The broad outcome of the survey was that while the cars were extremely comfortable to drive there was a certain anxiety regarding the range of each vehicle. The range of all vehicles was under 200 miles and not all countries as yet have satisfactory facilities for recharging etc. This proved a definite minus to most people. Also, in the USA in winter heating the car draws on power and lessens the range. Some people had to spend longer that what was convenient recharging their car. Some had trouble finding recharge facilities. All these issues led most people in the USA say they would stay with Petrol Cars for the time being. People in China and Europe fared much better as facilities are much better in these countries.
Because of the vast distances involved in travel in Australia a certain amount of infrastructure will have to be installed before Electric Vehicles are suitable for Australia.
We also viewed how a Hydrogen powered car works. A Hydrogen Car is powered by hydrogen panels producing electric current that drives an electric motor. This is quite a complicated system but there has been a lot of development and Hydrogen Cars are something for the future. There is no pollution as only water comes out the exhaust pipe. The cost of Hydrogen is competitive with Petroleum and there is no problem with range.
As a total change of subject in the second hour we viewed the building of a new Quantum Computer and listened to the explanation of how the properties of Quantum Theory are made use of.
Neville Gibb