Battery-car funds urged

Press, 29 March 1979, Page 5

Battery-car funds urged

Parliamentary reporter An appeal for financial support for the work of Mr David Byers, of the University of Canterbury, in developing a prototype electric car has been made by the Labour member of Parliament for Yaldhurst (Mr .M. A. Connelly). He said that Mr Byers had said that no Government funds had come to him since the project had been drawn to the Government’s attention last year. Mr Connelly has written to the Minister of Energy

(Mr Birch) and the Minister of Transport (Mr McLachlan), recalling that he has made previous applications on the subject. Mr Connelly quoted Mr Byers as saying that electric cars, buses, and vans could make an important contribution to saving fuel, particularly as a consequence of the Iranian oil situation and the increasing costs of energy. There was little doubt, that such vehicles would reduce the demand for fuel oils and would be an export earner either

through their production and export or the sale of patent rights. An important factor delaying the effective commercial development of electric vehicles was their battery capacity. Bulky, heavy batteries were needed ar present but further research was expected to result in a big increase in power output from smaller batteries. This would hasten the advent of commercial electric vehicles and increased consumer demand for them.