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| Can drivers be persuaded to go green? | Can drivers be persuaded to go green? |
| (2 days later) | |
| By Marc Cieslak Reporter, BBC Click Mitsubishi has produced the i-Meiv with an electric motor | By Marc Cieslak Reporter, BBC Click Mitsubishi has produced the i-Meiv with an electric motor |
| Green cars powered by alternative fuel sources have become more visible on the roads in recent years. | Green cars powered by alternative fuel sources have become more visible on the roads in recent years. |
| One cause could be the introduction of legislation and higher taxes to penalise drivers of gas-guzzling vehicles by governments around the world. | One cause could be the introduction of legislation and higher taxes to penalise drivers of gas-guzzling vehicles by governments around the world. |
| But another factor is an increase in the range of eco-friendly cars on offer. These include hybrids with a combination of petrol engines and electric motors, fully battery-powered electric vehicles and even experimental ones running on algae. | But another factor is an increase in the range of eco-friendly cars on offer. These include hybrids with a combination of petrol engines and electric motors, fully battery-powered electric vehicles and even experimental ones running on algae. |
| Japanese automotive giants, in particular, have been stepping up their manufacturing of environmentally-friendly cars. | Japanese automotive giants, in particular, have been stepping up their manufacturing of environmentally-friendly cars. |
| Lack of infrastructure | Lack of infrastructure |
| Mitsubishi is the first to mass produce an electric car which is expected to be available for sale in Europe next year. | Mitsubishi is the first to mass produce an electric car which is expected to be available for sale in Europe next year. |
| The firm has produced the i-Meiv which is based on an existing petrol car widely available in Japan. | The firm has produced the i-Meiv which is based on an existing petrol car widely available in Japan. |
| The green model has seen the petrol engine replaced with an electric motor, while a lithium-ion battery is stored underneath the cabin area and also stabilises the car. | The green model has seen the petrol engine replaced with an electric motor, while a lithium-ion battery is stored underneath the cabin area and also stabilises the car. |
| Andrew Davis says a better car recharging infrastructure is needed | Andrew Davis says a better car recharging infrastructure is needed |
| Heavy batteries can reduce the performance of a green car by weighing it down and making it slower. | Heavy batteries can reduce the performance of a green car by weighing it down and making it slower. |
| The batteries can also take up to eight hours to fully charge, so these cars are a long way away from being as convenient as a quick stop at the local petrol station. | The batteries can also take up to eight hours to fully charge, so these cars are a long way away from being as convenient as a quick stop at the local petrol station. |
| Andrew Davis, director of the UK's Environmental Transport Association (ETA), told Click that currently eco-friendly vehicles lack an infrastructure to supply them with fuel. | Andrew Davis, director of the UK's Environmental Transport Association (ETA), told Click that currently eco-friendly vehicles lack an infrastructure to supply them with fuel. |
| Although he points out that there is a practical alternative. | Although he points out that there is a practical alternative. |
| "Electric cars have the advantage that the infrastructure is there in the houses - people are able to drive the car onto their own drives to charge it quite easily," he said. | "Electric cars have the advantage that the infrastructure is there in the houses - people are able to drive the car onto their own drives to charge it quite easily," he said. |
| Free charging | Free charging |
| Quick charging stations across Japan are attempting to speed up the fuelling time - they can charge about three quarters of the Mitsubishi i-Meiv's battery in 30 minutes for a range of around 80 miles. | Quick charging stations across Japan are attempting to speed up the fuelling time - they can charge about three quarters of the Mitsubishi i-Meiv's battery in 30 minutes for a range of around 80 miles. |
| Electric cars are mostly designed as city cars, but Tokyo's urban commuters have just a handful of electric charging stations. | Electric cars are mostly designed as city cars, but Tokyo's urban commuters have just a handful of electric charging stations. |
| The city is lagging behind some Western cities, such as London where there are 200 charging stations. | The city is lagging behind some Western cities, such as London where there are 200 charging stations. |
| Heavy electric batteries can reduce a vehicle's performance | Heavy electric batteries can reduce a vehicle's performance |
| One Japanese chain of convenience stores is working to increase the number of charging stations with the help of local government. | One Japanese chain of convenience stores is working to increase the number of charging stations with the help of local government. |
| Lawson stores are piloting a free charging scheme, and it runs and fuel its own fleet of electric commercial vehicles. | Lawson stores are piloting a free charging scheme, and it runs and fuel its own fleet of electric commercial vehicles. |
| "In the future maybe the use of electric cars will be more widespreadÂ… that's why we are trying to introduce more charging stations," said Yuji Katayama from the store chain. | "In the future maybe the use of electric cars will be more widespreadÂ… that's why we are trying to introduce more charging stations," said Yuji Katayama from the store chain. |
| Japan is leading the way when it comes to some new technologies. | Japan is leading the way when it comes to some new technologies. |
| Wireless transfer | Wireless transfer |
| Engineers at Wasada University are collaborating with Showa Aircraft Industry on a project to replace plug-in charging stations completely. | Engineers at Wasada University are collaborating with Showa Aircraft Industry on a project to replace plug-in charging stations completely. |
| They have adapted an electric city car to charge its batteries wirelessly through inductive charging - electromagnetic fields are used to transfer energy from the base station to the vehicle's battery. | They have adapted an electric city car to charge its batteries wirelessly through inductive charging - electromagnetic fields are used to transfer energy from the base station to the vehicle's battery. |
| Similar technology is found in small devices like electric toothbrushes. | Similar technology is found in small devices like electric toothbrushes. |
| A Japanese project has come up with a way to charge cars wirelessly | |
| The project envisages that charging plates would be placed in parking bays, or even on buses which could refuel as they allow passengers on and off. | The project envisages that charging plates would be placed in parking bays, or even on buses which could refuel as they allow passengers on and off. |
| Hydrogen fuel cells | Hydrogen fuel cells |
| Toyota has produced a family-sized car powered by a hydrogen fuel cell. Mixing hydrogen and oxygen creates electricity to power a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, and its only emission is water. | Toyota has produced a family-sized car powered by a hydrogen fuel cell. Mixing hydrogen and oxygen creates electricity to power a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, and its only emission is water. |
| The cars are refuelled at a hydrogen pump, but these are as yet very scarce. | The cars are refuelled at a hydrogen pump, but these are as yet very scarce. |
| Fuel suppliers will have to invest heavily in a hydrogen infrastructure before consumers feel the vehicles are a viable option according to Andrew Davies at ETA. | Fuel suppliers will have to invest heavily in a hydrogen infrastructure before consumers feel the vehicles are a viable option according to Andrew Davies at ETA. |
| "Those sorts of technologies could be used by the bus sector and the truck sector," he said. | "Those sorts of technologies could be used by the bus sector and the truck sector," he said. |
| "It might then trickle down to the private user for the private car, but we will have to see it worked in the commercial sector first," he predicted. | "It might then trickle down to the private user for the private car, but we will have to see it worked in the commercial sector first," he predicted. |
| Watch Click on the BBC News Channel, Saturday 5 December, 11.00 (GMT). | Watch Click on the BBC News Channel, Saturday 5 December, 11.00 (GMT). |