Public and private sectors are collaborating to push electric vehicles - Are consumers interested?
Public and private sectors are collaborating to push electric vehicles – Are consumers interested?
TORONTO, 19 January 2012 – Various polls show that Canadian drivers’ attitudes toward electric vehicles are changing in a favourable way. The extent to which attitude change can be translated to actual sales, however, is a different question.
EV-related vendors, auto manufacturers, and all levels of government are making a collective effort to demonstrate to consumers the benefits of EVs – reduced emissions; convenience of home charging; cushioning from fuel price volatility; and long-term cost savings.
Paul Scott, a founding board member of Plug-In America, responds to consumer worries regarding the lack of public charging stations: “Adequate infrastructure does exist for most people. Anyone with a single family home has a power source that can easily be used for nearly 100% of their driving.” Undoubtedly, one of the hardest aspects of consumer education is convincing drivers that they don’t actually drive as much as they think they do.
These kinds of issues are being discussed all over the world by private sector senior executives and government leaders. On February 22nd and 23rd, Toronto will host its own senior-level conference on electric vehicles and what must be done to encourage its rapid adoption.
“We are at a crucial time when market acceptance of this new technology will depend on the ability of leaders to work together across sectors in support of infrastructure developments. Consumers need to have confidence that EVs are the next big wave. Summits like this provide the much needed forums for leaders to meet, share ideas, and discuss issues in support of market transformation,” says Andrew Bowerbank, a respected authority on sustainable development and low-carbon economics.
The Electric Vehicle & Infrastructure Summit will be held in Toronto on February 22nd and 23rd, attended by provincial ministries, federal agencies, utilities, energy regulators, and vendors showcasing innovative EV technologies.
Full agenda, speaker roster, and venue specifics can be found on their website: http://evehiclesummit.com.
Contact:
Jessica Kim
Marketing Project Manager
Strategy Institute
401-401 Richmond St W
Toronto, ON M5V 3A8
(866) 298-9343 ext 206
