Lawrence Holland is on a charge – to lower CO2 emissions. In order to do so quickly, increased electric vehicle charging points are needed, argues Lawrence from electric vehicle maker Aixam Mega. The new call for the motor industry to reduce CO2 emissions by 50% by 2050 refocuses the debate about engine technology.

The 50by50 Global Fuel Economy Initiative seeks to reduce CO2 emissions by 50% by 2050.

It was launched at this year’s Geneva Motor Show by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), International Energy Agency (IEA), the International Transport Forum (ITF) and the FIA Foundation. It asks vehicle manufacturers to cut the CO2 vehicle emissions as a way to reconcile people’s aspirations for mobility with the need to reduce vehicle emissions.

These organisations estimate that, by 2050, the number of vehicles on the world’s roads will triple.

But while the major car manufacturers are working hard to reduce CO2 emissions (see news story Choose a Fiat for low emissions) they face limitations.

There is a limit to how low you can go with the traditional internal combustion engine – petrol or diesel.

That’s why many mainstream car makers are also working on developing electric vehicles. Although these are some years away from being commercially available.

The key to really reducing CO2 emissions is for governments and power generators to invest in developing an electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

That way people can use electrics as easily as they now use petrol or diesel cars. And also to invest in development of renewable electricity generation, so that emissions from power stations are cut, too.

While mainstream car makers may not have electric models on the UK’s roads yet, ultra-light electric vehicles, such as our e-City, are in use now in urban environments. In London, for example, there have been steps taken to provide public charging points.

Local authorities in some other cities have announced their own plans to introduce public charging points (see below).

Electric Vehicles

Ultra-light electric vehicles are designed for relatively low speed city driving and frequent stop-start journeys.

Electric vehicles have a range of around 40 miles between charges.

The average journey in London is just four miles.

Electric vehicles emit no CO2 or other greenhouse gases on the road.

Powered from the domestic grid electric vehicles reduce environmental impact by around two-thirds because of their efficiency in using energy.

Powered from renewable sources, they offer even greener motoring.

Source: Aixam Mega visit www.mega-vehicles.com

Further information – key public charging locations

Information on publicly available charging points can be found at www.ev-network.org.uk. Electric vehicles in most cases can be charged from a standard electric socket, so businesses can recharge them at their own premises. Here are some of the major locations:

• London (12 locations)
• Bristol
• Milton Keynes
• Thurrock (Lakeside Shopping Centre)
• Watford (Harlequin Shopping Centre)
• Bromley (Glades Shopping Centre)
• Manchester (various)
• Leicester (High Cross Shopping Centre)
• Uxbridge
• Norwich
• Sheffield (Meadowhall Shopping Centre)
• Stoke on Trent (Potteries Shopping Centre)
• Woking
• Sutton, Surrey (various)
• Richmond
• Gateshead (Metro Centre)
• Glasgow (Braehead and St Enoch Shopping Centres)
• Brighton and Hove Council