UK Parliament Curious About Cars of the Future
IVsource.net
15 October 2003

The UK Parliament’s  Transport Committee has decided to investigate the cars of the future, including the topics of clean vehicle technology, vehicle design and control, and vehicle use.  A broad request for information has been released, with responses requested by 20 October.  Details are provided in this article.

The UK Parliament’s Transport Committee has decided to investigate the cars of the future.

The committee web page notes that manufacturers promote cleaner, greener and safer vehicles. However, zero emission cars and cars that can “drive themselves” have been promised for some time but have not materialised.

The Committee is undertaking an inquiry to find out what the cars of the future will be like and what needs to be done to make it happen. The call has been put out to any entity that wishes to respond. 

In particular, the Committee wishes to examine:

Clean Vehicle Technology:

·         What fuels will be used to drive the vehicles of the future?

·         To what extent will they solve environmental problems?

·         How successful have Government grant and tax break initiatives been to date?

·         What does the Government need to do to make it happen?

Vehicle Design and Control:

·         How much safer can cars be made for drivers and pedestrians?

·         Is the human driver better than the computer – where do we draw the line?

·         Can e-safety initiatives prevent accidents or lessen their impacts?

·         Is there a trend to bigger and heavier cars?

·         What influence does the UK Government have in a global car market?

·         Will technology be brought in through commercial vehicles first?

Vehicle Use:

·         If drivers paid for road use through a national satellite location system, what else could the technology be used for and what are the implications?

·         To what extent will car-share clubs and leasing replace buying a car?

·         Can technology prevent uninsured driving?

Witnesses are invited to submit memoranda to the Committee before Monday, 20 October 2003.

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For More Information ...

... go the Transport Committee's solicitation page.

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