Haven’t these guys ever heard of Google?
Electric cars have suddenly become a hot topic in the lead up to the Federal Election and, I don’t know about you, but I wince every time politicians discuss the subject. Representatives of both major parties have talked absolute hogwash about electric vehicles. 5 minutes of research on Google could have avoided this.
A few of this week’s howlers…
Without further ado, here’s a selection of recent quotes from some outraged pollies on both sides of the political divide:
“We are going to stand by our ‘tradies’ and we are going to save their utes.” Michaelia Cash, Small Business Minister, suggesting Labor’s electric car policy will deny tradies of buying their utes (Toyota and others plan to launch electric utes in a few years)
” People actually want a car that can tow a boat, or their tinny, caravan or trailer, or whatever they want” Scott Morrison obviously doesn’t realize that pulling power is one thing electric cars have in spades…
“…it can take 8 to 10 minutes to charge a vehicle.” Bill Shorten was somewhat optimistic. Faster chargers are on the way, but right now the fastest charge points in Australia take at least 15 minutes. Why didn’t he check his facts first?
“Labor’s electric car policy is like pink batts all over again, like the Soviet Union where we all have to drive a Trabant.” David Sharma, Liberal MP trying to convince us that driving an electric car will be living in a communist state under Labor.
Back in the real world
Clearly, these guys have access to research teams, car industry experts and a coterie of assistants who could make sure they are fully informed about what’s happening in the electric car world, so it’s a pity they keep misinforming the general public.
In reality, both Liberal and Labor have very similar electric vehicle policies, although you wouldn’t think so if you listened to what has been coming out of their mouths. It’s a shame there isn’t a more rational debate about the best way forward for private transport in Australia.
Electric cars – not all good news
Another bugbear of mine is how much of the media refuse to acknowledge some of the negatives associated with electric powered cars. Here are a few of them:
- One obvious issue is cost – right now they are far more expensive than an equivalent petrol or diesel car
- The present huge tax revenue from petrol and diesel) will disappear. Expect Governments to place an extra tax on electricity in the future to replace the revenue lost
- Electric cars weigh much more than non-electric cars – those batteries are very heavy and take up valuable space
- Batteries don’t last forever and are very expensive to replace
- Mass recycling of batteries is still not fully resolved – a potential environmental problem for the planet
- Accident issues – there is potential for electrocution, especially for first responders and lithium batteries can burn for extended periods of time
- Range anxiety – until fast chargers are in place across the nation you could be left stranded
- The potential range can drop rapidly if an electric car is driven quickly for any length of time. When the wipers, lights, a/c, heating, seat warmers, etc are all used together, the battery drains much faster
- Uncertainty about whether coal power will still be used to generate electricity. If so the environmental benefits of electric power are less convincing
- The cobalt required for lithium battery production is mainly sourced from the Democratic Republic of Congo where child labor is exploited in horrific conditions. This will worsen with increasing demand
No doubt some or all of these problems may be solved over time, but in the meantime, they shouldn’t be ignored. Died-in-the-wool environmentalists might prefer to ignore these downsides, but all the points listed here need to be fully addressed for electric cars to be totally viable into the future.
Indeed, electric cars are not even necessarily the final solution. When (or if) hydrogen becomes cheaper and more easily transported many believe it will become take over from primary electric power. Only time will tell which will be the winner between these alternatives.
Australia – well placed for an electric future
From what I’ve read, Australia is a major source of lithium used in batteries and, last year, some clever Australian scientists discovered how to ship hydrogen in large quantities abroad –by converting it into ammonia which is later converted back to electricity. This was a major breakthrough and a world first that could bring huge economic gains further down the track. Many believe that hydrogen fuel cell cars could become the ultimate winner if it becomes more affordable and if re-fuelling stations receive Government support. One major advantage is that a hydrogen fuel cell can be refueled quickly just like a petrol car. So, we have a foot in both camps, both lithium and hydrogen could bring us huge benefits.
Australia also has the potential to be a massive supplier of renewable energy, something that we could have taken advantage of years ago if muddle-headed politicians hadn’t done their best to ignore it. Elsewhere, some clever Aussie boffins are making good progress on improving the efficiency of batteries which are currently (no pun intended!) too heavy, too bulky and too expensive to produce. Lighter, smaller and more efficient batteries are much needed. Again, renewable energy and advanced technology are further opportunities for Australia.
Overall, an electric car future is looking good for Australia then. That is if the politicians can get their act together and apply some common sense to the public’s concerns, without being seen to simply pushing an agenda.
What’s around the corner
I’m pretty certain that most Australians are aware that electric cars are coming soon whether they like it or not. The world’s major car companies are all gearing up for an electrified future and while Tesla is most well known for electric cars, almost every car manufacturer is poised to offer all-new, electric-powered models in the next year or two.
In fact, some of the most influential players are likely to be completely new electric automotive producers, such as Rivian in the USA who have developed all-electric pickups and SUV’s which are expected to have a major impact on the US market. Many commentators also seem to think China will become the foremost producer of electric vehicles throughout the world and, let’s be honest, they could probably make them cheaper than anywhere else, except possibly India. One way and another, the world’s car market is about it undergo a radical change in the next 10 years.
Meanwhile, I’m sure most Australians want to have more reassurance before they commit to electric powered vehicles. They want to see costs come down, more recharging stations to become available and more answers to the range anxiety issues that still exist before they give up their petrol or diesel vehicles.
A personal perspective
From my point of view, I have very mixed feelings about the future of motoring in general. It’s impossible to deny that electric or hydrogen fuel cell cars will create less pollution in the long-term, although much depends on whether renewable energy will replace the coal-fired power stations. Realistically, I can’t deny that in the longer term we need to address vehicle emissions, for both cars, and trucks. Right now, I’m a fence sitter, waiting to see how it progresses.
The trouble with electric cars for me is that they could never replace the sound, or thrills that the internal combustion engine has provided for the last 120 plus years. No two petrol engines are alike, whereas an electric motor is just a generic source of propulsion. Non-enthusiasts excitedly gush about the acceleration provided by electric power, as if that should satisfy the desires of us car fans. This tells me they just don’t understand why many people love their cars. It’s not about speed per se. A Jumbo jet is fast too and how thrilling is that? Not very. Besides, speeding on the road will soon become virtually impossible in the near future, a subject I’ve covered in another article recently.
Nevertheless, I do hope petrol-fuelled cars can continue to be used rather than being cast aside as automotive pariah’s that will be abolished from the roads for the greater good. All that aside, I can imagine myself owning an electric, hybrid or fuel cell car for everyday use. I even placed two hybrids in my Top 10 cars list, so I’m open to experience the new technology.
However, I’d also like to keep my Porsche 911 (964 Carrera 2) for occasional fun (if that’s still allowed) and if petrol won’t have been stuck with a ‘super tax’ to deter us from using it. And, for high-speed thrills, I suppose they will only be found at the track, so I’ll need something affordable and quick enough to be interesting, like an old single seater. That sounds like a reasonable compromise for a lifelong car nut like to me.
