A couple of weeks ago, I participated in a webcast here at The Energy Collective and was most impressed by the level of questions we received from the participating audience. However, as these things usually go, because the questions were of such high quality, we spent  a considerable amount of time answering some of them, and, therefore, ran out of time to answer all of them. To help remedy that, The Energy Collective shared with me some of the unanswered questions, and I have provided answers below. I hope this help to "carry on" the conversation around the challenges of eMobility.

Q: What is different about this EV movement that will ensure adoption and success versus the California movement in late  '90s early 2000s?

A: The main difference between the two movements is based on economics and policy. The California movement was largely based on environmental concerns, which have become of increasing importance over the past decade and a half and are encouraging the transition to a more environmentally sustainable solution; however, economics are the most significant factor today.

GDP growth is often used to determine how well an economy is/is not performing - a quick glance at U.S. gas price fluctuations show that when there is a significant increase in gas prices, GDP growth is negatively impacted. Our reliance on fossil fuels and their volatility has caused policy makers to implement programs to encourage the adoption of these alternative fuel source vehicles and their associated infrastructure. Further, the U.S. is not the only country impacted by volatile fuel prices. This time around it is more than simply a California initiative; it is a global movement.

Editor's note: Luis Giron is an employee of Siemens Energy. Siemens is a sponsor of The Energy Collective.

Q: Convenience is another issue that effects the decision to drive an EV... I would like to hear what the panel thinks of Inductive Charging, the technology that allows wireless charging so that motorists do not have to deal with connecting cables, and business owners do not have to turn parking lots into the old Drive-In movie look.

A: The company I work for, Siemens, is exploring various charging methods, including inductive charging. The technology is obviously available today - in fact, it was used by the EV1 in the late 1990s via a paddle that was inserted into a slot on the vehicle. The challenge for inductive charging is establishing standards, understanding how it may impact other electronics, and potential health risks. I believe it is certainly a viable method to provide convenient charging; it just may take some time to establish the standards that allow the industry to deploy it on a large scale.

Q: Who will pay for and maintain public charging stations? Will public utilities become vendors and replace gas stations?

A: This is a great question. Many of the business models around public charging are still being determined. Today, there are various incentives in place to subsidize the expenses associated with electric vehicle infrastructure. Paying for the infrastructure after subsidies are eliminated will require the introduction of innovative business models. Public utility commissions are also investigating changes around reselling energy, which can also impact some of these potential business models. Maintenance will be a very minor issue. Siemens electric vehicle charging stations, for example, are maintenance-free solutions. By incorporating technologies such as radio frequency identification (RFID) for authentication and payment (contactless cards), as well as over-the-air firmware upgrades, maintenance is minimized.

With regards to utilities replacing gas stations - I don't believe that many utilities want to own the assets. Utilities are primarily interested in understanding the demands required to support electric vehicle charging (from generation to the meter), so that they may meet their customer's needs.