, Times, serif" size=-1>Copyright
Environment News Service (ENS) 2008. All rights
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