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'Danger - Electric Vehicles'. Is this a sign of things to come? Not a warning sign in the immediate sense. After all, I wouldn't for one minute think that an electric vehicle is any more dangerous than an ordinary vehicle, apart from perhaps to pedestrians who may not hear one coming.
No, I'm thinking long-term. Remember what the Japanese did to our motorcycle industry. Perhaps they may do so with electric vehicles. For the second month running the hybrid Toyota Prius was the best-selling model in Japan! Makes you think doesn't it?
While VW maintained this week that electric vehicles will remain on the margins for the foreseeable future, especially in Europe, we are witnessing an increase in demand in the East, not to mention take up in the West, notably California. Sales of hybrids rose in the USA by more than 5% in June, accounting for 3% of new car sales.
As always, a lot will depend on infrastructure. How many public recharging points will become available to 'fuel' widespread take-up? We are starting to witness green shoots here and there. Quite likely, those companies and public authorities providing recharging points are doing so for publicity as well as for altruistic or corporate and social responsibility reasons.
However, it seems the Japanese are definitely ahead of the curve when it comes to development of battery electric-powered and plug-in hybrid vehicles. Will our Western European manufacturers take note or rely solely on extracting further efficiencies out of the traditional petrol or diesel-powered engine? We are living in a period of considerable change. I do hope that they are not missing a trick when it comes to the research and development of future personal transportation systems.
Even McLaren Automotive is advertising for a senior engineer with hybrid powertrain expertise.
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