Conference speaker promises to explode myths

THREE international experts on clean transportation will be the keynote speakers at this year’s ‘The Cars of Tomorrow Conference’ to be held in Melbourne on March 14 as part of Australian Automotive Week.

The first keynote speaker will be Tom Turrentine, who is the director of the California Energy Commission Plug-in Hybrid Electric & Vehicle Research Centre at the University of California, promises to explode some myths surrounding green vehicle sales and people’s purchasing decisions.

Each of the other international keynote speakers at the conference are also experts in the field of green vehicles and transportation. They are Anup Bandivadekar, the passenger vehicles program director at The International Council on Clean Transportation in the US, and Andy Eastlake, managing director of the UK Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership.

Australian speakers will include Lyn O’Connell from the Department of Infrastructure & Transport, Simon Washington from Queensland University of Technology and GoAuto publisher John Mellor, who is also the master of ceremonies.

The second Cars of Tomorrow Conference is co-hosted by AutoCRC, Future Climate Australia and The Society of Automotive Engineers Australasia (SAE-A), and registrations are now open with early-bird savings applying up to February 14.

It will be held at the Melbourne Park Function Centre, which adjoins Rod Laver Arena, site of the Australian Tennis Open.

Future Climate Australia executive director Henry O’Clery said the conference is designed for people involved in all aspects of the Australian automotive industry.

“The Cars of Tomorrow Conference aims to deliver a comprehensive view of where the automotive industry is headed, and how it will address the critical changes it now faces,” said Mr O’Clery.

“We’re examining the issues from both international and Australian standpoints because the Australian automotive industry will be affected by these changes.

“We hope to prompt discussion of how the local industry can position itself for a strong future in the face of a growing shift towards imported low-emission vehicles, new technologies and new solutions for personal mobility.

“It is apparent that developments in the global industry are picking up pace, and Australia is lagging at the same time.”