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Insight are official media partners to the World Cities Summit July 2012.
Previously media partners to the AAL Conference Sept 2011.
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The success of any research project depends on its ability to bring results to the marketplace.
Zero-emission cars soon to hit the market
The next few years will see a surge in zero-emission cars as a new range of plug-in electric vehicles (EVs) hit the market. Although they currently account for only a few thousand models on the market, industry and the government are taking steps to increase this figure in light of the growing need for environmentally-friendly transport solutions.
Steve Fowler, editor in chief of What Car? said, "It's going to be an important year for electric cars, with the first EVs available on the market. The big news is the Nissan Leaf, the first pure EV you can buy, which has gone on sale this year with deliveries starting very soon."
The Leaf car (leading environmentally friendly affordable family car) is expected to rapidly improve the market with a relatively low price and a broad appeal – however, along with its rivals, it will still cost the buyer between £28,000 and £35,000. This is on account of the expensive battery technology, raising the question of whether the cars are affordable. In response the government has set up a scheme to give the first 10,000 buyers a £5000 grant taken off the price at purchase. But what will happen when the grant runs out? Some manufacturers have adopted a different tactic, such as Renault, who offer a monthly battery lease which makes the upfront sum similar to an equivalent diesel car.
Despite these hurdles, Nikki Rooke, head of communications at the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, remains positive. "This is the first year we've seen a significant increase in the volume of EVs, and we're expecting to see a rise in the numbers being registered by a significant percentage." She predicts the first EV owners to be businesses or trendsetters paving the way for a future uptake by the public.
However the technology is made available, it seems likely that our streets will soon become characterised by re-charging electric parking spaces and cleaner air – powered of course by renewable sources.
Published: Tuesday, 1st November 2011 by Ellen Haggan
