Brown plugs into future of electric cars

THE prime minister has pledged £90m in government money to help make Britain “the European capital for electric cars”, a promise that has already sparked interest from motor-industry giants such as General Motors.

GM has already previewed its Flexstream concept car — a hybrid vehicle that is part of the company’s E-Flex programme — which it hopes to launch in America by the end of 2010. By 2011 it intends to sell the car in Europe as a Vauxhall or Saab. Although very cheap to run, the price will be high — about £32,000.

Like other carmakers, GM is faced with the high cost of reducing the fuel consumption and thereby carbon-dioxide emissions of its conventional cars to meet forthcoming European rules that are expected to require a fleet average of 130 g/km carbon dioxide.

Forster said that it was seeking a national sponsor for a “super credit” scheme that would allow ultra-low carbon-dioxide vehicles (below 50g/km) — like its E-Flex cars — to offset larger and more polluting models. If Britain was prepared to champion this idea within the EU, GM would consider making its electric vehicles at the Ellesmere Port plant on Merseyside.

The first E-Flex model will be based on the next generation of Vauxhall Astra, which will be made at Ellesmere Port. GM anticipates first-year production of 30,000 cars for Europe. Bob Lutz, GM vice chairman in charge of production development, believes that worldwide production of E-Flex cars could be 1m by 2020.

full article

Brighton's finest try battery power

Villains were on the run yesterday - although it would have been enough to skateboard or stroll - as Sussex police unveiled their latest crime-fighting machine.

Propelling officers from 0-28mph in a matter of seconds, the two-seater electric patrol car radiated the intimidating power of a golf buggy or a milk float as it glided silently around Brighton.

With an impish twinkle in its headlights, the Gem did not emit much of an authoritative charge. Crucially, however, the nine eight-volt batteries stowed beneath its two seats did not emit any nasty pollutants either.

In full Sussex police livery - but minus the flashing blue lights - the Gem was overtaken on the promenade by bicycles, mobility scooters and cutting-edge electric technology from the 19th century - the Volk's train, the oldest working electric railway in the world.

full article

Renewable energy

As a social, economic, and political trend, the deployment of renewable energy technologies is accelerating at record rates, in part through government subsidy support fomenting the industry, with subsidies reaching $16bn (£8bn) worldwide in 2007. This remains trivial in comparison with fossil fuels, which is still the most heavily subsidised global energy source at $200bn for the same period, with oil comprising $90bn of this total.
Evidence of the durability of the clean technology sector lies in the investment going into clean technologies as they become institutionalised and politicised. The United Nations Environment Programme and New Energy Finance state that $150bn was invested in clean technologies in 2007.

Temporary setbacks will inevitably occur as supply chains build out, and as governments balance subsidy initiatives. However, the fundamental drivers of growth will remain intact.

The areas of greatest investor attention are mature technologies, both renewable energy generation and energy efficiency, that provide an alternative to the increasing cost of fossil fuel-derived energy sources. As an example, wind generation is competitive with oil at $70-$90 per barrel, and is therefore lucrative at today's oil price of around $130 a barrel. Given that wind is a zero-cost fuel source, the long-term economics of wind become increasingly attractive.

full article

Ofgem enforces 'social tariff'

Energy regulator Ofgem is forcing providers to cut charges for their poorest customers. It insists that their "social tariff" should at least match their cheapest deal.

Any of the 4.5 million households in fuel poverty - defined by energy bills swallowing over a tenth of their income - can ask to go on the social tariff. But most suppliers currently offer their cheapest deals to customers with bank accounts and internet access who can pay online or by direct debit.

This knocks at least a tenth off the average household's £1,058 yearly bill, but the choice is not normally open to the poorest with no bank accounts or computers. Instead, many of them pay most for energy because they're on prepayment meters.

Energy watchdog Energywatch welcomed the ruling but said those on the social tariff should be charged least.
Two providers, EDF Energy and Scottish & Southern, already offer that. Other providers' social tariffs are less generous or are restricted, for example, to pensioners only.

British Gas and Scottish Power are the meanest, according to Energywatch.

Call your provider to apply for its "social tariff", but you may save more by first switching to a cheaper supplier.

For advice on other ways to cut your fuel bills, call the Home Heating Helpline on 0800 336 699.

full article