Speech by Simon Roberts

Given on 15th April 1999 outside 4 Lansdowne Gardens, London SW8

Thank you Kate. I really am most grateful for your support over the duration of this project.

Thank you all for coming and helping to make this a special event. People have travelled from as far as Somerset, Gloucestershire and Staffordshire.

There are many others I wish to acknowledge and thank for the success of this project. But first, "Why?". People ask me, "Why did I want an electric car and go to the bother of charging it on-street?"

All the time we hear about the effect on the environment of our actions. Air pollution, climate change and so on. These matters are important, but can an individual be concerned for the environment and still enjoy the benefits of modern life with a clear environmental conscience?

Is the car the biggest baddie of all? It is a glorious success of modern life; for drivers and passengers that is. Drivers value the personal mobility, despite congestion and parking costs. We spend a lot of our disposable income on them. However the cost to the community is high: noise, vibration, smell, dirt and respiratory problems that grind life down in central London. Then there are the global problems of CO2 released to the atmosphere and dependence on foreign oil.

The electric car is one answer. OK the battery can't compete with a petrol tank on range but research shows that something like 90% of trips by town cars are under 10 miles.

The story of this charging point begins at the start of 1995 when I read of the many electric cars in use in Switzerland. I resolved I should get one for myself and my family.

Charging is easy: simply plug into a standard 3-pin domestic socket. But where to charge up? The first chapter in this story was a planning application to convert that front garden to a hardstanding.

Admittedly it is a trifle short. This pleasant leafy road is a Conservation Area and the boundary is just over there, so the railings could not be touched. After several months of pushing the cause of a responsible environmentalist, I failed.

But as I walked away from the table at the Lambeth planning committee, the councillors turned round and asked "Why not charge up at the road side?" Those councillors triggered the idea of on-street charging, such a daunting prospect of bureaucracy. However their imagination meant that there was support from the council from the start.

So my first thanks goes to the councillors on the planning committee, from all political parties, for seeding the idea.

The next chapter involves London Electricity plc, the logical organisation to provide a power outlet that is safe in all respects. This was my first contact with the Technical Services department and Andrew Wincott.

There are charging points for electric cars in many other countries but none solve a peculiarity in the UK: "the gap". "Mind the gap." A gap of 0.45 m must exist from the kerb edge to any pavement structure, lamp post, railing, parking meter. The gap allows vehicles to swing over the edge as they park. However a cable can't bridge this gap since this would cause "obstruction to free passage along the public footpath." Catch 22!

The solution is before you, as you have seen demonstrated: a socket at a sensible height and a channel to the kerb edge. The door is locked to prevent interference.

Detailed design and manufacture of this post was by Emlyn Miller and his company Superpitch. A super job Emlyn. May you sell many more.

At London Electricity, my thanks to Ron Slade of Network Contracts and Ian Barker of Metering Policy and Training. But it is Andrew Wincott of Technical Services who has made it happen. He was there at the start, taking up the mantle within London Electricity and steering this project through goodness knows how many departments it eventually touched.

At the same time as developing a safe, reliable charging point, reserved parking is needed to be sure of charging up over night, ready to drive off next morning with a "full tank".

Lambeth have been most imaginative with the use of the "EV" parking district. In fact, any electric vehicle can park here. I'm glad there aren't many around yet! Lambeth can rightly be proud of having the first on-street charging bay in the country.

My thanks to the office of the Chief Executive, Heather Rabbatts, and particular thanks to Mr Farmer and Mr Turrwani of the Highways Department.

So to the vehicle. Looks like an ordinary car doesn't it. Peugeot are one of the leaders in electric cars having sold several thousand in France. Its easy to use. Fun and relaxing to drive. It can even be pre-heated before driving off. A full charge allows 50 miles in London traffic: ample. Up to 8 hours to recharge. With a time switch for charging over night, just 1 p of electricity per mile. Who says electric cars don't work?

My thanks to Graham Deeming of Peugeot UK who has helped in the supply of this vehicle.

Electric vehicles are more expensive. This is recognised by the government. Through the Energy Saving Trust, the government offsets some of the extra cost of clean vehicles with its Powershift programme. Although this money is targeted at fleet operators, I am very grateful that Powershift recognised the pioneering nature of this project and awarded a grant. For this I must thank Jonathan Murray and Neil Wallace.

Of the many others whom I have contacted, I must pick out ZEUS, zero emissions in urban society, a project to introduce 1500 alternatively fuelled vehicles across Europe. Helmet Lusser and other members of ZEUS in this country gave much support and were very patient in answering my many questions.

Now the precedent has been set. This is no gimmick. This is for real. It has been in operation for over a month. Its success will be followed up over the coming months. My family are pioneers for a new approach to travel.

Electric vehicles have been criticised for merely shifting pollution to the power station. However the beauty of the electric vehicle over any engine is that it can be powered by such a wide range of power sources. Of course I'm thinking of the great range of renewables. These are exciting times in the electricity industry when more options are being offered to consumers.

As a committed environmentalist, perhaps I should be putting that roof space to good use. There are several houses in London with solar electric panels feeding into the mains. I understand that London Electricity is one of the more welcoming companies for individuals generating their own power.

Alternatively I can get green power from further away. I must acknowledge this offer [hold up certificate] by one of the newer players in the electricity industry. In support of this project, The Renewable Energy Company guarantees to allocate a proportion of ecotricity equivalent to the running of this car. Thanks also to the Renewable Energy Company for providing the lunch.

I hope this small project is an inspiration to all, that even individuals can make a difference. All of us must endeavour to hand onto our children a better environment, not a worse one.

Finally a thank you to the local police, traffic wardens, neighbours and EV drivers for helping to make this event a success.

Please view the splendid range of electric vehicles parked around and ask questions. Superpitch have brought along an alternative style of charging post. The people I have just mentioned are also around to answer questions. The social club has details about these vehicles and other aspects of the charging facility.

Thank you all again.