Is it really feasible for all new cars in Britain to be electric from 2035?
WHAT a stupid idea for the Government to announce all new cars must be electric in 15 years’ time! The average car does 7,600 miles a year, which yields £1,600 in tax on petrol compared to £2 tax on the annual cost of electricity for an electric car. How will the Government make up the £28 billion shortfall? M. SIMMS, Ottery St Mary, Devon.
JOHN NAISH is way behind the times in his condemnation of Boris Johnson’s sensible push towards banning fossil fuel vehicles (Mail). Vast strides are being made in using hydrogen to power electric motors. Japan’s Olympic village for 6,000 people is to be hydrogen powered, while Aberdeen runs its bus fleet on hydrogen. At Shell’s two British hydrogen refuelling stations, a car can be refuelled in less than five minutes more cheaply than with petrol and with a range of 400 miles. It produces no exhaust gas, just clean water.
TONY TOLLER, Totland Bay, Isle of Wight.
NATIoNAL Grid capacity would be compromised were we to rely only on solar and wind power, even allowing for better storage through the use of industrial batteries. We’ve barely begun to address green energy production. We are surrounded by seas and estuaries with predictable tides. If we plan, prepare and budget for tidal flow electricity production, we would have immense reserves of power.
TONY LAYCOCK, Sheffield.
THE loss of revenue from sales of petrol and diesel cars would presumably be replaced by charges being made for travel on the roads — a few million more cameras I guess! Will it be compulsory for all new dwellings to have an outside charging point fitted? If we opt for hydrogenpowered cars, a fuel tax could be charged at filling stations.
BRIAN HENDY, Romsey, Hants.
WITH a petrol or diesel car, you can fill up at motorway services in minutes. With an electric car, it could take up to an hour to recharge. If I made the 500-mile drive to Cornwall, several stops would be needed. E. NOTT, Houghton le Spring, Tyne & Wear.
MY SON took his hybrid car to have his tracking checked, only to be told: ‘Can’t do that mate. We don’t do electric cars. We don’t want to risk getting an electric shock.’
Mrs S. DEVENPORT, Coventry.
IT IS irritating to see claims that electric vehicles have zero emissions. What about dust from brakes and tyres? Greenhouse gas emissions are merely transferred from the vehicle tail pipe to the power station. Electric vehicles are wonderful for cities and suburbs, but impracticable for long journeys. The Government imposing draconian restrictions mean we will face disruption and environmental damage caused by installing millions of charging points with no real effect on greenhouse gases.
A. G. JIGGENS, Dordogne, France.