Dr. Colin Herron

Managing Director

Zero Carbon Futures

Colin Herron has worked in the automotive industry for over 48 years including 16 years in Engineering at Nissan in Sunderland. Colin launched Zero Carbon Futures (ZCF) as a not-for-profit, electric vehicle consultancy, with a principle focus of advising towns, cities and governments on all aspects of how best to plan for and adapt to the introduction of ultra low carbon vehicles. ZCF is wholly owned by Newcastle University.   He recently facilitated the Mayor of London’s EV taskforce to shape London’s EV infrastructure requirements to 2025. Other local authorities supported by ZCF include; Cheshire East, Warrington, Staffordshire, Cardiff, Sheffield, West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Aberdeenshire and the North East Combined Authority.

The most significant projects regarding installation of chargers was the North East Plugged in Places project, the national motorway network with Ecotricity and the European Rapid Charge Network (RCN), which included elements of the SRN.

Colin works closely with the car industry, government bodies and professional institutions to understand and translate future technology into an adoption strategy. A recognised speaker at national and international level. Currently leading the development of Newcastle Universities battery group. A long history of identifying projects and successfully leading a team who, have bid for, and delivered multi-million-pound projects. Current focus is the research of variables including driver charging behaviours combined with technology developments to produce a model for EV infrastructure deployment.

With regard to ministerial level involvement Colin has provided oral evidence to both the House of Commons and House of Lords select Committees, worked at SoS level over 2 years to deliver the Nissan EV and battery investment to the UK. Attended trade missions to Canada and Japan with Civil Servants.  

Colin has a PhD, is a Professor of Practice at Newcastle University, and sits on the Institute of Engineering and Technology Manufacturing Policy Panel. Awarded a CBE (2018) for services to business and renewable energy.

Presentations