Power to the People at ‘Electrifying Transport’ Event

With environmental challenges and opportunities increasingly on the agenda of businesses, and awareness of them increasing within households, the question for many remains: what can we do? One of the options is to switch from a petrol or diesel vehicle to an electric one and, this week, BCIMO hosted an event for all to explore the range of different vehicles available.

Organised as a two-session event at the VLRNIC in Dudley, it was hosted by Black Country Transport, who are tasked with raising awareness of EV in the region, alongside partners Let’s Experience Electric and Transport for West Midlands, the Innovative Transport Working Group as part of Innovative Alliance for the West Midlands, and Coventry University with BCIMO within the remit of the Catalyst aspect of the Clean Futures programme.

The morning session showcased two outside-the-Centre elements: a static display of electric vehicles and micromobility in Zoological Drive, across a range of suppliers including BMW, Ford, Hyundai, KGM, Kia, Mercedes, MG, Mini, Renault, Tesla and Vauxhall, plus a TX mobility taxi, e-bikes from West Midlands Cycle Hire and e-scooters from Beryl. Many of the models were also available for visitors to test drive, an opportunity which proved very popular, with other supplier stands remaining busy throughout the morning, talking to both members of the public and local businesses about the detail of the vehicles on display and options for the switch to EV.

After lunch, the conference focused on a showcase for the work already being done within the region to facilitate the transition to electric vehicles, providing insight into its potential for businesses and local authorities, and the work still needed to be done, particularly in the roll-out of infrastructure. The latter also encompassed discussions on the integration of EVs with other forms of ‘green’ transport, such as electric buses and light / very light rail, and future innovation such as interconnected, multimodal journeys as reflected in BCIMO’s Hub-to-Home concept.

The agenda included a broad range of speakers, hosted by Kester Sleeman, ULEV Programme Manager at Black Country Transport, with an introduction from Councillor Patrick Harley, Leader of Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council; followed by an outline of innovation policy and potential from BCT Innovation and ULEV Lead, Luke Hadlow. Neil Fulton, CEO of BCIMO, highlighted the scope of innovation in transport work being undertaken by the organisation, including development and testing of the Coventry Very Light Rail system, which was then discussed in more detail by Nicola Small, VLR Programme Director at Coventry City Council.

Andy Page, also from Transport for West Midlands, introduced the Halesowen Local Travel Point pilot, via the installation of a series of cumulative mobility hubs within the town, whilst Sonja Dembo, a further Innovation & ULEV Lead at Black Country Transport, discussed the regional ‘car club’ scheme, providing an alternative to individual vehicle ownership. Solihull Council’s James Connolly outlined the initiative for connected and autonomous vehicles, including at locations such as Birmingham International Airport and the NEC, followed by Katie Miller-White, who discussed the role of the Innovative Transport Working Group within the broader remit of the Innovation Alliance for the West Midlands.

“The team at Black Country Transport are really pleased with how the event went last week. We had great attendance from the public in the morning, with over 50 people signing up for test drives, and lots of excellent conversations with exhibitors. The afternoon event was also well attended and feedback has been incredibly positive.

“We are very happy to be able to bring our work out to the public, and remain committed to bringing all of our residents along on the electrification journey. We look forward to our transport innovation work growing into exciting new areas, and are keen to engage with anyone who shares our aspirations of becoming a hub of innovation.

“We would like to thank BCIMO for their support with organising and hosting the event, and also to TfWM and Coventry University for their invaluable support.”

“It just goes to show that with this innovation centre here in Dudley which is brand new, that Dudley and the Black Country are at the forefront of the next industrial revolution.”

“Thanks for a great day yesterday, it’s a fantastic venue!”