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Britain to ban new petrol cars and vans by 2030 on road to net zero emissions

reuters.com

21–30 of 352 posts

Re: Britain to ban new petrol cars and vans by 2030 on road to net zero emissions

#21
post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a Brit[1] this convention still irks me. Maybe we should just be American about it, and call the whole of the UK 'England', and pretend Scotland is it's own country? /s --- [1] Yes, I get the irony of calling myself a 'Brit', but 'Uker' just doesn't sound right.

Are not Scotland, Wales and England each countries though?

They are not sovereign countries.

Both Scotland and England gave up their sovereign status when the Acts of Union were enacted, to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain.

Basically, Scotland, Wales, England, and Northern Ireland, are nations which comprise the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which is the sovereign state.

Re: Britain to ban new petrol cars and vans by 2030 on road to net zero emissions

#22
post #3

This is a necessary step to becoming carbon neutral by 2050. Countries that don't make similar announcements soon are not serious about that goal.

A lot of people might buy cheap used cars in 2029 that might be on the road till 2040-2050. If he is serious about it, which is rare when officials promise something 10 years into the future, he would suggest a plan to provide the needed infrastructure.

Re: Britain to ban new petrol cars and vans by 2030 on road to net zero emissions

#23
post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Renault Master Z.E. is either 3.1t or 3.5t and comes in a bunch of configurations: https://www.renault.co.uk/electric-vehicles/master-ze/specif...

> The real life estimates of 75 miles in Summer and 50 miles in Winter also give an insight of how powerful these batteries are, reducing your need to be constantly charging your vehicle and allowing you to enjoy the ride! Isn't that pretty shit?

That is, well..., rather bad. I imagine if this trend prevails in the future, we will see your plumber asking you if he can charge his transporter and deducting their charging cost from your invoice.

Re: Britain to ban new petrol cars and vans by 2030 on road to net zero emissions

#24
post #16
post #9

I don't think anyone will be prefer non-electric cars in 3-5 years anyways

For years people will prefer non-electric cars. From a perspective of someone with his own driveway this is a nobrainer to have electric car but many people in EU live in apartment blocks and there is simply no infrastructure there to charge all necessary cars. I will be able to say that "no one should have a reason to drive petrol car" when 0-100 charge time will be around 15 minutes.

Or inexpensive (to install, not to use) and widespread charging becomes available in most locations.

A normal 13A socket will charge my Leaf in about 12 hours. The 8 hours of charge I’d get from plugging in at a parking bay during work hours would likely be enough for most people, but we have no current infrastructure for billing people at that scale (although I imagine it could easily be developed, still a massive undertaking to roll out widely in cities though).

We’d also need to be able to provide the massive increases in grid energy that would be required for that. Nuclear seems like it would be a good use case for this but that still seems like it would be a tough sell, even now.

Re: Britain to ban new petrol cars and vans by 2030 on road to net zero emissions

#25
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Assuming northern ireland is still part of the UK after ten years of having a customs border from the rest of the UK.

Easy now, let’s keep it on the computerydoos and hackimabobs.

Seconded.

Also, Vice Grip Garage, is that you? :)

Re: Britain to ban new petrol cars and vans by 2030 on road to net zero emissions

#26

this should have been done 10 years ago, but anyway, it's a good move. Waiting to see the EU doing the same.

i don't follow the space closely, but from my brief research it seems that 10 years ago there were almost no alternatives to petrol cars. On what premise do you think it would've been reasonable to ban petrol cars in that situation?

Re: Britain to ban new petrol cars and vans by 2030 on road to net zero emissions

#28
post #3

This is a necessary step to becoming carbon neutral by 2050. Countries that don't make similar announcements soon are not serious about that goal.

I’m not sure about the economics of it, but I’d rather drive a car powered by synthetic gasoline made from pulling carbon dioxide out of the air. No new CO2 combined with no restrictions on range & quick refueling times sounds like a win. I still don’t know where people will plug in all of these electric cars.

Re: Britain to ban new petrol cars and vans by 2030 on road to net zero emissions

#29
post #3

This is a necessary step to becoming carbon neutral by 2050. Countries that don't make similar announcements soon are not serious about that goal.

A lot of people might buy cheap used cars in 2029 that might be on the road till 2040-2050. If he is serious about it, which is rare when officials promise something 10 years into the future, he would suggest a plan to provide the needed infrastructure.

What's the alternative? Destroy all petrol and diesel cars in 2029? If they didn't allow a transition period then it wouldn't go well.

Re: Britain to ban new petrol cars and vans by 2030 on road to net zero emissions

#30
This perfectly epitomises the uk (and the rest of the worlds) attitude to global warming:

* it's a non binding commitment to do something but not for at least a decade

* it's not enough even if it does happen

* it will be too late by then (it probably already is for anything but drastic action)

* it's totally at the whim of future governments who will be no more willing to spend the money/time/popularity than the current unwilling government

* people will eat it up with a spoon and act like this is a real thing and a sign of progress and a victory

This is the same as my committing to start my diet, by giving up one specific thing, but not for a decade, after my doctor told me I gave 6m to lose weight or die. And to celebrate I'll eat two pizzas and 4 litres of soda, for breakfast.

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