The transition to electric vehicles (EVs) could create around 30,000 new jobs along with other economic benefits across the UK.

According to a new report by the University of Strathclyde’s Centre for Energy Policy and supported by SP Energy Networks (SPEN), if the investment in upgrading the network to allow a 99% EV uptake by 2050 in the UK was made, this would not only create tens of thousands of jobs but increase GDP by 0.16%.

Jobs would be created in the network, construction and service sector supply chains, with the average wages within these increasing by 0.1% thanks to the investment as well. Additional roles will be created in related areas as well, such as developers of bodywork and delivery drivers for EV companies.

Scott Mathieson, director of Network Planning and Regulation at SPEN, said the company’s work is “far more than just keeping the lights on.”

“Investing in EV infrastructure and adoption of EVs will help shift a post-COVID 19 economy onto a pathway for a green economic recovery.

“This robust analysis demonstrates why providing the right environment for greater investment in the infrastructure to support EVs now is so crucial to creating a much-needed economic stimulus and enabling the UK to meet Net Zero targets. By working together, we can help develop a better future, quicker.”

The report comes after it was revealed that 45% of young people consider sustainable sectors like the EV sector, offer more secure career paths and over half of young people want a job that helps to protect the planet.

Professor Karen Turner, director of the Centre for Energy Policy at the University of Strathclyde highlighted that the transport sector decarbonising will be key to the UK hitting its binding net zero by 2050 target.

Read more: Current

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On Tuesday, Ars took a look at how Houston handles hurricanes, particularly in light of the city’s botched response to Hurricane Rita in 2005. Back then, millions of Houstonians poured onto the roads to escape the storm’s grasp only to find impenetrable traffic. Senior Technology Editor Lee Hutchinson was one of them, describing a “stupid fucking shambolic evacuation” that crept along at an average of 6.7mph (10.8km/h) for nearly an entire day and night in brutal Texan heat and humidity. Many just ran out of fuel on the road, a consequence of idling bumper to bumper for hours and hours with the AC running.

FURTHER READING
Science and steely nerves spared Houston from a nightmare hurricane evacuation
In the comments, a reader asked a question that provoked a long discussion in the Ars office that morning—what does this mean for electric vehicles?

Don’t sweat it
As it happens, sitting in stationary or walking-pace traffic for 20 hours is the kind of thing at which an EV excels. Unlike a car with an idling engine, an EV’s battery only has to energize the electric motor when motion is actually called for. Add in regenerative braking that recovers some of that energy instead of wasting it as heat, as friction brakes do, and it’s advantage EV.

That still applies even if the outside weather is hotter than body temperature. As all EV drivers know (and many EV critics like to point out), turning on the climate control in an electric car has a negative effect on your predicted range.

But keeping cool is unlikely to require more than 2kW, since the electric air conditioning condensers used by EVs require less energy to operate than the belt-driven versions in conventionally powered vehicles. Running a Tesla AC continuously in a heat wave will eventually deplete its battery, but only sometime after your neighbor’s thirsty V8 freedom-mobile runs dry.

In an ideal world, as long as your evacuation destination is within range when you set off, the wrath of Mother Nature should not dissuade you from going electric—thereby helping to save Mother Nature.

But we don’t live in an ideal world; we live in one that’s warming, with increasingly destructive storms from which people will need to flee. Those who don’t have the range to evacuate on a single charge will need to stop and plug in.

Read more: ars Technica

The third-generation Fiat 500 city car has arrived, more than half-a-century and six million sales after Italy’s favourite small car first launched. It marks a historic turning point too – this 500 is all-electric, which should be no surprise given the Fiat’s trendsetting past.

For the time being, Fiat will also continue to sell the mild-hybrid petrol ‘old’ 500 for customers who want a cheaper small car, but the ‘new’ 500 will come with just one zero-emissions powertrain. The la Prima special edition is the only one available from launch and costs a rather significant £26,995 including the government Plug-in Car Grant (PiCG) and a home wallbox charger. That’s a lot for a Fiat 500, and puts the car close on price to the upmarket MINI Electric and Honda e.

Like other electric cars, if you can stomach the high price – or more likely find an affordable finance deal – the running costs start to pay dividends immediately. Tax is free, company-car drivers have much smaller bills and recharging the battery pack costs under £10. The 500’s large 42kWh also gives it an edge over the MINI and Honda, with a range of 199 miles – just over 50 more than those two. The Renault ZOE can go even further, however, with a range of almost 250 miles.

With 117bhp and instant pulling power, the 500 feels effortlessly quick around town, getting up to speed in next to no time. It also boasts a sharp turning circle and its ride can even soak up potholes, making it an ideal urban runaround. Its range and up to 85kW fast charging should also make longer trips relatively straightforward.

Fiat has been careful to preserve the 500’s unmistakable design, despite the car growing in every direction. Perhaps most impressively, the addition of a large battery pack hasn’t made the cute Fiat look too tall – it’s only gained 26mm in height. Meanwhile, features like split LED headlights that the bonnet intersects lend a modern look, and the lack of a grille points to the past, when the engine was mounted in the back.

Clean lines extend to the interior, where there’s now less clutter and a wider fascia. There’s also a far more powerful infotainment system, thanks to the arrival of U Connect 5, with a digital instrument display and high-definition 10.25-inch touchscreen. Occupants will enjoy more space and there’s a better driving position, but the boot remains compact at 185 litres.

Safety also takes a leap forward, thanks to new sensors that will offer the latest autonomous emergency braking, lane keeping and blind-spot monitoring to help avoid collisions.

Read more: CarBuyer

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