There are sceptics amongst us who think too
much is being made of the advance of hybrid and electric cars and how that
might impact on motor sport to the detriment of those vehicles powered by
internal combustion engines.
We're all only too well aware of the almost religious fervour
being adopted by various Governments around the four home nations and their headlong
charge towards a more 'acceptable' and greener future. They seem to be hell
bent on converting us diesel and petrolheads to the charms of electricity with
nary a thought as to how it will be produced, at what cost, and how it will be
transmitted and stored. All they see is the road ahead completely ignoring the
dips and hollows and ditches on either side.
This messianic zeal may therefore lull the sceptics into thinking it
won't happen as fast as our leaders hope and intend. Don't count on it.
Here's an interesting fact from Nissan. There are now almost 1,000
more public places to charge electric cars than traditional filling stations in
the UK – 9,300 EV charging locations compared to 8,400 fuel stations.
Britain’s first fuel station opened in November 1919 in Berkshire
but their decline is upon us with almost 80% of UK petrol stations having
closed since 1970. Two new rapid charge devices came on-line every day last
month and almost all UK motorway service stations now have charging stations
installed.
We all know that it takes much longer to charge an electric vehicle
than to fill a fuel tank but that's not
going to sway the crusading transport zealots. If we're queuing up to charge
up, then we are not polluting the planet - nor are deliveries being made or
tradesmen going about their business. That'll be good for business, eh? Around 1600
of these locations provide ‘rapid charging’, but that still means a typical EV
battery will need about an hour to charge up to 80% whereas one spirit pump
could fill 20 perhaps 30 cars an hour if there's a queue.
Since Nissan launched the LEAF, it's first mass-market electric
vehicle in 2010, EV technology has continually improved. As a result, the UK is
experiencing unprecedented growth in the demand for battery-powered transport.
That is the message the politicians are choosing to heed, not the
plea of the masses who simply want to be able to go about their daily business
and enjoy their leisure time at an acceptable cost.
And if you think motor sport will be exempt, have another think. Who
will be first in the firing line?
Just another topic for discussion at Sunday's 'Save Scottish Rallying' meeting in Stirling.
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