Essay by Eric Worrall
City based greens, like the Lord Mayor of Sydney, think Australia is electric vehicle ready, that all people need is a little help to make the transition. The reality is very different.
EVs will not stop climate change, but we must help motorists make the shift
Clover Moore
Lord mayor of Sydney
February 20, 2023 — 5.00amIf we are to stop dangerous runaway climate change, we need to reach net zero emissions as soon as possible. Lowering transport emissions – currently around 20 per cent of all our emissions – will be crucial to this task.
We can’t expect electrification of vehicles to be the silver bullet. If we simply swap internal combustion vehicles for EVs we’ll have done more to save the car industry than the planet.
That’s why our first priority is creating a city for walking, cycling and public transport – this is the most effective way to reduce emissions from transport. We must improve accessibility while reducing the amount of driving that is necessary.
Of course, some people are not able to walk, ride a bike or use public transport easily, and we will continue to need service and delivery vehicles. Electrification of high-impact fleets and private vehicles will help complete the journey to net zero transport.
There are obvious barriers to this, not least of which is the sheer cost of electric vehicles. We need federal and state governments to introduce more stringent fuel and emissions standards for vehicles to facilitate the increased availability, affordability and diversity of electric vehicles in Australia. Costs will also go down as technology and scale of production improves
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Read more: https://www.smh.com.au/business/consumer-affairs/evs-will-not-stop-climate-change-but-we-must-help-motorists-make-the-shift-20230219-p5clmu.html
The picture at the top of the page was taken a few days ago by my dash cam. Last weekend, on a whim, I decided to do a big country drive, and visit the town of Biggenden.
Biggenden is well worth a visit – one of the friendliest places in Australia.
But getting there is a real challenge. The roads I had to drive to reach this friendly town were an absolute disgrace.
Maryborough, the town featured at the start of the video, is a tourist town, the birthplace of P.L.Travers, author of Mary Poppins. One of Australia’s showpiece country towns.
Unfortunately the dash cam erased some of my best clips. I encountered far worse roads than the video above.
My point is, I was driving a heavy off-road vehicle, but I still had to slow down, to avoid damaging the vehicle suspension – the roads were that bad. And there is nothing especially bad about the roads I happened to use. I wasn’t looking for bad roads. Outside cities and heavily populated rural regions, and a handful of major motorways connecting the cities, most of the roads are bad.
Imagine trying to drive an EV along such roads?
Batteries don’t like being jolted and shaken. At the very least, I suspect you could look forward to a significant reduction in battery life, and some major repair bills.
These are not the worst roads Australia has to offer. Biggenden is only 40 miles from the East Coast. Out West, the roads get really bad.
I could imagine grudgingly accepting an EV, if I never wanted to drive outside of big cities like Sydney. But the idea of driving an EV along typical Australian country roads is a joke. Even if there was a charging station on every corner, the ongoing maintenance and repair cost for that low slung weight bearing suspension, and those fragile battery packs, would be unsustainable.
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Hi Eric, I was born in Biggenden, have 3 generations of ancestors in the local cemetery, but haven’t lived there for 50 years, though I visit or pass through now and then. The roads haven’t improved much in 50 years. EVs are of no practical use outside metropolitan areas.
Ken
Agreed, EVs are only good for city driving, unless you pay for a crazy expensive EV SUV.
Biggenden is a nice place, had a few friendly beers in the Commercial Hotel chatting to a couple of locals about Pizza ovens and growing citrus. I think I’ll call in again sometime.
EVs are of no practical use, period.
Unless perhaps your “hobby” is sitting around at “charging stations” or lighting fires.
From the article: “If we are to stop dangerous runaway climate change, we need to reach net zero emissions as soon as possible.”
He says, with absolutely no scientific backing of his claims. There is no evidence humans can stop the climate from changing, nor is there evidence that it is necessary to change the climate from what it is now, and there is no evidence that reaching Net Zero will have any effect at all on the Earth’s climate.
The man is regugitating climate alarmist talking points. He probably believes what he is saying, but as we know, he is completely off base in his thinking, just like all the other climate change alarmists.
..and there is no evidence that “climate change” [whether global temps or extreme “dangerous” weather] is in a “runaway” mode.
Are all alarmists equipped with a random pejorative word generator?
What is the basis for the extra adjective in the declaration: “If we are to stop dangerous runaway climate change…”
My guess is the intent is to insert new negative descriptors with no evidence and repeat until the public assumes the allegation (e.g. extreme weather is in a runaway mode) is true.
“If we are to stop dangerous runaway climate change…”
You are not. End of argument.
EV promotion is recognized by the elites as a way to keep people at home, reduce movement by the less than rich.
From the high initial cost of an EV to its low battery life – which many people won’t be able to afford – to the difficulties of charging, the net effect is to reduce travel outside cities. Force municipal transit usage and accept its limitations. In theory, rent a car: in practice, stay home.
Dense urban communities is what the political world wants, places dependent on government services and handouts. It’s a way to stay in power. If the rural areas decay and become simply resource procurement areas, so much the better.
Governments understand how hard it is to control and manage a hundred areas with differing needs and wants. Its easier if there are only 20 large areas with similar needs and desires. Which is why they also suppress small businesses in favor of corporate franchises and conglomerates.
The ultimate goal is a world government not of 192 individual countries but a dozen who indirectly control the decision making of the other 180. The WEF wants to be part of the overriding bureaucracy that would manage the 12. It is the “federalization” of all human organizations and activities. A movement restricted populace makes this easier.
EV travel is not the future. The future is no travel, that is, except for the rich who, as Gates and Kerry have said explicitly, they need to do because of the importance of their work ….. er lives.
‘Costs will also go down as technology and scale of production improves.’
Yeah, good luck with that. The rise in the cost of the raw materials for the battery and the motors will wipe out any volume cost saving many times over.