BEYOND THE ELECTRIC CAR | FULLY CHARGED LIVE 2018 TALK 17

EV Channels Review

This panel discussion from Fully Charged Live 2018 ventures beyond electric cars to explore the future of electric trucks, buses, trains, ships, and planes. Hugo Spowers of River Simple highlights their "Rasa" car, emphasizing its extreme efficiency (250 mpg equivalent) and a unique "mobility as a service" business model that covers fuel and maintenance, making efficiency profitable. Alice Gilman from Viva Rail details their battery-powered trains, which repurpose existing London Underground rolling stock and are entering service on the Welsh borders and West Midlands, with plans for automatic charging points. Peter Paul van inforced discusses his company's work supplying large battery banks for ships, focusing on swappable batteries to overcome range limitations and infrastructure challenges in ports. The panel also touches upon the rapid advancements in battery technology, the challenges of finite resources like cobalt and lithium, and the potential of alternative chemistries and hybrid solutions like hydrogen for different applications. The overarching theme is the critical need for efficiency and innovative business models to drive sustainable transport solutions across various sectors.