EARLY ADOPTER ROWAN ATKINSON FEELS DUPED BY ELECTRIC CARS, CLAIMS HONEYMOON PERIOD IS OVER

As far as car nuts in the celebrity world go, Rowan Atkinson is one of the biggest. A true gearhead, the Blackadder, Johnny English and Mr Bean actor has owned the incredible McLaren F1, raced in historic racing, and also owned a classic Aston Martin V8 Vantage. Atkinson is also a lover of electric cars. But in a recent column for the British newspaper, The Guardian, Atkinson confirmed that even as an early adopter, he now feels a bit 'duped by EVs'.

Atkinson says that while he has enjoyed driving both his full electric and electric hybrid cars, he now believes that they are not the “environmental panacea” that they are claimed to be. From his experience and knowledge about cars, Atkinson reveals some interesting facts in his column.

How Atkinson Feels About Electric Cars In General

Atkinson does have a lot of positives to say about EVs and electric cars on the whole. He bought his first electric hybrid 18 years ago and then bought his first pure electric car nine years ago. What he enjoys about them is their fast and quiet nature, and how they have wonderful mechanisms. Until energy prices shot up in the UK, they were also quite cheap to run. But he now has some misgivings, ones that he has found after delving deeper into the facts. This revolves around the UK's current plans to ban sales of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030.

While that is all well and good, Atkinson argues that the problem is that focuses solely on what comes out of the exhaust pipe. While there are no emissions from electric cars, the Cop26 climate conference revealed that greenhouse gas emissions during the production of electric cars are 70 percent higher than when manufacturing a gasoline vehicle. These figures came from Volvo, a brand that is fundamentally at the forefront of the electrification movement. The issue is down to the lithium-ion batteries which power EVs. These batteries are heavy, but the most significant issues are the amount of rare earth materials and energy required to make them.

The sheer cost and energy levels required to produce the batteries almost outweigh the gains when they are inside the EVs. But Atkinson also says that, with their ideal lifespan of around 10 years, they will become obsolete. This brings back up the age-old question of what we do with the batteries when they’ve reached the end of their usable life. Atkinson then speaks about how better technology is now being researched. Solid-state batteries should shave around a third of the weight of lithium-ion batteries in development.

Battery Technology Will Still Take Some Time To Evolve

Atkinson claims the biggest problem with these new batteries is how long they will take to develop. It will be some time before the technology is perfected. And then we have the problem where, if they are superior, outdated EVs will be on our roads. This is with batteries that are heavier and degrade quicker than their new counterparts. To counter this development of battery technology, Atkinson references hydrogen power. Hydrogen fuel cells are most notably being developed by Toyota, BMW and Hyundai. With the Japanese brand having poured a lot of money into the technology. Toyota has led the way thanks to the impressive Mirai, an eye-catching hydrogen vehicle with a range of over 400 miles.

Hydrogen fuel cells have several key advantages over lithium-ion batteries. They are around half of the weight of the batteries and can be refueled at a filling station as quick as a gas-powered car. There is no waiting for at least 20 minutes for your vehicle to be charged. Disposing of the cells may be easier too. But there is still the question mark about how eco-friendly the construction of hydrogen fuel cells really is.

Atkinson Believes That Lithium-Ion Batteries Are Non-Starters For Trucks

Atkinson expands on his points about lithium-ion batteries. He says that, due to their weight, they are equally non-starters for trucks. Hydrogen he says can get injected directly into a new kind of piston engine. With a fraction of the weight that the big batteries will have. JCB is one company innovating with hydrogen at the moment. Its famous yellow diggers are set to go into production with a new powertrain in a couple of years. JCB has become the first manufacturer in the world to produce a hydrogen digger.

Fast Fashion Trend Means New Car Owners Sell Them In 3 Years

One of the most interesting points Atkinson raises talking about EVs is how the dynamic in car culture has shifted. Thanks to leasing models and the “fast fashion” sales culture that has dominated the automotive industry in recent years, new cars are being sold on much quicker than before. Some people keep them for just three years before moving them on. Yet as we know, automobiles can last for decades. Sometimes 10, 20, 30 years or more. This rapid disposal of automobiles sees more and more produced than ever before.

Atkinson makes the argument that even if people kept their cars for five years, CO2 emissions would be drastically reduced, as would car production. It’s a fascinating point. As is the one stating that we should look to reduce our need for the automobile wherever possible, be it an EV or otherwise. It is easy to forget how many vehicles appear on the road each year, and how little life some people get out of them before moving them on. The question is, where does the automotive industry go next if EVs are not the answer?

Synthetic Fuels Could Be An Alternative To Electric Vehicles

Atkinson touches on the point that synthetic fuels might be a future alternative to EVs. Formula 1 is set to use these fuels from 2026 onwards, to help reduces its own carbon footprint. Porsche is also doing something similar, with it using wind to power a process to create a fuel with the main ingredients of water and carbon dioxide. This venture is taking place in Chile, and more development could see it used in gas-powered cars all over the world. If development can continue on this front, ICE cars may become CO2 neutral.

The Honeymoon Period For Electric Cars Is Over Says Atkinson

Atkinson rounds out his column by saying that he feels "our honeymoon with electric cars is coming to an end." But suggests that allows us is the chance to explore a wider range of options to make automotive travel more climate-friendly. The automobile has created significant environmental problems. But by continuing to develop hydrogen, synthetic fuels, and new battery technology, we can start to turn that around. Plus, a new business model to keep our vehicles for longer is something else we should be doing says the actor.

Atkinson believes that one day, electric cars will be a hugely important part of our journey to a better environment. But he also says that, for now, that day has yet to come. How hydrogen and new battery technology develop will be crucial to the future of the automotive industry in his eyes.

Source: The Guardian

2023-06-05T17:09:27Z dg43tfdfdgfd