Are we in the midst of ‘climate change’ or a ‘climate emergency’? Personally, I don’t think there’s a debate.
My outlook is set towards emergency, forged on the groundswell of scientific research pointing that way and amplified by images of extreme weather events of recent months and years. But, because I rely on the testimony of experts rather than having any expertise myself, it is just an opinion. And one with which a lot of people argue.
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Another aligned issue is air pollution. Diesel fumes are responsible for an estimated 1 in 12 cases of childhood asthma. In 2012 the WHO categorised diesel exhaust fumes as carcinogenic. Moving to electric vehicles would have a significant benefit in reducing air pollution and saving lives. In addition, there is a geo-political question. Why are we paying countries like Russia and Saudi Arabia for petrol and diesel, when we could run our cars on renewable electricity generated in the UK?
You're exactly right Jim. The latest research from the ICCT shows that the extra carbon emissions associated with battery electric vehicle manufacture are wiped out within 7,000 miles, so less than a year of average mileage, plus EV CO2 emissions over the car's lifetime are 70% lower overall than for fossil vehicles. Petrol and diesel can't be recycled either, whereas batteries can, and are being. In addition, new research from the Platform for Electromobility indicates that electric car sales in Europe will overtake fossil car sales by 2025. This debate is, in fact, 'all over bar the shouting'. EVs will take over faster than expected and the smart money is already recognising this.
Bottom line for me - an EV isn't a transport solution for me. They're way too expensive and too compromised, as well as being less environmentally friendly than most politicians and car journalists will have you believe.
So the alternative to a once realistically-priced ICE car (but no longer - they're obscenely expensive now too, thanks to the scam of trying to make the price of EVs look more competitive) is for me to work from home, walk more, use a bicycle, use public transport or occasionally use my aging current ICE car when those other options aren't up to the job.
Spending around £40k on an EV is a ridiculous waste of money, even on finance - especially when so many of the incentives for buying and owning an EV are politically driven so can be taken away at any time (they don't call money-making schemes like the congestion charge a 'polution charge' for a reason).