Well I never. Haven't we said so for years? Ministers are catching on at last, bless 'em.

I don't know about ministers, but at more regional levels I suspect the big plan does recognise that simply replacing all the existing vehicles with electric isn't going to be entirely practical or desirable. I know my local transport authority's plans are many faceted - including reversing the traditional planning and land use zoning systems to get the places people need to often travel between physically much closer together - then encouraging non-motorized transport (walking, cycling), much improved public transport of course, then electrifying where they can the vehicles that remain. It's very early days still, but you might have noticed some of the policies having an effect already - fewer out-of-town supermarkets get permission these days, so there's an increase in "local" stores, road space reallocation away from cars towards bikes and pedestrians, and of course new charge points. Naturally there's lack of co-ordination with national government policies often inadvertently working against the regional plans, but that was ever the case in politics individual problems tend to get sorted eventually.


Far be it from me to suggest that people have been keeping a bit quiet about the plans for the major reduction in the number of cars for fear it would discourage the necessary R&D in electric vehicles, but ....


    - Andy.

Well I never. Haven't we said so for years? Ministers are catching on at last, bless 'em.

I don't know about ministers, but at more regional levels I suspect the big plan does recognise that simply replacing all the existing vehicles with electric isn't going to be entirely practical or desirable. I know my local transport authority's plans are many faceted - including reversing the traditional planning and land use zoning systems to get the places people need to often travel between physically much closer together - then encouraging non-motorized transport (walking, cycling), much improved public transport of course, then electrifying where they can the vehicles that remain. It's very early days still, but you might have noticed some of the policies having an effect already - fewer out-of-town supermarkets get permission these days, so there's an increase in "local" stores, road space reallocation away from cars towards bikes and pedestrians, and of course new charge points. Naturally there's lack of co-ordination with national government policies often inadvertently working against the regional plans, but that was ever the case in politics individual problems tend to get sorted eventually.


Far be it from me to suggest that people have been keeping a bit quiet about the plans for the major reduction in the number of cars for fear it would discourage the necessary R&D in electric vehicles, but ....


    - Andy.