Will Transport Go Electric?

Will Transport Go Electric?

Press Release: Sustainable Energy Forum, www.sef.org.nz

Are electric vehicles part of the answer to New Zealand's transport woes? Can they help reduce our soaring greenhouse gas emissions and our heavy dependence on oil? A public seminar in Wellington aims to find out.

The Sustainable Energy Forum (SEF), www.sef.org.nz, is holding the seminar to debate the role electric vehicles could play in New Zealand's transport and electricity systems. The lunchtime seminar will be in Wellington on Thursday 15 November.

"The recently released New Zealand Energy Strategy shows that the Government intends a major shift from burning fossil fuels to using electricity for transport," said Tim Jones, Convenor of the Sustainable Energy Forum.

"The Sustainable Energy Forum decided that this was a good time to bring together some of the key participants in this area to discuss electric vehicle developments, and what effect a major New Zealand uptake of electric vehicles will have on our electricity and transport systems."

"Electric vehicles can store electrical energy in their batteries and potentially release it back to the grid when generation is low, so they can work well with intermittent renewable generation such as wind, hydro and tidal," Tim Jones continued.

"Electric vehicles are not just about electric cars," Tim Jones said. "Electric buses, trains and light rail play a crucial role in improving the sustainability and quality of public transport, and one of our speakers will be focusing on this area. Meanwhile, there is strong growth in such areas as electric scooters and other forms of electric personal transport."

"Electric transport has the potential to make a major difference to our transport system, but, like any new technology, there are plenty of questions. We hope to answer some of them at this seminar," Tim Jones concluded.

The details of the seminar are:

Date: Thursday 15 November

Time: 12.30-2pm

Venue: Lecture Theatre 2, Old Government Buildings (Victoria University Law School), Lambton Quay

Entry by donation (suggested donation of $5 to cover expenses)

Format: Panel discussion followed by questions.

Panelists:

* Simon King, Ministry of Transport: "Towards an electrical transformation of the New Zealand light vehicle fleet" * Brian Bull, Electricity Commission: "Impact of high electric vehicle uptake on generation development in New Zealand" * Brent Efford, Transport 2000+: "The 100% electric commute: a once and future option" * K-J Kells, Meridian Energy, "Creating an electric vehicle future for NZ" * Fraser Clark, New Zealand Wind Energy Association, "The car after the storm - potential synergies for wind energy and electric vehicles in NZ"

Sustainable Energy Forum, www.sef.org.nz

ENDS

© Scoop Media