Theo Quick: We'll need to work together to drive our electric dreams

IN THE past, the concept of mainstream electric cars was not taken seriously. It either conjured up the image of a milk float (complete with humorous hum) or of a floating, futuristic vehicle reminiscent of a prop in Bladerunner.

However, we are now on the cusp of their becoming a mainstream reality. According to a WWF Scotland report released this week, 10 per cent of vehicles on Scotland's roads must be electric by 2020 to achieve climate-change targets.

Electric vehicles certainly have the potential to help reduce emissions and are thought to be four times more efficient than internal combustion engines. However, they are still in the embryonic stages of adoption by the public. There are many challenges that need to be addressed before a wider roll-out is practical or possible.

Putting aside the need to address public perception, there are barriers in terms of battery technology and grid capacity.

Should electric cars become the norm, our energy networks would currently not be able to accommodate everyone charging their cars during peak times. The introduction of smart grids will help as they'll allow for effective balancing of electricity supply and demand. While the National Grid revealed last week that it would be investing in upgrading the network, it is not something that can be implemented overnight.

There is also a need to decarbonise energy supply. Currently, the amount of energy used by coal-fired power stations to create the electricity needed to recharge electric vehicles makes electric vehicles less efficient than diesel cars. It is therefore an optimistic goal to have one electric vehicle for every ten petrol or diesel cars on the roads by 2020. With people keeping their cars for an average of ten years, this goal is not impossible but requires the right policy decisions to help change the behaviour toward car ownership.

The first half of this decade will be used to assess technology development – to research fully the practicalities and understand what uptake there might be. That means pilot studies of sufficient scale to provide accurate predictions.

There are numerous electric vehicle (EV) pilot projects under way. There is an opportunity for Scotland to get this right – it is already undertaking a trial in which Glasgow City Council has joined forces with partners including ScottishPower, Allied Vehicles and Axeon Batteries to trial 40 EVs and supporting infrastructure.

There is a need for strategic co-ordination nationally and internationally. The emissions targets are tough – if we are to reach them we have to work together across government and industry.

The Scottish Government needs to ensure that the correct infrastructure and policies are in place to make sure the wide-scale roll-out is possible and practical. It needs to implement smart grids and ensure that the correct financial incentives are in place. Recent indications that the new UK coalition might scrap the 5,000 discount on all new electric cars will also be a hindrance.

It is encouraging that the Scottish Government has gone on record with a commitment that the public-sector fleet is 100 per cent low carbon by 2020. Its target of 95 per cent of all new vehicles in Scotland to be low carbon by the same date may be more challenging still.

The roll-out of EVs may only be practical after 2025. While missing the 2020 targets, it would still be a major accomplishment. It is surely better we get it right five years later than speed ahead and go in the wrong direction.

• Theo Quick is head of Intelligent Transport Systems Practice at Logica.