Sir (West Dorset)
(Con):...System change must work with the grain of human
nature. That means, for example, that in electrifying the car
fleet, which is by far the greatest current shift that we can
achieve, we need to solve range anxiety. The reason that
people—even those who can afford to do so, and for whom such cars
represent a net saving—do not buy electric cars is that they are worried
about the duration for which they will be able to travel. If we ask
ourselves the crucial question, “Are you willing to have a car that
might not get you home from the constituency?” the answer will
always be no.
There is a ready solution; Next Green Car is already setting out
plans for recharging stations every 50 miles on our trunk roads,
so that no one will ever be more than 50 miles from a recharging
station. We are putting a huge amount of effort, as are the car
manufacturers, into improving battery storage. We can solve the
problem. Sustained governmental effort is required over the
succeeding 18 months or so to put us in a position where we can
rival Norway, and then we will start to create a virtuous circle.
As soon as those who can already afford to do so start
buying electric cars in sufficient quantities,
the price will fall naturally. People who are currently less able
to afford such cars will then be able to do so, after which
prices will fall yet further. We will thus create exactly the
sort of extraordinary revolution that we have seen in information
technology with the smartphone, of which there were almost none
in the world 25 years ago but of which there are now literally
billions, including in many impoverished countries...
(West Ham) (Lab):
...Xavier told me that we need to stop trees being destroyed for
developments in the UK. Ethan told me how important it is for us
to invest more in research and development to produce the green
innovations that will help us to reduce emissions. He wants to
become a scientist and help with those challenges—I reckon he’ll
do it. Arpon told me we needed to stop fracking and rely on
renewables—not just because of the carbon consequences, but
because of the impact on clean water and the local environment.
Ethan—another Ethan—told me how inspired he is by the idea of a
green new deal in the US, and what will make a green industrial
revolution here. Thomas told me that we need so many, many more
charging points for electric cars...
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