Guest essay by Eric Worrall
Boris Johnson has demonstrated a spectacular lack of empathy for vulnerable people who cannot afford an electric vehicle.
Ban on new petrol and diesel cars in UK from 2030 under PM’s green plan
By Roger Harrabin
BBC environment analystNew cars and vans powered wholly by petrol and diesel will not be sold in the UK from 2030, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said.
But some hybrids would still be allowed, he confirmed.
It is part of what Mr Johnson calls a “green industrial revolution” to tackle climate change and create jobs in industries such as nuclear energy.
Critics say the £4bn allocated to implement the 10-point plan is far too small for the scale of the challenge.
The total amount of new money announced in the package is a 25th of the projected £100bn cost of high-speed rail, HS2.
…
Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-54981425
To his credit Boris Johnson has backed more nuclear power, so when the renewables fail some of the lights will stay on.
But the fossil fuel ban will hurt a lot of ordinary people.
Late night public transport in Britain is unsafe, particularly in high crime areas. A few weeks ago a NHS worker was assaulted and left with severe injuries after asking fellow passengers to wear a mask.
But even without Covid-19 there are risks.
In 2018 London tube operators installed metal detectors to try to curb spiralling knife crime, but only stupid criminals carry metal knives. Criminals in London frequently carry ceramic or plastic knives which don’t register on a metal detector.
Aside from the risk of being assaulted by gangs of professional muggers, travelling on London public transport late at night frequently means sharing a carriage with staggering drunks and tailored suit psychotics who have been snorting cocaine all evening.
Outside London late night public transport, if it is available at all, means long waits at dimly illuminated and often lonely bus interchanges.
Boris Johnson’s affordable vehicle ban will rip the safety net of having personal transport away from junior hospital nurses and other vulnerable late shift workers who cannot afford an EV.
This would be hilarious if it wasn’t going to be so tragic. Think the average Brit can afford their vehicle to be 25 to 30% more expensive to buy? Where are their auto manufacturers going to move their fossil fueled vehicle production to? In 2030 do they think that demand for electric powered Rolls, Bently, Jags, and Land Rovers are going to outstrip those powered by fossil fuels? And I have not seen if this edict also applies to commercial vehicles.
I remember back in the late 90s when I went with my son to pick out a used motorcycle for him. That was down in San Antonio, TX. The shop I bought it at was owned by a Brit. He sold plenty of used bikes locally but where he made is real money was filling shipping containers up with used bikes and sending to a partner in the UK that sold them.
Let them eat cake. Oops, wrong side of the creek.
There can’t be many MP’s in the British parliament with degrees in engineering.
For those in the UK there is a petition to sign to stop this NonScience:
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/556842
Boris is signalling to the EU/UN that we will stick to the plan despite Brexit.
Theresa May did the same by signing the UK up to net zero by 2050:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-theresa-may-we-will-end-uk-contribution-to-climate-change-by-2050
There is no alternative.
Slow to follow,
there is an alternative, although with current politicians it will take some doing, which is to repeal the stupid Climate Chnage Act.
With time though they will see just how unacheivable it will be and at an unaffordable cost.