Rethinking electric vehicles

So, you are thinking about purchasing an electric vehicle as your next car - as we should.

First let’s get all the EV subsidies/incentives off the table and have a level playing field.

Like ‘em or not, we are paying for them. Furthermore, those of us who like our current lifestyle should not be expected to pay for the unbelievably massive expenditure required to build the re-fuelling network infrastructure that EV owners will demand.

Remember we did not pay for all the service stations for ICE vehicles. What is fair about that? Your choice! You pay!

There is no point in regurgitating here the ‘saving the planet’ mantra espoused by those with a ‘dark green’ bent, or governments overly keen on virtue signalling.

You will most likely have heard them and formed a view anyway. There is plenty of reliable evidence to suggest any benefit to the planet by making EVs the norm is more than offset by the known disadvantages.

It’s often repeated, “the science is settled”. What a furphy! The science is never settled, nor should it be. For example, there’s no answer yet to the EV ‘end of life’ questions. How to dispose of the batteries - already known to be extremely difficult to safely handle and transport to a dedicated disposal facility (there is one).

EVs could have a place in high density population zones, but they are not suited to the Australian way of life.

We like the freedom of open spaces and getting away from the ‘big smoke’ - towing stuff, like caravans, boats, horse floats, etc. That’s what we do, but it’s not what EVs are suited to at all. There aren’t power points in many of the places we get to – as in fishing and camping.

Is anyone not time poor? You will soon get to hate hanging around in places you don’t want to be in while your car does its thing for long enough to get you to the next filling station – maybe.

Probably got to wait there too, to get connected, while your kids are screaming their heads off.

Unexpected detours for things like floods, fires or traffic accidents can mean hundreds of unplanned extra kms.

How do you plan for those? Usually you will run the heater/air-con (de-misting is not optional) or you may get headwinds.

These things should not create worry about it being a ‘trade off’ affecting your capability to get to the next available re-charge.

The point is the distance an EV can get out of a charge is problematic. Highly unpredictable!

Hydrogen is the vehicle fuel of the future. The only emission is water. Similar performance, range, and fill time to hydrocarbon fuels. Finally, everything about EVs is made in China, whereas the hydrogen route allows ‘Made in Australia’ to be a major factor.

Lindsay Love, Secretary, South Gippsland Action Group.