Is there a viable alternative to the internal combustion engine?
Plans to reduce the use of fossil fuels could mean that electric vehicles will be a common sight on our streets.
The practicalities of how car batteries can be recharged and how customers pay for electricity will need to be addressed. Electricity companies and car makers are hoping to avoid some of the problems that plagued the mobile phone industry.
Clean cars are being given a big push by rules and regulations set by the EU in Brussels. But tonight, the industry has a set of its own rules it wants Brussels to agree to.
The industry is seeking a common standard to be introduced for recharging electric vehicles across Europe. They are also proposing that the cost of recharging a vehicle can be linked back to the driver's home electricity bill regardless of where the car is charged.
ESB Chief Executive Padraig McManus believes the new infrastructure neded is relatively straightforward but the telecommunications to allow for the payment of top-up charging will require a new techonogy system .
Electric vehicles can also be charged through the use of hydrogen fuel cell technology using hydrogen and oxygen to create electricity on board the car. This approach is close to commercialisation. William De Beukelaere of Honda explains that charging can take place in around five minutes. A full tank of hydrogen costs around €35 providing a range of up to 460 kilometres.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 27 October 2009. The reporter is Sean Whelan.
