Electric cars are not the answer

Climate change denier, conspiracy theorist and religious fundamentalist Neville Martin has, at last, made a sensible point! It is crazy to expect that we can replace all our petrol and diesel cars with electrics. For a start there just isn’t enough cobalt, lithium and nickel to build all the new batteries. The mining of these materials has severe environmental costs and often involves child labour. Mining companies are considering mining the seabed to extract the required lithium, with huge consequences for sea-life. Manufacturing all these electric cars will have a huge carbon footprint, one we can’t afford if we are to get to carbon zero in time to save us from climate catastrophe. Mr Martin is also right that the grid will struggle to supply the required electricity for all the electric cars, especially as we need to start decommissioning nuclear power stations, because they are on the coast and are threatened by the rising sea levels.

Mr Martin lacks any vision as to how we can reduce the number of cars while improving the quality of life for everyone. We need to discourage private vehicles and boost public transport. Nottingham has made a great start on this. Employers with more than 11 car park spaces pay the Council per parking space. Money raised from this has improved the tram and bus service and been invested in the railway station and in cycle routes. The net effect is less congestion and much improved public transport, so more people choose to leave their car at home. It means less air pollution and fewer cars parked on crowded streets. People will get more exercise and there will be fewer car accidents, saving the NHS money. Discouraging commuters from parking in inner-city neighbourhoods by charging or restricting them will have similar effects, bringing relief to residents who currently battle to get a car park space anywhere near their home.

Carpools of electric cars would be available when public transport really can’t do the job, but if public transport was top quality and cheap, as Sheffield buses used to be, then most people would opt to use it. People don’t enjoy being stuck in traffic jams-they would much rather be able to travel on a tram so they can look at their phone on the journey!

Mr Martin is also correct to be concerned about future electricity supplies. We need massive investment in renewables, including air and ground source heat pumps to replace domestic gas boilers as well as solar, wind and hydro. Soon it will be common for windows to contain transparent solar cells that will power buildings. But there is still a danger of energy shortage especially as the Government are not taking the necessary actions to promote new renewable energy. Therefore we need to find a way to ration what energy we use so that those with little income can still heat their homes and those that are rich have to keep an eye on their consumption. as money will not be able to buy them all the energy they want. Massive investment in insulation, such as cladding the outside of terraced housing, is also required.

Now video conferencing is simple, far more people should be able to work at home or at least have much more flexible hours, reducing rush hour congestion.

Cars need to be banned around schools at start and pick up time and “walking buses” should be a common feature of every primary school, reducing the obesity epidemic among the young and helping busy parents who are hurrying to get to and from work.

Fewer cars need not be Mr Martin’s hell on earth, it could actually be a glimpse of paradise!

Graham Wroe