Park life Christmas EV As we head towards the holiday season, Kelvin Reynolds considers things to be thankful for, despite a challenging year, and faces 2021 fully charged magine: its Christmas Eve, anticipation abounds. There is a Christmas tree, adorned with bells, baubles and beads, probably with tinsel and a twinkling star or maybe an angel atop, all surrounded by packages and parcels properly presented. Even those with 2020 vision would not have foreseen the eventful year we have just had. Christmas 2020 will be truly unique. It will also evoke some sombre reflections. We should not forget those for whom the events of 2020 have been difficult and who are looking to 2021 with some trepidation. That is not to say we do not have things to celebrate; 2020 has revealed how communities can come together to provide care and compassion to those most in need. This is the true meaning of Christmas everlasting peace and goodwill to all. I Stars of 2020 A new Christmas gift this year is our People in Parking Awards. Weve seen some real stars and angels emerge in 2020. People who have gone the extra mile, made us smile, helped keep our spirits up during a crazy time, done an exceptional job, and kept going when the going got tough. You can read more about this on page 46. As we look to Christmas EVe, have you heard about EVolve? It was one of the hot topics at our virtual annual conference in September,* when we called on some key influencers across the electric vehicle (EV) sector to join us and share their thoughts and observations on the uptake, adoption and future readiness for a carbon-free future. It also provided expert opinion from the motorists perspective as to why we have not yet reached the adoption tipping point, what else needs to be done to create the necessary infrastructure to satisfy what we hope will be rapidly increasing demand, and how legislation and policy is helping and hindering the process. Over the past couple of months, Parking News has featured articles about the evolving world of electric vehicles.** So important is this work to our sector that we are building partnerships with the Renewable Energy Association and the Centre of Excellence for Low Carbon and Fuel Cell Technologies. We are also continuing our work with the governments Office for Low Emission Vehicles, and others. Eventually, most, if not all, vehicles will be electric. The evolution has started; it is no longer if EV but when EV. Likewise with automated and connected vehicles. In October, the Law Commission of England and Wales, Entrepreneurs and big business are investing heavily in the infrastructure for Britains evolution towards EV britishparking.co.uk 51 PN Dec 2020 pp51-52 Kelvin.indd 51 23/11/2020 13:31