ELECTRIC DREAMS
Here are my thoughts on dropping petrol and diesel vehicles in favour of hybrid/electric cars, as mentioned in your Editorial on government plans for 2040 (CM, September 2017). First, an enforced change will artificially inflate prices, leading to resentment from a distrusting public and we will end up with the government of the day making a haphazard compromise.
Second, generating electricity still results in pollution – unless the UK becomes 100% reliant on renewable energy then it solves nothing.
Third, manufacturers could quote a range of 500 miles per full battery charge, but this would most likely be as accurate as the current mpg figures. Also, will the battery hold less charge the more you use it, as with a mobile phone?
Until we have the technology to charge the batteries in an electric car by between 50% and 100% within 15 minutes, I believe acceptance by the public will remain low as they will worry they could be stranded and looking at an eight-hour charge time before they can go anywhere.
Given all the debate about alternative energy supplies, why isn’t more being done to promote hydrogen fuel? Some cities already have buses that run on it and it produces zero pollution. Chris Smith
The announcement about getting rid of new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2040 was inevitable, albeit rather dramatic. Is it right to assume that this will include lorries, buses, coaches and aircraft? Or is this just further victimisation of the domestic motorist, most of whom are usually less well-off and less likely to be able to afford newer technology?
I thought it was generally agreed that commercial vehicles contribute quite significantly to pollution, particularly lorries. With everyone wanting next-day deliveries, lorries are constantly racing up and down our highways. Is there any need for this? These goods could be carried on the railways if customers didn’t make such demands.
Pollution occurs with congestion. Councils and highways do not place enough prioritisation of flow over control. As they used to say in America: ‘Be thrifty, drive at fifty’. A Wetherill
After reading your Editorial about proposals for phasing out petrol and diesel vehicles in 2040 (CM, September 2017), my thoughts are that the Government should lead by example by only using hybrid or electric buses, police cars, ambulances, fire engines and military vehicles, to show us their confidence in alternative fuels. The saying ‘Do as I say, not as I do’ comes to mind! G Moore-roberts