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We are facing a direct threat to democracy and the rule of law. 10 Apr 24
In 2021, the Labour Party stated that if elected, they would spend £28 billiion per year until 2030 on their 'green' investment plan. Unsurprisingly, that scheme has now been ditched, and the alleged link between the terms 'green' and 'prosperity' remains unclear. The Net-Zero torture has been lessened a little, extending the lives of diesel and petrol cars and gas boilers by 5 years. But it's becoming increasingly clear that when people realise they can either have prosperity or an energy system dominated by renewables, but not both, they will choose prosperity. Orsted, the Danish developer of offshore wind, is sacking hundreds of workers; a result of shrinking subsidies. Meanwhile the increasing costs of energy caused by the disastrous 'Net Zero' policy are relentless. Pubs are closing all over the country because they can't afford to heat their premises; factories are moving abroad or closing down because they need affordable energy to make the goods they sell; farmers in Wales are being ordered to plant 20% of their land with trees instead of producing food. Our Climate Change Act of 2008 mandated a cut in greenhouse gas emissions of 80% of the 1990 levels by 2050. In 2019, that percentage was upped to 100% ('Net Zero'). It became law after only 88 minutes' debate in the Commons. And yet the link between carbon dioxide levels and global temperatures is still unproven. How was it that the main parties thought they had to think the same things about the complicated and uncertain subject of climate change? It seems to me that the UK's energy policy has been designed specifically to exclude the wishes of its citizens. 24 Feb 24
Renault is abandoning plans to list its EV business Ampere separately. Volvo is winding down its Polestar electric sports car facility. Volkswagen is cutting production of two of its EV models. Ford is scaling back its EV plans in Michigan, saying that it can't make enough money on them to offset costs. Honda and GM are abandoning their plans to buiuld cheaper EVs; they couldn't make the numbers work. Toyota are financing other technologies. They want customers to have choice. Mercedes have now publicily stated they will be manufacturing petrol and diesel cars for years. Demand for EVs is falling because the vehicles cost a lot more than anyone expected, the performance is worse than expected, and what market there is will captured by the Chinese because they can make vehicles more cheaply than us. For non-Italians - a 'fiasco' is an empty flask. 23 Feb 24
Basing industrial policy on targets rather than needs, and forcing manufacturers to makes cars which people don't want, is not the way to run a profitable industry. 6 Feb 24
27 Jan 24
There are so many holes in this scheme it's difficult to know where to begin. Firstly, CO2 doesn't drive climate; secondly, the chips travel halfway across the world using tankers fuelled by diesel - under subsidy by the UK government for being so green; thirdly, carbon capture doesn't work anyway, as was shown a decade ago when several similar schemes collapsed after being funded for just long enough to grab a few newspaper headlines. This nonsense is best summarised as a triumph of hope over experience. Clearly our politicians didn't pay enough attention in their Chemistry and Physics lessons. 26 Jan 24
In the light of this I've updated a piece I wrote some time ago explaining why Carbon Capture doesn't work. Don't feel obliged to keep it to yourself. Why Carbon Capture Doesn't Work 26 Jan 24
The fire happened in Putney at a bus garage. Twenty people were evacuated from the premises before the emergency services arrived. The vehicle was operated by Go-Ahead London, which is now checking its other EVs. How many more fires before we get serious loss of life? Imagine one of these vehicles on fire, stuck in a tunnel or a confined space. 26 Jan 24
TfL has taken its electric buses out of service whilst it's working out what to do. The burnt-out shells of the two buses will have to be studied to see exactly what happened. Fortunately no-one was injured. This morning's blaze was the latest example of safety problems with electric vehicles; the fastest-growing cause of fires in London last year, according to the London Fire Brigade. Similar problems were experienced in Paris last year. An electric bus caught fire on 4 Apr and another on 29 Apr 22. Both were Bluebus 5SE. 12 Jan 24
A government source said that it's disappointing that Mr. Skidmore has taken this approach. Not making use of the oil and gas in the North Sea means importing higher-carbon liquefied natural gas which means more global emissions. For someone so passionate about the environment, it seems like an illogical position. Mr Sunak has also faced a rebellion by MPs who oppose quotas on the sales of electric cars. This plan involves setting a quota for each dealer and then imposing fines of £15,000 per EV not sold. I suggest this is not the way to run a prosperous car industry. 6 Jan 24
6 Jan 24
If you need further evidence of the government's inability to plan, what about this: Lord West, the former first sea lord, is asking why the Navy is decommissioning warships without having a new fleet to take over. "We are losing operational ships, which is all very well as long as there's no war in the next few years," he said. 5 Jan 24
Unlike car journalists, he's not a shill for the big car dealership companies. He's highly entertaining and tells you about the way Land Rover, Skoda and most of the rest treat you after you've parted with your money. 21 Dec 23
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