Category: General Taxi Issues

According to a piece in Auto Express online on 10 Dec 20, “Car makers warn electric car plans are far removed from reality“.

They said that “European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association calculates if EU targets of 30 million EVs by 2030 are to be met, their numbers must rise by almost 5,000%”!

Auto Express reported that “To meet the target, set for just nine years in the future, that those 615,000 EVs rise in number to 30 million, the ACEA highlights that close to a 50-fold increase in numbers would be required. That’s equivalent to a 4,778 per cent rise in the number of electric cars on the road.”

And that “The ACEA also warns that it considers a further three million public chargepoints will be required by 2030 to reach these goals from the 200,000 points that existed in 2019. That means a 15-fold increase is needed to bridge the gap.”

It seems the piece highlights what we are probably all scratching our heads about, and wondering who is going to have to pay for all this?!

Read the full article here…

If you haven’t already seen these episodes, the BBC make a tech program called ‘Click’.

On the 20th Nov 2020, the BBC aired this episode about the future of Electric Vehicles called ‘The Electric Revolution’, and in the bulletin it covers the potentially looming Lithium Mining possibilities in Cornwall, as well as highlighting the very limited possibilities of Vehicle Charging Supply companies expanding into ‘more rural areas’, like Cornwall, in the near future.

The BBC also aired this program on 1st Nov 2020 called ‘Electric Cars; The Future of Road Vehicles’.

These programs are an absolute must watch as they bring home the stark reality that the future of Electric Vehicles in the commercial transport environment is still both practically and financially a very long way off for now, Oh, and apparently the average family can easily afford €90,000 Euros (£79,985) for an SUV!!!!

The Miscellaneous Committee meeting today (Friday 20th November 2020) discussed and considered the proposed amendments to the Licensing Conditions of Vehicles, in relation to vehicles age and specification, specifically focusing on Zero emission vehicles and Euro 6 for Diesel, and Euro 4 for Petrol.

There were 4 representatives of the trade present, Dan A2B Truro, Mrs J Arnold Truro Association, Abacus Falmouth and myself.

‘To kick a man when he’s down is to attack at the persons weakest moment.’

There were representations from the trade stating reasons to be more lenient and consider the current crisis, and members also stated similar concerns. The point was strongly made from representatives of the trade that now was not the time, and asked for the matter to be deferred for now.

It was first proposed to defer ‘Phase 2’ of the recommendations until 1st April 2022 by Sarah Kent of Licensing, but Councillor Biscoe put forward a proposal to set up a ‘Working Group’ to include appropriate members of council services and members of the trade, in order to collaborate together to set up a workable strategy for the trade to work toward zero emissions, and report back to committee with a view to then further consult the trade.

So for now there is no change, and the matter is deferred until successful completion of the working group, to be referred to the committee for a further consultation with the trade.