Electric car
0-100 in 6 seconds, room for five adults and two children and good storage room as well. State-of-the-art, sporty and quiet. What are we talking about? An electric car, of course.
The electric car is perhaps the first thing that comes to mind when someone says “climate-friendly transportation”. But for many people it is hard to shake off the image of a clunky little plastic car with barely room for an infant and a shopping bag. However, this is far from the entire truth: the latest generation of electric cars has made dramatic improvements. The car we have described above is not a dream, but is the next model of the electric-car manufacturer Tesla, a company that already produces an electric sports car with a top speed of 130 mph and a range of 220 miles. Frederic Hauge, President of Bellona, owns the tenth car from the factory, which he describes as “a pioneer in the electric-car market”.
The roadster pictured here has high performance and a good range, can recharge quickly and boasts an appearance that would delight any sports-car enthusiast. And now, Tesla has designed a larger vehicle that will compete in the higher classes. Development on this model is well advanced and the first cars will be on the road in 2011.
Since Bellona bought Norway’s first electric car in 1989 there have been tremendous developments in terms of technology, regulations and popularity. More and more people choose electric cars because they are practical, economic, fun – and environmentally-friendly. Many countries offer powerful incentives for users of electric cars, including driving in bus lanes, free parking, and lower taxes.
There is still a long way to go before the electric car really takes off, but interest in them is picking up. Bellona’s goal is for 10 percent of cars in Norway to be electric cars or plug-in-hybrids by the year 2020. This will require powerful incentives. We want to encourage the use of electric cars, or other emission-free alternatives. Governments should tilt the playing field in favour of electric cars, for example, by ensuring that state-owned businesses use them. It is also important to develop the necessary infrastructure, with a good coverage of charging stations that offer rapid charging. Just as important as government incentives, is the role of the car industry which needs to have the vision to move away from fossil fuels. We must think fresh.
