Tesla CEO Tapped as UK Government Advisor

Elon Musk

by | Nov 7, 2013

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Elon MuskTesla Motors CEO Elon Musk has been tapped by UK Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg to advise the British government on how it can boost the adoption of low-carbon vehicles.

In his keynote speech on environmental issues this morning, Clegg called on the UK to become a “global leader in the production and adoption” of low-emission vehicles and said the future of Britain’s £11 billion ($18 billion) auto industry depends on green cars, the London Evening Standard reports.

Clegg touted Musk’s expertise and said as an advisor, the billionaire US entrepreneur and electric car CEO will “consider how we can boost investment, massively increase the take up of electric vehicles…and promote the benefits of ultra low-emission vehicles.”

In late October, Clegg tweeted a photo of Musk and him and said, “Superb meeting with @elonmusk to hear about his pioneering work and future ambitions. Exciting and inspiring.”

Also in his speech today, Clegg called on large fleet companies, taxi firms and public agencies to tell the government what would encourage them to switch to low-carbon vehicles, the Telegraph reports.

The UK government has earmarked £400 million ($641 million) between 2010 to 2015 for plug-in charge points and research about how to advance the green car market, the Standard reports. Its most recent spending review committed an additional £500 million ($810 million) of investment up to 2020.

In August, Musk revealed details for Hyperloop, a superfast mode of transportation that could take passengers and cars from Los Angeles to San Francisco in 30 minutes.

Two months earlier, Tesla debuted a system that swaps battery packs in electric cars in about 90 seconds. The system offers an alternative to charging EVs and should help convince consumers that EVs are “more convenient than a gasoline car,” Musk said at an event unveiling the technology.

Photo Credit: Phil Stafford Shutterstock.com

 

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