Overview

The arguments for and against electric vehicles.

Electric vehicles were defeated by internal combustion engine vehicles 100 years ago. Why are they coming back? Some of them have good acceleration, but they are expensive, the electricity to charge them is generated from coal, the range is low, they take a long time to recharge, there is not enough charging infrastructure, and the grid won’t cope with the increased demand for electricity. 

Some of these claims are not entirely true. Peter drives an electric car and will discuss the amount of CO2 it emits, how that compares to his house, how far he drives each day, how often he recharges, where he recharges, what it costs, and how it impacts the electricity grid.

Event program

 In-person (ACST)

• 12.15 pm: Doors open for networking and light refreshments
• 1.00 pm: Presentation commences
• 2.00 pm: Presentation concludes

About the speaker

Peter Pudney

Professor of Industrial and Applied Mathematics, University of South Australia

Biography

Peter has been involved in designing, building and racing solar cars since 1993 and is a member of the Science Faculty of the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge. In 2010, he led a team that drove a small custom-built electric car 28,000 km around the world using $400 worth of renewable electricity. 

In 2010, he led projects with the automotive industry planning for the introduction of electric vehicles in Australia. He is currently working on projects to integrate flexible loads, such as EVs, into a grid powered by variable renewable energy.