Europe is charging ahead with electric car schemes
Boris Johnson is planning to turn London into one of the major centres for electric cars in the world. Currently there are only 150 [1] charging points in the capital, which realistically is not enough to encourage the majority of people to take up electric vehicles. To ensure that a new technology is adopted by the masses it has to be accessible and easy to use.
However, this is about to change with a new scheme, Source London, which will join together all the existing charging points in London [1]. By 2013, Boris Johnson plans to install a further 1,150 points around the capital in locations such as leisure centres, supermarkets, public car parks and streets [1]. Currently, the majority of charging points that you see around London are located on streets, but by introducing them into places such as public car parks and supermarkets, users can charge their vehicles while carrying out their daily tasks, so it does not have to become a major concern as to where and when they can charge. Membership of the charging schemes costs £100 per year and entitles the purchasers to plug in and charge their vehicles at any of the now standardised charging points [1].
There has been some criticism that the plans for electric cars have fallen short of earlier promises and whilst the extra 1,150 charging points is a large increase it is significantly less than the 7,500 figure that Boris promised earlier this year [2]. Whilst there has been a reduction in the number originally proposed, it is still a large increase and one that should encourage more people to adopt electric cars. There is also evidence that car manufactures are providing incentives for their customers to use such schemes. For example, Nissan has offered 12 months free membership of Source London to Leaf owners who live within 40 miles of a charging point [1]. Using an electric car will reduce your carbon footprint as well as reducing your overall environmental impact.
Whilst London is making considerable advances to encourage electric car users, it could be argued that France is leading the way with the introduction of low carbon and environmentally friendly transport schemes. Paris was the first city to introduce a cycle hire scheme and looks set to follow suit with an electric car hire scheme. The Autolib scheme, which is scheduled for introduction this autumn, will enable customers to hire electric vehicles for less than the price of an average bottle of wine [3]. Paris is set to be equipped with 1,000 self-hire points, which will provide 3,000 battery powered cars. The cars will be produced by the French company Bollore and will take on a bubble shape, seating four people. The cars will have a built-in GPS system to help its customers navigate the city and there will also be an emergency call button.
However, there has been a last minute legal challenge. Car rental firms, including Avis and Hertz, have called in an administrative tribunal to investigate their claims that city hall has organised unfair and publically subsidised competition [4]. A decision is likely to be made within weeks as to whether the scheme can go ahead [4].
References
[1] The Charging Point (2011) [Online]. Available from: http://www.thechargingpoint.com/2011/05/26/boris-johnson-brings-standardised-charging-to-londons-electric-car-owners/
[2] BBC News (2011) [Online}. Available from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-13548854
[3] The Guardian (2010) [Online}. Available from: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/dec/16/paris-electric-car-scheme-autolib
[4] The Independent (2011) [Online]. Available from: http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/motoring/motoring-news/carhire-giants-in-uturn-over-electric-fleet-2295517.html
