Keynote for Industrial Track: Enabling Alternative Vehicles

           The twin challenges of climate change and energy independence and the associated government regulations to reduce vehicle emissions present the automotive industry with an unprecedented pressure to develop cleaner, more efficient vehicles without making any compromises on performance, price or quality. Although it is not clear which technologies will dominate in the coming years - it is clear that the dominance of the internal combustion engine is now being challenged by many hybrid and electric drivetrain developments and the use of new alternative fuels to petrol and diesel. This presents some particular questions to policymakers and manufacturers; how to enable the successful introduction of this diverse set of new types of vehicle in an effective manner? How can industry be encouraged to adopt cleaner alternative vehicle technology to produce cleaner more efficient vehicles and how can consumers be encouraged to buy them? The dramatic reductions in CO2 emissions required by international law present some formidable targets that need to be achieved over the coming two decades. How can we best achieve them? This keynote aims to introduce the subject and in particular examines the role of motorsport competition in driving clean vehicle technology innovation and helping to persuade the public that green vehicles can be cool and exciting - and not as dull and boring as they are often perceived.

The CV of Lord Drayson can be found here.