Charging Ahead?, by the Assembly’s Environment Committee, says progress has been made since 2009, when the Mayor committed to making London the electric car capital of Europe, but he faces a formidable challenge ahead to achieve his targets.

With 2,313 electric vehicles currently in London, the Mayor is only two percent of the way towards his goal of 100,000 on the streets as soon as possible. There are around 400 charge points across London compared to his recent target of 1300 by next year and original target of 25,000 by 2015.

There are also fewer than 50 electric vehicles in the Greater London Authority (GLA) fleet compared to the Mayor’s aim of 1000 by 2015.

The Committee warns that the Mayor’s current electric vehicles plan will deliver environmental benefits too slowly and calls on him to publish an updated version, clarify his targets and set out timescales for implementing the charging network.

More than £1million was given to boroughs between 2008 and 2010 to install charge points and increase electric vehicle use across London[10] but some boroughs have struggled to secure members for their scheme.

Murad Qureshi AM, Environment Committee Chair said: “Electric vehicles could help improve London’s air quality but only if there are enough of them and they are used over a long period of time.

“Currently progress is slow and we are concerned that it could take many years before we see any environmental benefits from the Mayor’s ambitious plans.

”If the Mayor wants to encourage more Londoners to drive electric vehicles, he must demonstrate that the charging network is adequate and fits with the way people will actually charge their vehicles. It is unclear at the moment whether it is delivering value for money given the sums already spent on it.”

The report notes electric vehicles can offer environmental benefits and have a part to play in trying to clean up London’s environment, but any benefits are likely to be long term and more work is needed to understand the environmental impacts of the technology.

It also highlights the financial incentives available to encourage people to use electric vehicles, including Government grants, and exemption from the congestion charge and free or subsidized parking in some boroughs.

However, uptake is slow which the report attributes to a lack of information about the up-front, resale and ongoing cost of electric cars and worries about the distance vehicles can travel.

The Committee wants to the Mayor to:

focus more on vehicles such as taxis, light goods vehicles and buses to make a significant impact on air quality and lower CO2 emissions over the short to medium term

improve on current numbers of electric vehicles in the GLA fleet

commission research on the full carbon footprint of electric vehicles and work with energy suppliers on the potential for public charging points to use renewable energy.develop a communications strategy with the motor industry to increase public awareness and knowledge about electric vehicles and publish real time data on charging points.

Source: london.gov
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This is a large-scale project in technological and environmental terms, to which the Bank adds value through its technical and financial expertise. EIB Vice-President Philippe de Fontaine Vive and Dominique Thormann, Financial Director of the Renault Group, signed the financial partnership agreement at the Renault Group’s headquarters in Boulogne-Billancourt (France).

This loan will be deployed in France to develop future generations of motors for electric vehicles, so helping to develop extensive expertise in products and processes for lithium-ion batteries and engine technologies for electric powertrains. The main objective is to make electric vehicles more competitive and ultimately speed up the development of a mass market. Lowering consumption of CO2 emissions and other harmful pollutants is also at the heart of this research program, with a potential annual reduction of more than 150 000 tons of CO2 compared to vehicles fitted with conventional engines.

“We support leading-edge technologies since they shape the future in terms of sustainable development and competitiveness”, remarked EIB Vice-President Philippe de Fontaine Vive at the signing ceremony. “This cooperation will enable us to prepare together the future of the motor industry in Europe, whose citizens will be the first to benefit in their day-to-day lives”.

This loan continues the quality partnership established between the EIB and the Renault Group. In 2009, the Group received a EUR 400m loan from the EIB for its research, development and innovation (RDI) activities aimed at optimizing and increasing the efficiency of conventional powertrains and developing wholly electric vehicles.

This loan also underscores the Bank’s tangible commitment to supporting innovation in the areas of transport and industry. Recognizing the strategic importance of this sector, the EIB decided in December 2011 to launch a new policy to support transport in Europe. Fully in line with the European Commission’s White Paper on Transport adopted on 28 March 2011, this new policy aims to further the development of efficient, sustainable transport in Europe, thereby helping to reduce the dependence on oil and improve the competitiveness of European industry.

Source: EIB

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The partners agreed to closely cooperate on convergence of regulatory obligations related to electric vehicles in the global context. This will lead to cost savings through economies of scale for automotive manufacturers. Currently they only produce relatively small volumes of electric vehicles in different world regions. The agreement is, therefore key in the context of economic recovery and general cost-sensitiveness of the industry. Taking into account that the rules for electro-mobility technologies are currently being developed on both sides of the Atlantic and Asia, the cooperation is particularly interesting as it offers a unique opportunity to develop common approaches.

European Commission Vice President Antonio Tajani, responsible for Industry and Entrepreneurship, said: "This is a crucial step towards the development and reach out of electric cars. The regulatory cooperation agreement will help to increase the market potential for this important breakthrough technology, contributing for competitiveness and a more sustainable road transport".

Source: Europa.eu

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London United is the first operator in the capital to reach this significant milestone.  Since the first of these vehicles entered service in late 2008, the environmentally friendly propulsion provided by BAE Systems has saved the operator well over 44,000 gallons of diesel and prevented the release of more than 450 tons of CO2.  As an early UK adopter of this proven technology, London United placed an order for an additional 20 vehicles in 2010 following their participation in the hybrid bus trial run by Transport for London (TfL). These buses, powered by BAE Systems HybriDrive Series green propulsion system, are now in service in London.

London United Engineering Director Les Birchley commented, “London United is proud to be the first Operator in London to achieve the milestone of one million hybrid miles.  Our fleet of BAE Systems HybriDrive Series-powered ADL hybrid buses continue to perform well, and have proved their worth in terms of achieving both superior fuel savings and optimum reliability.  Our passengers and drivers love them!”

BAE Systems is a leading supplier of hybrid propulsion systems to buses, with over 3,500 systems in service worldwide and a UK fleet that will number in excess of 400 by the end of 2012.  The 230 HybriDrive Series powered vehicles in service in the UK today are providing clean and reliable revenue service across a number of cities including London, Edinburgh, Manchester, Oxford, Reading, Newcastle and Hull.  HybriDrive Series is configured with a highly flexible and unique architecture that is ideal for urban/transit driving. Over four million passengers each day enjoy a smoother and quieter ride than a full series HybriDrive system provides.

“We firmly believe that hybrid is the right technology for UK transit bus, and with HybriDrive Series, the world’s most successful series hybrid electric propulsion system, we have a proven, robust system that delivers both class-leading fuel economy and reliability.  Seeing London United place a repeat order for HybriDrive Series-powered vehicles and then reach a million miles of service with them is a fantastic achievement,” commented Rob Lindsay, BAE Systems, Director of Transport Systems (UK and Europe).

Source: BAE Systems

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EVs are available at the San Francisco Airport Marriott Waterfront 24/7 with Hertz self-service technology enabling guests and area residents the luxury of signing up for Hertz On Demand car sharing on the spot and using an EV immediately.  In addition, Hertz is the first car rental company to introduce EVs into its downtown San Francisco fleet which can be rented from Hertz Rent A Car’s Mason Street Location.

“Hertz is excited to partner with Marriott to bring EVs to car rental customers in the city of San Francisco,” commented Mark P. Frissora, Hertz chairman and CEO.  “Hertz has a 30-year relationship with Marriott and we can be found in more than 100 Marriott hotels nationwide.  There is a strong appetite for EVs in San Francisco and residents have proven to be early adopters of this new mobility solution.  Introducing EVs into San Francisco ushers in a new, exciting chapter in our relationship as we bring the cars of tomorrow to consumers today.”

According to Clif Clark, general manager of the San Francisco Airport Marriott Hotel, “The hotel recently installed two EV charging stations that can fully charge an electric vehicle in three to four hours.  Additionally, we are the first Marriott hotel to enter into a car-sharing agreement with Hertz, which enables us to have dedicated electric vehicles available for guests, associates or general public use.”

Hertz is the first car-rental company to deploy EVs and PHEVs (plug-in hybrid electric) in both the U.S. (available to the public in New York, Washington, D.C. and San Francisco) and the U.K. (available in London.)  As the world’s largest airport general-use car-rental brand, Hertz is introducing multiple groups of consumers — urban drivers, university students, travelers and corporations — to all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. As a result, the company is forming partnerships with automakers, charging-station providers (e.g., GE), municipalities, non-governmental organizations, corporations and other stakeholders like the San Francisco Airport Marriott Waterfront to make EVs easily accessible to consumers.

To reward consumers for embracing the economic savings and positive environmental impact of electric vehicles, the San Francisco Airport Marriott Waterfront will offer free valet parking and a free car charge for an electric vehicle when dining in Flights 101 lounge or Hangar Steak restaurant, or when staying overnight.  Additionally, the hotel and Hertz’s Mason Street location will have a series of electric vehicles available for hourly rental ranging in price from $6 to $8.  Customers will be able to join Hertz On Demand car sharing for free at the hotel and Mason Street location — or via any Internet browser — then reserve the dedicated EVs (Nissan Leaf, EV Smart Car, and later Chevy Volt) at their convenience on a first-come, first-served basis.

SOURCE The Hertz Corporation

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Forty projects across 15 states will help improve the fuel efficiency of next generation vehicles. Targets include innovations throughout the vehicle, such as better fuels and lubricants, lighter-weight materials, longer-lasting and less-expensive electric vehicle (EV) batteries and components, and engine technologies that more efficient. DOE’s comprehensive approach to vehicle efficiency research and development will help ensure the technologies are available to help automakers achieve recently announced fuel efficiency standards.

For one award, the Ford Motor Company will get $1.5 million to identify fuel properties that enable novel low-emission combustion strategies. For another, United States Automotive Materials Partnership, LLC of Southfield, Michigan, will get $3.5 million to validate crash models for carbon-fiber composites. Overall, the selections focus on eight approaches to improving vehicle efficiency: advanced fuels and lubricants to enable optimal performance of advanced combustion engines; lightweight materials to accelerate commercial availability of lighter-weight vehicles while maintaining safety standards; lightweight multi-material prototype to design, build, and test a lightweight vehicle that is 50% lighter than a baseline light-duty vehicle, undertaken as part of the Clean Energy Dialogue with Canada; advanced cells for EV batteries; advanced power electronics and electric motor technology to develop the next generation of power inverters and electric motors; thermoelectric and enabling engine technology to convert engine waste heat to electricity; fleet efficiency to demonstrate fuel-efficient tire and driver feedback technologies; and advanced vehicle testing and evaluation. See the DOE press release and the award winners.

Source: EERE

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“Innovative car-sharing programs like car2go’s service are pivotal to encouraging the mainstream adoption of electric vehicles,” said Jonathan Read, CEO of ECOtality. “As we deploy approximately 1,000 Blink charging stations in the San Diego region as part of The EV Project, we are creating the robust public infrastructure necessary for car2go’s program to succeed. Together, we will show that EVs are a perfect fit for the lifestyle of San Diego drivers.”

car2go’s all-electric program will begin in San Diego in late 2011. The company provides a total of more than 40,000 members with more than 1,000 low-emission smart fortwo vehicles in four cities.

“The launch of an all electric vehicle fleet marks a new era in carsharing in North America,” said Nicholas Cole, President and CEO of car2go N. A. LLC. “San Diego is a forward-thinking city determined to meet future transportation demands of its residents. Our goal is to complement the existing transportation infrastructure by providing an emission-free carsharing service for short and spontaneous one-way trips.”

ECOtality is currently installing approximately 1,000 publicly available Blink charging stations throughout the San Diego region as part of The EV Project. Data collected by the charging stations will be analyzed to better understand how EV drivers charge their car, and help to guide future rollouts of commercial charging stations.

ECOtality is the project manager of The EV Project and will oversee the installation of approximately 14,000 commercial and residential charging stations in 18 major cities and metropolitan areas in six states and the District of Columbia. The project will provide an EV infrastructure to support the deployment of 8,300 EVs. The project is a public-private partnership, funded in part by the U.S. Department of Energy through a federal stimulus grant and made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

Source: Business Wire

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At a ceremony held at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, industry and lab officials celebrated the completion of 25 solar-assisted electric vehicle charging stations. These join six Electric Power Research Institute stations that were completed in Knoxville earlier this year. The remaining 94 stations are scheduled to be finished by the spring of 2012.

As a demonstration project, these charging stations will provide valuable information about station performance, customer charging preferences, component reliability and the impact on the electric grid. In Tennessee, solar-assisted charging stations will be installed at Nissan North America in Smyrna and Franklin, Knoxville, the University of Tennessee, Nashville, Memphis and Chattanooga.

Officials expect the visibility of this project to have a promotional effect that encourages consumers to purchase or lease electric vehicles, which will reduce demand for gasoline and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“This project is part of a long-term effort to bring electric vehicle infrastructure to reality,” said Lee Slezak, a program manager within DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Slezak noted that Tennessee is the only state in the Southeast selected to participate in this nationwide endeavor.

Of the $99.8 million awarded nationally through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to Ecotality North America, ORNL received $6.8 million. Last year this DOE Vehicle Demonstration and Vehicle Infrastructure Evaluation project was awarded an additional $15 million, and with the partner match the total value of the project is about $230 million.

Long-term plans call for 2,535 electric charging locations to be built in Tennessee and a total of nearly 15,000 in Oregon, Washington, California, Arizona, Texas and the District of Columbia. In Tennessee, some of these will be along Interstates 24, 75 and 40. The units are being supplied by Ecotality North America.

While ORNL is home to experts in transportation, solar, grid, materials for battery storage and power electronics, partners including the Tennessee Valley Authority and EPRI bring to the table diverse capabilities that strengthen the team. Other regional partners include the Knoxville Utilities Board, the state of Tennessee, several cities and Nissan, whose Leaf became available in the U.S. late last year.

“Nissan applauds Oak Ridge National Laboratory for its leadership in the development of solar-assisted charging for electric vehicles,” said Tracy Woodard, director of government affairs for Nissan North America.

In Tennessee, buyers of electric vehicles are eligible for a $2,500 rebate from the state and a $7,500 federal tax credit.

Two types of battery chargers will be available. One provides an alternating current, or AC, which can provide a complete charge in four to eight hours – depending on the initial state of charge. The other provides a direct current, or DC, charge, which can provide up to 80 percent of a full charge in 30 minutes.

UT-Battelle manages ORNL for DOE’s Office of Science.

Source: Oakridge Lab.

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Buses powered by HybriDrive currently transport nearly two million passengers a day in cities across North America and the UK including Houston, London, Manchester, New York, Ottawa, Oxford, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto, and many more.

Atlanta, Ga. and Everett, Wash., recently took delivery of the first New Flyer Xcelsior hybrids powered by BAE Systems and will be followed later this year by Washington, D.C. and Santa Rosa, Calif. Seattle and Houston are taking delivery of HybriDrive-powered buses built by Daimler as will Baltimore City, Md., and suburban Chicago by the end of 2011. Additionally, Red Rose Transit Authority of Lancaster, Pa., has selected BAE Systems’ HybriDrive to power its new fleet of Gillig Low Floor hybrid buses.

“The fact that HybriDrive is being selected by large and small cities for their transit needs, demonstrates the value and versatility of our product and support,” said Steve Trichka, general manager of power and energy management for BAE Systems.

The Lancaster buses will come equipped with BAE Systems’ Accessory Power System (APS), which eliminates the need for a bulky, standard alternator and provides the necessary power to electrically drive vehicle accessories such as air conditioning, engine cooling fans, air compressors, and 208-volt AC/28-volt DC vehicle systems. Electric accessories are expected to further increase fuel economy by reducing and managing accessory losses, especially engine cooling and HVAC.

Gillig is the latest in a growing number of bus manufacturers that are offering BAE Systems’ HybriDrive propulsion system. BAE Systems holds similar relationships in the transit bus market for its HybriDrive series product, with companies such as Daimler Bus North America and New Flyer Industries in the United States and Alexander Dennis and Irisbus Iveco in Europe.

“Progressive transit authorities recognize the environmental and cost advantages of our HybriDrive system and now have more bus options to utilize HybriDrive than ever before,” said Trichka.

The HybriDrive series hybrid electric system dramatically reduces emissions and increases fuel economy while meeting the durability requirements of demanding urban transit operations. It consists of a generator, an electric motor, and an energy storage system managed by computerized controls. A diesel engine turns the generator and operates independent of the electric drive motor, allowing it to run at the optimum engine speed for fuel efficiency. The system also uses no mechanical transmission, a significant maintenance item on conventional diesel buses. Buses equipped with HybriDrive series have traveled over 300 million miles, prevented over 280,000 tons of CO2 emissions and have saved over 25 million gallons of diesel fuel.

Source: Business Wire

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The project to deliver a fleet of the zero emission taxis to the streets of London in time for 2012 is on track, with the first Fuel Cell Black Cabs covering a combined total of over 8,000 miles in road and test track testing conditions. During its first tour of London’s roads, one of the Fuel Cell Black Cabs excelled in rush-hour traffic, with smooth and responsive acceleration provided by the fuel cell and electric motors.

Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, wants to make Britain a leader in fuel cell technology and has already announced plans to increase hydrogen refueling stations around the capital. He said, “These prototype zero-emission taxis are a shining example of British ingenuity, combining revolutionary fuel cell technology with an iconic design classic. This marks an important milestone in my goal to create a cleaner cab fleet, firstly through introduction of the first ever age limits moving towards zero-emission vehicles as they come to market. Affordable and low polluting cabs are within our grasp and I urge manufacturers to accelerate efforts to produce them.”

Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne has said:

“Green vehicles are taking to the streets in a big way. High petrol prices and the desire to clean up our air quality make them the smart choice. The zero emissions London taxi looks and performs just like a conventional taxi, even over long distances. It’s a great British innovation and I look forward to seeing them in service in London next year.”

Paul Everitt, Chief Executive of SMMT, has said:

“The UK is at the heart of the global low carbon industry and is a leader for research and development into new technologies. Over the coming years the low carbon sector is set to become increasingly important for manufacturers and motorists. The Fuel Cell Black Cab is a terrific example of British engineering skills and pioneering innovation.”

The zero emission taxis have been developed by a consortium, led by Intelligent Energy, which includes Lotus Engineering, London Taxis International and TRW Conekt with part-funding from the UK Government’s Technology Strategy Board. The fuel cell and battery powered hybrid taxi provides a 250 mile driving range with rapid refueling, all within the confines of the body of a conventional London taxi. Now that fully functional, validated, proven vehicles have been produced, the consortium plans to push ahead with the delivery of a fleet to London in time for 2012.

“The Fuel Cell Black Cabs are now road proven with thousands of miles of operation. Indeed, many people may have seen them as they have been driven around various parts of the UK, but we are now happy to formally announce their road legal status and that you will be seeing more of them in the coming months,” noted Dr. Henri Winand, Chief Executive of Intelligent Energy. “At a time when London will soon be demonstrating its commitment to excellence in the sporting arena, we are proud to show that the UK can also deliver world-leading zero emissions, fuel cell electric vehicle technology that will make a real difference both to lowering carbon emissions and improving air quality.”

Source: Business Wire

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The installation of 1,300 new charging points to encourage more drivers to use electric vehicles in the capital has begun. The Source London network of charging points will be a key part of the Mayor’s drive to make London the electric vehicle capital of Europe. Transport for London (TfL) has also finalised a contract that will see Siemens manage the operation of the network and registration of drivers.

Londoners will begin to see new and branded Source London points strategically located across the city as TfL and its partners begin to install points for the new network of charging points in preparation for its launch this spring. Charging points will be installed by over 40 Source London partners from a range of sectors including Sainsburys, Asda, NCP, Capital Shopping Centres, Scottish and Southern Energy and London boroughs.

At least 1,300 charging points will be installed by the end of 2013 in public locations and streets across the capital. It will mean that by that stage London will have more charging points than petrol stations, giving drivers the confidence to buy into the new technology and providing a boost to the growing electric vehicle market.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “One of the biggest hurdles to greater use of electric vehicles has been a lack of charging points. But now Londoners will see Source London points popping up in locations all over the Capital. By giving increasing numbers of drivers the confidence in electric vehicle technology we will make a considerable contribution to improving our air quality and cutting carbon emissions.”

The installation of Source London charging points coincides with the start of what should be a landmark year for electric vehicles as more models arrive in car showrooms. Coupled with the Government’s newly available £5,000 consumer incentive grant for electric vehicles the number of these vehicles on London’s roads and beyond should significantly increase.

The Mayor is keen that as many Londoners as possible take advantage of the grants being offered by the Government and purchase an electric vehicle. Increasing their number in the capital is part of the Mayor’s work to improve London’s air quality and cut carbon emissions. Producing no emissions at the tailpipe and up to 40 per cent less CO2 than their diesel and petrol counterparts, electric vehicles are the nearest to market green technology.

The deal between TfL and Siemens will see Siemens run the Source London back office to March 2014 at no cost to taxpayers. Siemens will operate the management of the network and registration for drivers to use Source London. For the first year annual membership of the scheme will cost £100 per year and charging will then be free at the point of use.

Nick Fairholme, TfL Interim Director of Congestion Charging and Traffic Enforcement, said: “The start of our Source London installation program and the agreement with Siemens highlights that, even in these economically challenged times, the Mayor and TfL continue to work to make London one of the greenest cities in Europe.  London already has the highest number of electric vehicles in the UK; Source London, in conjunction with the new vehicles coming to market this year and the Government consumer grant, will keep us in the lead.”

Ralph Griewing, Head of Siemens Worldwide Electromobility Business, said: “Siemens is delighted to have concluded the arrangements for managing the Source London Scheme. As a major investor in London, Siemens recognizes the importance of the Source London scheme to the adoption of electric vehicles nationally. By developing both the processes and technology and combining this with our understanding of London as a mega city, Siemens is looking forward to working with TFL to deliver the significant benefits that electric vehicles offer in terms of air quality and environmental improvement, integrated mobility and greener energy supply.”

Source: london.gov

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Transport Secretary Philip Hammond and Business Minister Mark Prisk announced the milestone which could make 2011 the year of the electric car for the UK – and revealed five more regions that will be installing local charging points having successfully bid for a share of a £20m fund.

From January, the motoring map of the country will start to be redrawn as government and car industry work in partnership to give drivers a wide choice of clean, green transport.

The first nine cars to become eligible for eco-friendly car grants are: Mitsubishi iMiEV; smart fortwo electric drive; Peugeot iON; Citroen CZero; Nissan Leaf; Tata Vista EV; Toyota Prius Plug-in; Vauxhall Ampera and Chevrolet Volt. More will follow next year.

The grant will be available to motorists across the UK from January 1st 2011, reducing the cost of eligible cars by a quarter, up to a maximum of £5,000.

The Government is also encouraging a new network of electric vehicle recharging points in streets, car parks and commercial retail and leisure facilities as driving electric cars becomes a part of everyday life for pioneering British drivers. The successful bidding consortia in this second phase are based in: the Midlands; Greater Manchester; East of England; Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said:

“A few years ago, ultra-low emission cars with mass market appeal appeared just a pipe dream. Now they are a reality and we can have all the convenience of the car without all the carbon that normally goes with it.

“Government action to support affordable vehicles and more local charging points means we are on the threshold of an exciting green revolution – 2011 could be remembered as the year the electric car took off.

“The British public has in the past shown it’s ready to embrace new technology and take practical steps to adopt a lifestyle kinder to the environment, so we could really be at the start of something big.”

Business Minister Mark Prisk said:

“Today’s news that motorists will be able to choose from at least nine cars under the consumer incentive scheme and that we are expanding the infrastructure for charging electric vehicles will further reinforce the message that the UK is Europe’s leading producer of ultra low carbon vehicles.”

Today’s announcement further confirms the UK as a global front runner in the market for ultra-low emission cars and open for business for hi-tech green manufacturing. This builds on Nissan’s decision to produce the Leaf in Sunderland and the work the Automotive Council is doing to improve the way Government works with industry.

Source: nds.coi.gov.uk

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Source London, which will deliver 1,300 public charging points across London by 2013, is part of the Mayor’s plans for London to become the electric vehicle capital of Europe. The Source London network will create a single visual identity for electric driving across the capital, and allow members to charge their vehicles at any one of these public charging points for no more than an £100 annual membership fee. Currently electric vehicle drivers have to register in each separate borough they want to use charge points in. In preparation for this new network a website, www.sourcelondon.net, has also been launched providing a ‘one stop shop’ of information on electric vehicles, including charge point locations across the city. Once Source London has been launched in Spring 2011 drivers will be able to sign up for the scheme online.

The development of Source London, has been led by Transport for London in close collaboration with the London boroughs and a wide range of private sector partners – who will play a key part in funding and providing locations for the network’s charge points. Discussions are now taking place with other UK cities developing charge point networks to ensure they can be used seamlessly by electric vehicle drivers and to ensure London’s work can contribute to a national network of charge points. Transport for London has offered these cities the use of the trademarked Source brand which could mean the creation of a national network under a single identity.

The Mayor has recently reaffirmed a 100 per cent discount from the congestion charge for electric drivers in the capital, as well as other low emission vehicles, which offers electric vehicle owners using the zone a potential saving of more than £2000 a year.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, ‘Already there are more electric drivers in London than anywhere else in the UK, but we are now entering an incredibly exciting period in electric motoring. Major manufacturers are gearing up to launch more affordable, practical electric cars over the next few years, whilst the cost of traditional fuels are making petrol-free driving an increasingly attractive option. By opting for electric in greater numbers, Londoners will also help to cut pollution levels and improve the city’s quality of living.

‘Through the development of Source London, we are seeking to create the fertile conditions for electric vehicles to flourish to make our city the electric driving capital of Europe.’

Transport Secretary, Philip Hammond, said: ‘We recognize that for many people the car is an essential, not a luxury, and that is why we are prioritizing spending on making the UK a world leader in ultra low emission cars. Following the first round of our Plugged-in-Places scheme, cities like London are laying the groundwork for a national charge point network.

‘And thanks to our spending review settlement which secured over £400m for measures to promote the uptake of electric and ultra-low emission vehicle technologies, more areas will soon be able to join them.’

The Mayor’s transport advisor, Kulveer Ranger, attended the RAC Future Car Challenge, an event to promote the use of greener vehicles to unveil a Transport for London vehicle wrapped with the new Source London identity. He said: ‘Source London will make it far easier for people to charge electric vehicles in the capital removing one of the biggest barriers to ownership and giving a big boost to this fledgling market. With our offer to allow other cities to use the Source brand the Mayor’s work on electric vehicles heralds the start of an electric revolution here and further afield.’

David Brown, Managing Director of Surface Transport, TfL said: ‘When complete, the Source London network will provide twice as many charge points than petrol stations, meaning owning an electric vehicle will be a genuine option for far more Londoners. Combined with the Government’s ongoing support for electric vehicles and increased private sector involvement, our investment in this vital technology will help to deliver the Mayor’s aspiration for London to become the electric vehicle capital of Europe.’

In recognition of the burgeoning electric vehicle market, Siemens has committed to become Source London’s IT and services partner. This will include the Source London back-office operation which will oversee the network and a number of functions such as members’ registration. This investment will deliver a new infrastructure for Londoners without relying wholly on investment from the public purse.

Ralph Griewing, Head of Siemens worldwide electromobility business, said: ‘Siemens is delighted to be appointed as the IT and services partner for the pan London scheme which will run until the end of November 2013. Siemens will be providing the IT and process know-how to develop a range of driver services including a customer interaction center, card production and registration services. Being the IT sponsor enables us to work closely with TFL to position London in the forefront of the electromobility revolution. Siemens is active in many major electro-mobility programs across the globe and can bring this unique know-how along with advanced IT systems to create a comprehensive, interoperable and sustainable solution which will integrate the electric vehicle into London’s transport landscape.’

Quentin Willson, motoring journalist and electric and hybrid vehicle advocate, said: ‘For urban motorists who want cheaper fuel and energy choices, electric driving is an increasingly great option. Electric vehicle technology has come on leaps and bounds in recent years, making the cars now coming onto the market far more usable and desirable. Crucially, people need to feel confident in taking the electric option. Source London is an exciting step forward, which is gearing up to make electric driving far easier in the capital.’

A number of other commercial organizations are investing millions into electric vehicles with every major car manufacturer planning to release a new model in the next six to 12 months. The Mayor is working to build on this with the aspiration to have 100,000 electric vehicles on London’s streets as soon as possible. A recent report by HSBC estimates that the global electric vehicle market could be worth £440bn by 2020 with the EU being the biggest market. Work to boost this market in London could help to generate millions of pounds for the UK manufacturing industry, create new jobs and green the UK economy.

Source: london.gov

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The six winning projects – which together with contributions from business will receive total funding of £52m – are part of the latest Technology Strategy Board competition. Projects include the development of new engines for plug-in hybrid versions of Nissan, Lotus and Jaguar Land Rover cars, a lightweight electric bin wagon, development of lightweight materials for vehicle weight reduction, and new technologies using thermal energy to improve vehicle performance.

The Government also set out the eligibility criteria for its Plug-in Car Grant. Under the scheme motorists will receive a grant of up to £5,000 to purchase electric, plug-in hybrid or hydrogen fueled cars. In order to be eligible, cars must meet appropriate safety standards and must have been crash tested.  They must also meet minimum range and performance criteria.

The Government believes that this combined support will place the UK at the forefront of low carbon automotive development and provide a vital economic boost for the UK economy by giving us a key competitive advantage in this increasingly important global market.

Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said:

“I am determined to make this Government the greenest ever and transport will have a key role to play.  But this will not be achieved by forcing people off the road – it’s not the car that’s the problem, it’s the carbon.

“While I am convinced that rail will be the future of long distance inter-urban journeys, we can’t ignore the fact that 84% of journeys are made by car and there is no realistic prospect of displacing the private car for point to point complex journeys.

“However, we are on the brink of a technological revolution that will transform the way we see motoring in the 21st century allowing the benefits that the private car delivers without destroying the planet in the process.”

In line with the Coalition Agreement commitment to mandate a national recharging network, guidance has also been released to the 15 places interested in bidding for the second round of the Plugged-In-Places infrastructure program. This sets out in more detail what we want from these projects to support our decision-making on a national recharging network.

Business Minister Mark Prisk said:

“The winning consortia are all exciting examples of the breadth and depth of the UK’s technical capabilities in low carbon vehicles.

“Collaboration between UK-based vehicle manufacturers, supply chain companies and academia will help Britain become one of the leading centers for the design, development and manufacture of ultra-low carbon vehicles.

“All of these projects had to demonstrate a credible route to market. This is about real business opportunities and high-tech jobs being created from the move to a low carbon economy.”
Source: nds.coi.gov.uk

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The station was awarded public-use certification by the City of Portland following the successful installation and testing of the station manufactured by Takasago Ltd., a subsidiary of NEC, at the PGE headquarters in the Two World Trade Center parking garage, 121 SW Salmon St, Portland, Ore. The Takasago Rapid Charging Station is specialized for recharging electric vehicles with lithium-ion batteries and requires only 20 to 30 minutes to recharge a battery to 80 percent of full strength.

PGE and NEC officially opened the quick-charge station with Governor Ted Kulongoski, who charged up an all-electric Nissan LEAF, during a two-day LEAF test drive event at PGE. Portland and the state of Oregon have been designated as top-tier launch markets for the Nissan LEAF when it goes on sale in the United States in December.

“Quick-charging stations are an exciting advancement in our effort to bring electric vehicles to Oregon,” said Gov. Kulongoski. “By making charging convenient and available for public use, we are telling car manufacturers that Oregon is ready for the next generation of electric vehicles — and we want our state to be a leader in introducing these cars to the rest of the country.”

“Partnering with NEC to bring the nation’s first publicly available, quick-charge station to Oregon further solidifies PGE’s commitment to developing the infrastructure needed to support electric vehicles now coming to the U.S. market,” said Jim Piro, president and CEO, PGE.

“With the addition of the Takasago Rapid Charging Station to the growing network of EV charging stations in Oregon, we are able to further our research on how this new technology will interact with our electrical system and support our EV-driving customers,” Piro added.

“This project reflects NEC’s ongoing commitment to the development of new infrastructure that utilizes renewable resources. As a supplier of electric vehicle batteries, our introduction of the rapid electric vehicle charging station is a natural stage in the evolution of NEC’s environmentally friendly solutions,” said Hideki Niwaya, general manager, Public Utility Solutions Division, NEC. “Looking forward, NEC aims to continue developing mission critical solutions, including information and communications technologies (ICT) services and smart grids that represent the latest in technological innovation.”

The Takasago Rapid Charging Station complies with the “CHAdeMO,” a global EV charging standard developed in Japan. The station provides power output of 50kw (50-500V, 0-125A) and supports power input of AC200V±30V.

PGE’s alliance partner, Portland State University, and the Oregon Transportation Research and Education Consortium will document the acquisition, installation, certification, and testing procedures for this quick charger and release its findings in September.

Source: Business Wire

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