A free evening event will focus on vehicle technology and infrastructure innovation, and leaders from AA Ireland, ESB, Arup, TII and Valeo Vision Systems will deliver presentations.

Conor Faughnan, consumer affairs director at AA Ireland, is set to join leaders from ESB, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), Arup and Valeo Vision Systems – partner to car makers worldwide - to discuss the future of vehicle technology and infrastructure innovation at the Future Transport Forum at the Aurivo Auditorium, IT Sligo on Thursday, September 19.

Electric and autonomous vehicle technologies

Organised by Engineers Ireland’s North West region, this evening forum event, 'Driving Forward: Electric and Autonomous Vehicles in a Connected Infrastructure', will focus on cutting-edge developments in electric and autonomous vehicle technologies and explore the future of transport infrastructure in Ireland through presentations and panel discussions with experts in the sector.

Starting at 5pm with refreshments and networking, this free-to-attend forum will commence at 6pm sharp. Presentations on the evening will be delivered by Niall Hogan, head of e-mobility at ESB; Dr John McCarthy, associate director and leader of intelligent mobility, ARUP; Dr James McDonald, computational astrophysicist, computer-vision algorithm developer and embedded lead, Valeo Vision Systems; Helen Hughes, director of professional services at TII and Conor Faughnan, consumer affairs director at AA Ireland.

Caroline Spillane, director general of Engineers Ireland, said: “Our Future Transport Forum will offer attendees the opportunity to gain further insight into electric vehicles and consumer behaviour and explore the vital role infrastructure will play to support the ambitions outlined in the Climate Action Plan, including the target of having 950,000 electric vehicles on the road by 2030.”

Smart mobility

“Our guest presenters will also look beyond the 2030 target to examine the role of autonomous and connected vehicles and spotlight the technological developments and investments which are currently under way to support smart mobility throughout Ireland.

"We hope that our engineer-members living in the northwest and also local business leaders, students, and the general public will find the event and our guest experts interesting and informative.”