Could All Cars Be Electric?
CrowdScience
BBC
4.8 • 1K Ratings
🗓️ 15 September 2017
⏱️ 30 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Just one per cent of vehicles are powered by electricity, but CrowdScience listener Randall from Lac du Bonnet in Canada wants to know how quickly that might change, and whether one day all cars could be electric. Marnie Chesterton begins her journey in an electric car, stuck in traffic on a Los Angeles freeway.
It was in California where the modern electric car revival began in the late 1990s with the EV1 – popular with Hollywood celebrities like Mel Gibson and Danny DeVito. More than two decades on, several countries have pledged to go all-electric in future. The latest is China, who currently lead the world in the number of electric vehicles on the road. But is the planet’s power infrastructure even capable of supporting this global electric dream?
Marnie talks to experts about the practicalities of power supply and charging, takes a ride in an electric prototype with enough acceleration to impress even the most cynical petrol head and discovers an extraordinary vision for the future of personalised urban transport.
Do you have a question we can turn into a programme? Email us at crowdscience@bbc.co.uk
Presenter: Marnie Chesterton Producer: Jennifer Whyntie
(Image: Electric power cord plugged in and recharging the electric vehicle Credit: Getty Images)
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Take some time for yourself with soothing classical music from the mindful mix, the Science of |
| 0:07.0 | Happiness Podcast. |
| 0:08.0 | For the last 20 years I've dedicated my career to exploring the science of living a happier more meaningful life and I want |
| 0:14.4 | to share that science with you. |
| 0:16.1 | And just one thing, deep calm with Michael Mosley. |
| 0:19.4 | I want to help you tap in to your hidden relaxation response system and open the door to that |
| 0:25.4 | calmer place within. Listen on BBC Sounds. Hello, you're listening to Crowd Science on the BBC World Service, the show that takes your questions about life, Earth and the universe to experts |
| 0:46.4 | hunting for answers all around the planet. |
| 0:50.3 | I'm Marnie Chesterton and this week I'm jetting off to Los Angeles on the USA's West Coast, |
| 0:56.7 | the home of Hollywood, some great movies, multiple celebrities, and perhaps surprisingly, one of the world's largest populations of a certain type of |
| 1:06.4 | transport electric cars which I'm here to investigate. |
| 1:18.0 | First time to meet an old friend and his very own shiny electric wheels. Jack, hello! |
| 1:20.0 | Hi. |
| 1:21.0 | Welcome to Los Angeles. |
| 1:23.0 | Slightly sweaty hug. |
| 1:25.0 | It's rather warm here, it really is. |
| 1:27.0 | But at least you at this nice little airport so we can walk straight out to the car. |
| 1:31.0 | That is Jack Stewart, senior writer covering the future of |
| 1:34.4 | transport at Wired magazine and as long time listeners will remember former |
| 1:39.2 | presenter of science in action on the BBC World Service. We've got a fun day if you like electric cars. |
| 1:45.2 | I like air conditioning. |
| 1:46.4 | Well there's air conditioning in the electric cars. |
... |
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