EVs and eco cars - solutions for Green Growth

The E-Mobility NSR London final conference reviewed progress towards mainstream market acceptance of electric mobility. In particular, it foregrounds the 'bigger picture': the prospects for electrifying road transport across Europe and other world regions, and opportunities to develop complementary green technologies and business solutions for cleaner, quieter, healthier cities.

Organizer Professor Stephen Shaw, London Metropolitan University, Faculty of Business and Law, introduced an audience of more than 100 participants to this key event in London. He stated in his welcoming address the following: "Competition between producers is driving a once-in-a-lifetime transformation of vehicle technology to address some truly global challenges: mitigation of climate change, energy security and air quality in our cities. Nation states and city-regions are also competing for their share of the economic as well as environmental benefits. The desired transition to mass-market acceptance of electric vehicles will be market-led. Nevertheless, the anticipated 'green growth' will depend on cross-sector and cross-border collaboration: the more joined-approach that we are championing in Europe's North Sea Region. The big clean up of road transport will require big picture thinking."

After welcoming words from London Met's Vice Chancellor Professor Malcom Gillies and Christian Byrith, Head of the Interreg IVB Noth Sea Programm, the event kicked off with the key note speech by Leon Daniels, MD Surface Transport from Transport of London. Mr Daniels introduced the new hybrid London buses which today roam the roads in London, stating that the city is committed to further electrification of buses and taxis in future. In the course of the conference day, a set of UK and international speakers discussed the political, economic and social dimensions of electric vehicles and their potential for fostering green growth. In the end, expert panels considered in dialogue with the audience what still needs to be improved, what works well, and what might be transferrable across borders and between actors.

· Find the programme here, slides of the presentations are available here

Dr Stephen Shaw, Director of the Creative Industries Research Centre, Faculty of Business and Law, London Metropolitan University
"Competition between producers is driving a once-in-a-lifetime transformation of vehicle technology to address some truly global challenges: mitigation of climate change, energy security and air quality in our cities. Nation states and city-regions are also competing for their share of the economic as well as environmental benefits. The desired transition to mass-market acceptance of electric vehicles will be market-led. Nevertheless, the anticipated 'green growth' will depend on cross-sector and cross-border collaboration: the more joined-approach that we are championing in Europe's North Sea Region. The big clean up of road transport will require big picture thinking. I'm sure our speakers and delegates will apply their wide-ranging expertise to this end today".