Beyond the ICE age

What if I were to introduce to you a new kind of engine – the internal combustion engine (ICE). These ICE vehicles would be relatively cheap to purchase but run on a fuel that is on average only 20 per cent efficient. Their owners would then be then locked into a lifetime cycle of expensive consumables. Their owners may even suffer from “cost anxiety” over their fuel choice – the feeling that their car is literally burning their money out of their tailpipe. There would be no cheap, home-refuelling alternative for these ICE vehicles. The fossil fuel that powered these vehicles in New Zealand would be imported at great cost to the country and also to the planet in terms of geopolitical imbalance, war and oil spills and pollution in the environment .

What if I were to tell you the internal combustion engine produced noxious gases as a side product of propulsion and that these toxic fumes would be released directly to the open air. And that aside from adding to our national health budget through respiratory disease, these gases would add to the burden of global carbon emissions.

If I were to tell you this? You wouldn't have a bar of it - and neither you should ...

What if I were to tell you there are alternatives? Driving an electric car produces 80 per cent fewer CO2 emissions than a petrol car – making an EV much better for the environment. Closer to home Dunedin has a high rate of car ownership and thus a dependence on imported fuel. 40 per cent of Dunedin’s carbon emission come from cars. Even when you take into account the embedded carbon from production, there are 60 per cent fewer carbon emissionsacross the life cycle of the EV (cradle to grave – see EECA full life cycle analysis). So EVs need to be a part of our immediate transport solution, particularly in areas of high urban density.

Find out more at the Beyond the Ice Age panel discussion at the Dunedin Public Library, part of the New Zealand International Science Festival, and supported by Aurora Energy. Bring your curiosity, your questions and your range anxiety and we can discuss all over a cuppa.

Check out The New Zealand Electric Car Guide (available to download from Electric Heaven) to find out more about owning and driving an electric vehicle (EV) in New Zealand. Electric vehicles are great for the environment and your wallet, and areamazing to drive.

NZ International Science Festival: ELECTRIC CARS AND BEYOND

OTAGO ELECTRIC VEHICLE SOCIETY INC presents a fleet of talks exploring electric vehicles, with a chance to question the experts. With the generous support of Aurora Energy.

12.30-1.00pm : Electric Cars

Hamish Miller, Senior Lecturer of Automotive Engineering Trades, explains what's under the bonnet and how to charge them

1.00-1.30pm : Beyond the ICE age
Henrik Moller Emeritus Professor for Sustainability discusses citizen Science, electric vehicles and driving into the future

1.30-2.00pm : From Carriage to Car and Beyond (petrol)

A light hearted look at the history of electric vehicles from 1880 to 2018.

2.00-2.30pm : Q&A – ask the panel

Followed by light refreshments

Booking recommended: library@dcc.govt.nz or 03 474 3690

Sunday 15th July

Dunningham Suite, 4th floor, Dunedin City Library

FREE