Bulli highlights electric revolution

One of the most engaging concepts at the Geneva Motor Show this week was Volkswagen's Bulli, writes Brian Byrne. It is a 21st century variant on the theme begun by the T1 microbus van that debuted in the 1950s and became synonymous with the flower power of the following decade.

The new version is right up to date, though, as a spearhead in VW's electric car programme. A 4-seater, it is powered by an electric motor and lithium battery system that gives it a claimed 290kms range.

The Bulli also uses today's computer technology in the form of a removable iPad which handles power management, navigation, and communications from a custom dock.

Maybe the Bulli itself will never go into production. It would be a pity if it didn't, because it is both practical and attractive. But the technologies it proposes will underpin serious advances in EVs across Europe which have already planned no less than 20 electric car models on the market between 2009-2013.

Ireland is one of the countries pushing the envelope in the development of infrastructure for e-cars, and Nissan has led the sales charge here with the recent delivery of the first Leaf in Europe to a woman in Kerry.

We are also at the high end of offering premiums and tax benefits to e-car buyers as part of a State commitment to achieving a 10 percent target of annual EV sales by 2020. The offer here of 13 percent benefits from the list price compares to 11 percent in Portugal and 9 percent un the UK.

The biggest benefits offered are in Denmark at 36 percent, while Italy (2%) and Germany (1%) are at the bottom of the scale in Europe. Japan is offering 15 percent, and China 11 percent, in incentives to boost EV development.

Already on sale in Europe (some in Ireland) are the Leaf, Mitsubishi's i-MiEV and its companion Peugeot/Citroen cars iOn/C-Zero. Upcoming in the next year or so are a Mercedes-Benz Vito van, Ford's electric Focus (above), and Renault's Kangoo Rapid ZE. Next year we'll have the Renault Fluence ZE, a Fiat 500EV and a Smart ForTwo electric city car.

Toyota has both an iQ EV city car and RAV4 SUV coming down in EV form, while Renault is also well advanced with its Zoe ZE supermini (right) and Twizy ZE city cars.

BMW has provided details of its new i cars, a pure EV city car and a larger extended-range EV, developed under its Megacity programme. A Mercedes-Benz EV SLS sports car has been concepted, and VW aims to have an electric Golf and an UP! electric city car on the market by 2013.

The adoption of EVs is totally dependent on improved battery technology. Lead acid batteries from the late 19th century gave early electric cars a range of 25 kilometres, but the availability of cheap oil and the internal combustion engine killed the incentive to electric development. More recently, nickel metal hydride batteries offered ranges between 60-120, while the new lithium-ion systems currently provide a range of up to 190kms. Second-generation lithium-ion units on the way will increase that to a typical 300kms.

The current main downside is the high cost of batteries and the minerals required for their manufacture. But such is the level of investment in all aspects of EVs, the electric revolution has arguably now achieved an unstoppable momentum.