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Image source, bbcThe committee now moves on to consider protected trust deeds and is taking evidence from:
Neil Swanson from Electric Vehicle Association Scotland says one of the big things here is children, as they are upset with the state of this planet.
Mr Swanson cites an example of "pester power" with the late David Young in Dundee changing his taxi fleet to electric vehicles, external after being told off by his grandchildren for driving a dirty petrol car.
"Education at the school level will really drive this."
He says parents will be pestered by their children moving them to electric cars.
Labour MSP Jackie Baillie wonders how an EV loan scheme would work for second-hand cars.
This is still being discussed with Transport Scotland, replies Mr Kirkland, with more detail expected in the coming months.
Neil Swanson says the big issue for dealers is the turnaround for the loan, with most being able to cover costs for 79 days.
Should loans be available to hybrids as well, Ms Baillie asks.
Hybrid vehicles are those with a petrol or diesel engine but an electric motor.
Personally I think they should only be available for electric-only vehicles but this will be a policy decision for Transport Scotland, replies Mr Swanson.
Mr Swanson says EV chargers provide potential to grow local economies, as people will explore and have a meal while they wait.
Most forecourts make money out of what they sell in the shop, not in selling fuel, he points out.
In future the petrol station will be more of a local shop, he adds.
Stephen Vere says the fuel companies see this coming.
Maintaining infrastructure in rural communities needs particular consideration, says Scott Mathieson, but he adds this can bring jobs to rural areas.
Tory MSP Dean Lockhart wonders if enough is being done to extol the benefits of EVs.
Ross Kirkland says the Energy Savings Trust has programmes to encourage ownership through engagement events and ensuring information is available online.
We need to do more around understanding of costs, Mr Mathieson says.
Mr Vere says he is in favour of more education. He points to people going into car dealerships and automatically discussion is around diesel vehicles unless the customer specifically asks about EVs.
Stephen Vere says he would not see EV charging as an area for local authorities to make revenue.
"Going forward it is important we do charge a tariff as that will make it a commercial proposition."
He explains: "That tends to raise standards."
Image source, PA MediaMr Wightman asks about improving confidence in charging points.
Neil Swanson calls for one card and roaming to be possible across the whole network in Scotland, rather than needing difference cards for different charge point.
Who pays for charging from those points which are free to the driver, asks the Green MSP.
Mr Swanson explains it is the charge point owner, which is mostly local government.
"That's not sustainable, is it?" says Mr Wightman.
"God, no," replies Mr Swanson, who goes on to highlight free charging is already beginning to end.
SNP MSP Gordon Macdonald says the economics for this do not work for a family due to the high cost of buying an EV compared to a petrol model.
Mr Mathieson replies the high technology price is due to the low uptake but around about 2023/24 it will be more cost effective to buy an EV.
Mr Macdonald points out the £1,000 annual saving for families is not a reality.
The Scottish Power representative says there are economic benefits if Scotland takes a lead in this area.
SNP MSP Gordon Macdonald asks for a ballpark figure on how much charging infrastructure will cost.
The Committee on Climate Change estimated it would cost £9bn by 2050, replies Mr Vere.
Scott Mathieson says Scottish Power estimates £200-300m in terms of grid infrastructure.
He adds as part of the transfer away from petrol and diesel cars, there will be annual savings for families.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe "immense" rise in sales of high-emission sports utility vehicles means they now outsell electric cars in the UK by 37 to one, research has found.
As a result, overall exhaust emissions from new cars have been increasing, not declining, for the past three years, says the UK Energy Research Centre.
SUV sales are jeopardising the UK transport sector's ability to meet EU emissions targets, it said.
Prof Jillian Anable of the UKERC said this made "a mockery" of UK policy.
"Effectively, we have been sleepwalking into the issue," she said.
Tory MSP Jamie Halcro Johnson asks about charging points usage.
Dundee has the most EV charging points but its usage level is 10% replies Mr Swanson. Dundee is using less than half the capacity of the substation, he adds.
Usage varies from place to place. He explains there is low usage in the Borders due to people having less confidence in the infrastructure compared to the A9 for example.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe government has published new league tables showing which regions of the UK have the most charging points for drivers of electric vehicles.
The most per 100,000 people are in London, followed by Scotland, while Yorkshire is the worst by that measure.
Outside London, Orkney and Milton Keynes have the most. But Barrow-in-Furness and Scilly each have none.
The government is offering local authorities £5m in funding for new charging points.
Scotland should give itself some credit as it came second in the UK in terms of the number of charging points, says Stephen Vere.
Scotland has 32 charging points per 100,000 people, behind only London which has 40 per 100,000.
Image source, bbcNeil Swanson calls for local authorities to have a dedicated person to drive maintenance of EV assets but he accepts they do not have the resources for this.
In many cases such a role has become an add-on to someone's full-time job, he says.
Green MSP Andy Wightman
Green MSP Andy Wightman says everybody is responsible for the charging network, but its roll-out has been variable, with for example Dundee being praised and Edinburgh being poor.
Neil Swanson replies there must be coherent guidance for local authorities.
Councils are very much on their own, he adds.
Mr Wightman asks if Transport Scotland is providing funding without any guidance on how it should be used.
Ross Kirkland points out it is not a good approach to broad brush everything but there are things councils can be helped with by the Energy Saving Trust, such as providing the tools to let them produce their own processes.
Mr Vere says it is also important to consider more sustainable travel including electric vehicles within public transport.
Neil Swanson supports this point, adding the placement of charging points must be considered in the context of fewer people driving cars generally.
Ross Kirkland from the Energy Saving Trust
Ross Kirkland from the Energy Saving Trust agrees both heat and transport have to be considered together.
Mr Kirkland says the EST is working with 11 local authorities throughout Scotland about how much public infrastructure is required, from Dumfries and Galloway to Orkney.
"I think we all agree it has to be a collaborative approach."
SNP MSP Richard Lyle says he has been calling for charging points to be included as part of every new build home.
He wonders about solving the problems which could see people "hanging leads out of their windows" to charge their cars.
Mr Mathieson says not every house would necessarily need a charger, rather we must look at the capacity of charges available and how to ensure people are not "hogging" them.
Another big challenge is how to reduce congestion in urban environments more generally, he adds.
Mr Mathieson says Ofgem is coming late to the table and could provide better clarity.
He adds a regulatory framework must always protect the consumer and he says there is already charging system congestion.
The Scottish Power representative expects Ofgem to be a partner in producing a regulatory framework.
Stephen Vere from Scottish Futures Trust says electric vehicles are just a small part of the load, calling for heat infrastructure to be considered alongside changes.
If all domestic and commercial heat was on the electric grid demand would increase by 145% he adds.
Mr Mathieson suggests there needs to be more integrated planning with local authorities to increase the number of charging places.
Bringing people together in these discussions is vitally important, he says.
The Switched on Scotland action plan, external, published in 2017, sets out how the Scottish government proposes to increase the purchase and use of electric vehicles.
It contains a set of 10 outcome-focussed actions covering the period 2017-2020, which aims to:
Image source, Getty ImagesToyota blazed a trail in hybrid car design with its Prius