Electric cars need solid infrastructure to thrive

Encouraging the use of electric vehicles (EVs) will require solid infrastructure throughout cities and backing from local authorities, according to car manufacturer Nissan.


In an interview with edie, executive vice president of Nissan, Andy Palmer, said that investing in EV friendly infrastructures will help move society in an ecological direction.

Mr Palmer said: “The big question is going to be whether the cities and transport authorities step up to putting infrastructure in place”.

“That’s the real question because that’s investment. We can manufacture and sell [batteries for EVs] but the real cost is digging the hole, connecting it to the electricity and changing housing regulation so all new houses have the capability for an [EV] charger. Public parking also needs to have a capability for chargers”.

“So the real debate comes with cities, counties, countries putting that infrastructure in place”.

According to Mr Palmer, the UK Government is doing a good job in supporting zero emissions in business.

However, he added that competition is a stronger driver of ecological change over Government legislation.

“The industry is a self-regulating industry. Sometimes we have legislation that forces us to do something but normally the industry itself is self-regulated by competition. If one company moves in one direction, somebody has to compete in another direction”.

“[Competition and technology] hopefully changes the dynamic of the industry and every ten years or so one of those technologies will come in and change the mixing pot. Some car companies will die, while some car companies will flourish as a result”.

Leigh Stringer

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