Diesel cars have failed the test

Sir, – Your retired engineer is right that diesel cars have been tried and tested (“Lithium ion technology can’t compete”, Letters, March 12).

But, diesel cars failed. Contributing to the premature deaths of tens of thousands of people each year is not a success.

Across Europe countries are being taken to court for failing to meet legal pollution limits. If your correspondent’s “Euro 6” diesel meets Euro 6 pollution limits in the real world, then it is an exception.

The present aim is not to replace 100% of fossil

vehicles with electric ones. However, a scientific study in the US, using real world data, showed 87% of personal daily travel there could already be met by an existing, affordable electric car, only recharged overnight.

That 2013 model had a 24kWh battery. The current 2018 version comes with 40kWh as standard, and a 60kWh option is expected this year.

The decarbonisation of our electricity supply not only means transport is now our biggest source of carbon emissions, but that electric vehicles can make an even bigger contribution to reducing those emissions too.

As to whether windfarms can cope with the added demand, extra battery storage actually helps. National Grid even issued an “EV Myth Buster” paper to counter unfounded concerns. Gordon Pay. Eden Park, Cupar.

The decarbonisation of our electricity supply not only means that transport is now our biggest source of carbon emissions, but that electric vehicles can make an even bigger contribution to reducing those emissions