Electric cars must be in driving seat

A CHANGE of mindset is needed if Ireland is to reach its target of having electric vehicles make up 10% of the car market by 2020.

The Government aims to have 250,000 vehicles running on electricity by that time but, according to a leading academic, one of the biggest challenges for Ireland as it tries to make the transition from fossil fuel to long-distance electric cars is acceptance of them as a mode of transport.

Like many other things that are new, it will take some getting used to, and time will have to pass before such cars come to be regarded just like petrol and diesel-powered cars.