Written evidence from Mr Andrew Child (ELV0028)

You ask what are the main obstacles to the achievement of the Government’s 2030 and 2035 phase-out dates? Are the phase-out dates realistic and achievable? If not, what steps should the Government take to make the phase-out dates achievable.

I have worked in the Motor Trade since leaving school which is now 47 years ago so I have seen a lot in my time.I am totally against the way we are being forced to buy an electric car for the reasons below and I feel that it will lead to a lot more problems.

The first obstacle is the fact that an electric car is inferior to a petrol/diesel vehicle as they cost much more and don't have a long range some models only covering 100 miles before they need recharging and this gets worse as the vehicles age and in cold weather this may be fine in a town or city but is useless in a rural area.

To refill a petol car takes about 10 mins at the most to recharge a electric fully hours depending on the charger.

As approx 30% of homes in the country don't have a driveway how will these people charge their cars.

Most electric cars cost upwards of £40000 how do you expect normal working people to afford these vehicles you can buy a good petrol car for approx £20000 to £25000.

I have always brought new Ford Fiestas and kept them for about 5 years then brought another new one I could not afford or want to pay £ 40000 upwards for a car. I always save up for my cars and I don't want to have a credit arrangement hanging over my head. This could mean that driving becomes the privilege of the rich and the normal working people will have to take a bus or train.

Another point is how much petrol cars have improved with emissions my 2023 Fiesta produces just 3% of my first Ford Fiesta brought in the early 1980s.

There is a big risk that Chinese made cars will take over the market and this will kill off the UK Car Industry with the loss of thousands of jobs. This is already happening so is not hard to understand what is going to happen. These vehicles will also require less work so will mean the loss of jobs in the retail motor industry.

Any improvment in emissions will be negated by all the hugh ships bringing these electric cars to our country.

No one seems to talk about the environmental damage that is done whilst mining the lithium and cobalt. Volvo saying it takes too 52000 miles for the impact of the manufacture of electric vehicles for them to be better for the world not such a environmental friendly vehicle after all.

Most sales of Electric cars are to companies or fleets due to the tax benifits the last time the government encouraged the sale of cars was when we were told diesel was best and look how that ended.

One last thing when a electric car fails it can not be pushed out of the way there should be a legal requirement for these vehicles to have a manual overide so when they breakdown or have an accident this can be selected and the vehicle can then be pushed off the road.