Policy making under uncertainty in electric vehicle demand

The introduction of electric vehicles (EVs) into the passenger vehicle market has, in recent years, become viewed as a primary solution to the significant carbon dioxide emissions attributed to personal mobility. Moreover, EVs offer a means by which energy diversification and efficiency can be improved compared to the current system. The UK government and European Commission have played an active role in steering the development and market introduction of EVs. However, a great deal of uncertainty remains regarding the effectiveness of these policies and the viability of EV technology in the mainstream automotive market. This paper investigates the prevalence of uncertainty concerning the demand for EVs. This is achieved through the application of a conceptual framework that assesses the locations of uncertainty. UK and EU documents are assessed through a review of the published policy alongside contributions from academia to determine how uncertainty has been reduced. This assessment offers insights to decision makers in this area by evaluating the work done to date through a landscape analysis. Results have identified six different locations of uncertainty covering: consumer, policy, infrastructure, technical, economic and social issues

Aptidão física relacionada à saúde em escolares de Jequié, BA, Brasil Health-related physical fitness in students from Jequié, BA, Brazil

O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a aptidão física relacionada à saúde (AFRS) em escolares de Jequié, BA, Brasil. Para tanto, a AFRS de 182 meninos e 160 meninas (sete a 12 anos), escolares da rede pública de ensino, foi avaliada mediante a aplicação dos testes motores corrida/caminhada de nove minutos (indicador de resistência cardiorrespiratória), abdominal modificado em um minuto (indicador de força e resistência abdominal), sentar-e-alcançar (indicador de flexibilidade). O somatório das espessuras das dobras cutâneas tricipital e subescapular foi utilizado como indicador de gordura corporal. Os resultados encontrados indicaram maior prevalência de meninos e meninas abaixo (19% e 49%, respectivamente) do que acima (3% e 1%, respectivamente) dos critérios estabelecidos pela AAHPERD (1988) para indicadores de gordura corporal. Por outro lado, somente 51% dos meninos e 58% das meninas no sentar-e-alcançar; 11% e 7%, respectivamente, no abdominal modificado em um minuto, e 15% e 14%, respectivamente, na corrida/caminhada de nove minutos alcançaram os critérios estabelecidos. Portanto, os resultados sugerem que programas efetivos de intervenção parecem necessários para a promoção de mudanças no estado nutricional e na atividade física habitual de escolares de Jequié.<br>The aim of this study was to analyze the health-related physical fitness (HRPF) in students from Jequié, BA, Brazil. Therefore, the HRPF of 182 boys and 160 girls aged 7-12 years, students from public schools, was assessed by the application of 9-minute-run/walk (indicator of cardiorespiratory capacity), modified in one minute abdominal (indicator of abdominal strength and endurance), sit-and-reach (indicator of flexibility) motor tests. The sum of the triciptal and subscapular skinfolds thickness was used as indicator of body fat. The results found indicated higher prevalence of boys and girls below (19% and 49%, respectively) than above (3% and 1%, respectively) the criteria established by the AAHPERD (1988) for indicators of body fat. Conversely, only 51% of the boys and 58% of the girls in the sit-and-reach; 11% and 7%, respectively, in the modified in one minute abdominal; and 15% and 14%, respectively, in the 9-minute-run/walk reached the established criteria. Thus, the results suggest that effective intervention programs seem necessary for the promotion of alterations in the nutritional status as well as habitual physical activity of students from Jequié