The lack of logic in the march for sustainability and zero carbon emissions isn’t improved by political debate influencing direction and policy . Drax power generation using sustainable wood chip generates more CO2 per MW than coal . That’s before you consider the amount of CO2 needed to move the wood chip from Canada to Uk via road ship and rail via Immingham and Liverpool docks. Selby coal field reserves wouldn’t be ignored in Germany or Poland who still operate very many coal power stations . We cannot store commercially viable amounts of solar or wind generated energy so our green energy Utopia is many decades away - yet we are about to be imposing arbitrary limits of car manufacturing for not complying fast enough to politically agenda . Toyota recognise EV won’t suit all requirement and have hydrogen fuel cell cars ready to use . They have prototype ammonia fuel engines too . Honda will simply stop importing cars to those markets with silly fines and Toyotas uk plant will be left with no European market … let’s see where the EV lobby are talking from in another decade when we see large numbers of EV lithium batteries that need recycling into domestic batteries or into new car ones - how much energy that needs on a commercial scale and the pollution caused. Ships trains lorries all contribute massively to the CO2 and those aren’t under penalty yet . Let’s not attack cars just yet but use some of the £36 billion saved from HS 2 to improve transport to cities and towns so people have a reliable option instead of using a car. More trams and trolley buses …
