Electric cars are not a miracle cure for our transport needs, says the car buyer’s Dog & Lemon Guide.
Editor Clive Matthew-Wilson said today:
“Electric cars simply don’t make economic or environmental sense. They’re plagued by the same problems that have dogged them since the early days of motoring: high cost, limited range and the constant need for recharging.”
“The electric cars you see on tv that do fantastic mileages are built of super-lightweight materials like fibreglass and carbon fibre. These materials are not suitable for the mass-production of cars because they both expensive and incredibly toxic. Aluminium is just as bad because it requires staggering amounts of energy to produce.”
“Many of the electric cars that are currently being trialed would kill their occupants in a serious collision, because their lightweight construction lacks the most basic safety features. If these vehicles were as safe and affordable as the average new passenger car then they’d be just as heavy and use just as much energy to get around.”
“Electric cars still need energy to power them, and New Zealand’s electricity supply is a strictly limited resource. Large numbers of electric cars would cause a localised energy crisis during periods of high energy use, such as winter nights.”
“The whole alternative car movement is based around the myth that it’s possible to live a 1950s lifestyle in the 21st century. If Auckland’s motorways were full of electric cars, there’d still be gridlock.”
“Cars are the perfect form of transport on empty roads and the worst form of transport on busy roads. Any energy strategy that uses private cars for mass transport is like a fat person who thinks they can lose weight without dieting. It’s not going to happen.”
