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better - even by just a bit, policy change at government level and the fact that electric is relatively simple. It’s much easier to mature the technology and infrastructure in an electric car than some of the other options. The best thing for the environment would be better public transport and more cycling or walking, but some change is better than none.
There are, of course, still a great many in the anti-EV camp. What do you think will be the best way to persuade them otherwise? It always depends on where the objection to electric vehicles is rooted. If it’s about manufacture, then yes, EVs need to do better environmentally as an ongoing policy. But EVs have shown time and time again that they can be made greener, where a new petrol or diesel doesn’t ever get ‘better’. The technology is being driven by demand, so we’re seeing great strides and so, so fast. If it’s about excitement or range - EVs deliver differently, true, but they don’t need to be bland. I recently drove the Rimac Nevera at nearly 2,000bhp and was not left unmoved. OK, so that’s a few million quid, but you can make electric cars fun - just not in the same way. And range is coming on in leaps and bounds, as is infrastructure. I think the issue is that if you’re ‘anti’ then you’ll need perfection to be convinced, and the electric ecosystem is some way from that at the moment. That’s not to say I don’t believe in it, more that constructive criticism might help it improve. That’s what I quite like about
Electrifying.com - we’re always sounding off about what could be better, with the aim of making it so.
Do you think the UK government is doing enough to encourage consumers to go electric? If not, what more should they be doing? Education is key. Electric cars will not suit everyone, for all purposes, at this point. But knowing how things work and how to maximise your benefit is absolutely the way to go. TCO (total cost of ownership - over a set period) often shows electric cars to be more viable than their purchase price might suggest. I think it’s slightly confusing to keep moving the goalposts with regard to grants and taxes, mind you - I’d prefer it to all be a bit more transparent until we get a good percentage of the population
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comfortable with the idea. Grants can’t keep going forever - eventually they won’t be ‘electric cars’ as much as just ‘cars’ - but not confusing people and manufacturers with regular change would be better. I also think we need to get some good grounding on more affordable, smaller EVs - the current crop of SUVs with batteries seems endless.
Which car companies are doing the most in the EV field?
There are lots of companies putting in the work in terms of moving the game on in the electric car field, from zero- emissions manufacturing to battery and software tech. I like the ideas from companies like Polestar, who show the entire environmental lifecycle cost of their cars, and the idea that efficiency can be improved with investment. There’s a bit of a gap between the newest cars and some of the older attempts at electrification, mind you. Simply sticking a huge battery pack into a car that previously housed a petrol or diesel engine hasn’t led to efficient electric - and those vehicles need more work. Which, it has to be said, is coming as new models come on stream.
Do you think there is, or will be, a practical infrastructure for dealing with spent EV batteries, in relation to giving them a second life? This is already happening, both in terms of designing batteries to be recycled more efficiently from the outset, and giving them a second life as battery storage to making better use of waxing-and-waning renewables. Automotive batteries are proving to be much more reliable than anyone thought and the idea that they’re useless when removed from a car couldn’t be further from the truth. Battery storage in homes (using second-life car batteries) - as well as the electric car on your drive - can help reduce the peak-and-trough demand on the National Grid, smoothing out the national power supply. As we get more used to the technology, it’ll get better and more accepted. The problem with a lot of the projects at the moment is lack of second-hand batteries with which to work!
The mileage an electric car can achieve on a single charge is
getting higher year on year. Do you think there is a limit to this? There comes a point of diminishing returns when it comes to range and battery size. At what point is ‘enough’ range? You can put a 1000-mile capable EV into production right now, but it would be horribly expensive and very heavy. I think most people only need an absolute maximum of 300 miles for a decent family vehicle, capable of the usual span of duties. But two things there; one, it needs to be 300 miles of real-world range, even in cold weather, and two, if the infrastructure is super reliable and easy to access, it mitigates the anxiety that comes with worrying about electric cars. It’s also about the kind of car you drive, and this is known as ‘right-sizing’ - a supermini knocking around town with easy access to charging probably doesn’t need a huge battery and range, a car meant for longer trips carrying people and things needs more.
There are estimates that around a third of the cars of the future could be hydrogen-powered – would you agree?
At this point, I’d rather not rule anything out. From what I can gather, hydrogen looks more viable (at this point) for vehicles with heavy duty cycles - like buses, lorries and ships. The electricity it takes to make hydrogen for car use could just as easily be put into the car itself. I’d be keen on looking at all the options and, if appropriate, a mix & match approach. Let’s do better, no matter what we lean towards.
Where do you stand on the debate about electric cars being too quiet and a threat to pedestrian safety? I do think they should all emit some sort of noise, because they can be very stealthy. In a lot of ways that’s good - we never complain that a Rolls Royce is too quiet - but a Rolls isn’t exactly commonplace, and as EVs get more popular, it’s always wise to make sure you’ve covered all the safety bases. Plus, it’s cool that EVs can be playful with the noise they emit.
Electrifying.com has become popular in recent months, but what do you personally see as its main aim?
The whole point of
Electrifying.com is to demystify the whole concept of the electric car - in a way that people can understand and relate to. It’s a whole raft of new technology to get to grips with, and in some ways, a new set of rules to learn. It’s not hard once someone explains it, but the fact remains that education and explanation can make your EV experience so much better. That’s what
Electrifying.com is for - to clear the air around electric cars.
Can you predict any new EV developments in the coming year or two?
Battery tech is coming along in leaps and bounds although not quite as fast as some would have you believe - and efficiency is rising, meaning better range for the same size battery, or the same range for a smaller one. And as manufacturers get their collective heads around the technology, we’re looking at better charging and infrastructure integration as well, making the whole experience just generally more pleasant. I just want someone to get solid state and carbon batteries to work well and reliably - some of the newest research looks incredibly promising!
About Aneela Aneela Rose is the founder and managing director of Sussex-based Rose Media Group. Aneela is a multi-award winning B2B PR specialist
focusing on sustainability in the business sector. With an aerospace industry background and 25 years’ experience working within manufacturing and engineering, she is now specialising in green energy specifically around the topics of electrification of society, EV batteries and hydrogen fuel cell technology.
Email:
aneela@rosemediagroup.co.uk Web:
www.rosemediagroup.co.uk
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