How to hook the nation on electric power

Aug 14 2009 Ian Johnson

AFTER my recent misgivings about the adequacy of the range of some new-generation battery-powered cars, I have been accused of not exactly being fully behind this form of propulsion.

Of course electric is the green way ahead and I am quite sure that in another 20 years or so many drivers will be silently gliding around town in the latest battery powered creations that can be plugged into the mains every night.

The petrol-heads may scoff that car-mageddon for the powerful petrol and diesel engines is a long way away but it is safe to say that fossil-fuel power is going to run out of juice.

Although the performance of rechargeable battery-powered vehicles has been considerably enhanced since the 10mph milk float and they are the ultimate in clean and green transport, but I still maintain that the range falls woefully short of the mark on one issue.

So what can be done to woo the driver away from the superbly developed petrol and diesel cars that we drive today?

Granted, electric cars will be exempt from congestion charges and maybe even possible future road charging, but what would make the biggest difference would be free parking anywhere for battery- powered cars.

That really would switch the population on to electric power.