Electrification of transport
Low Carbon Cars: Exploring the Challenge of bringing Electric Vehicles to Market International Experts’ Meeting 27-28 October
The meeting was organized in the context of the Jeddah International Energy Conference of 22 June 2008 and the G8 Summit held on 7 to 9 July 2008, in Tokyo Japan. The UK Prime Minister announced the International Meeting at the British International Motor show in London on 22 July 2008.
The aim of the meeting was to provide an opportunity for international collaboration through the exchange of information and views among participants concerning policies related to the development of the electrification of transport (EoT) and inform the London Energy Meeting in December, 2008. The meeting was a joint collaboration between the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) [BERR changed its name in June 2009: it is now the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS)] and the Department for Transport (DfT).
Objectives:
- To discuss issues associated with four main themes: key standards; infrastructure issues; low carbon vehicle technology challenges; and encouraging early progress
- Develop consensus and inform the EoT debate
The meeting was opened on Monday 27 October by Rt. Hon. Geoff Hoon MP, Secretary of State for Transport and was attended by some 140 delegates from more than 15 countries representing Government, Industry, the automotive research community and Academia. A link to the full agenda and the presentations made by the invited speakers can be found on this webpage. Delegates broke into pre-assigned workshops, facilitated by independent consultants, to discuss the four themes in detail. Full reports of the workshops can also be viewed via the link on this webpage.
As part of the awareness-raising element of the meeting, a number of electric vehicles travelled to Downing Street to enable the Prime Minister to view at first hand a range of vehicles. The vehicle range identified that it was possible to look at all sectors of the car market and find solutions for both city specific vehicles, through family saloons and into aspiration sports cars.
The Plenary event was held at Millbrook Proving Ground, Bedfordshire, where delegates received feedback on the previous day’s workshop outputs. These outputs were vigorously debated with the essential issues and opportunities captured.
An Officials Meeting convened early afternoon and next steps will include the setting up of an international working group to take forward the main themes coming out of the Experts’ meeting and ensuring the key messages are captured within the December Energy Meeting.
For further information please contact us via automotiveverylowcarbonvehicles@bis.gsi.gov.uk
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed on these pages do not represent the views of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
