The death of Diesel?

[ChrisHParticipant @chrish]

Whilst I accept that eventually we will be all driving around in electric powered cars the technology and infrastructure is not here now.

As pointed out by Martin above, that power has to be generated somewhere to replace the power generated in vehicles, which means more power stations to be built; we don't seem to be cracking on with that one, rather we seem to be shutting the ones we have, so thats not going be there ay time soon.

Plus we must have the capacity to enable all of us to charge our vehicles overnight. Then there is the additional distribution network to be installed, and all the charging points, how many per house? Minimum one, sometimes, often, more. Houses with no driveways, that rely on street parking, will need a succession of roadside charging points, rather like the old parking meters that were, plus the problem of training cables on the walkways will have to be resolved. Charging points will be needed wherever people live, not just in cities and towns. Again, that's not started yet, to my knowledge.

And in addition there needs to be a bit of a leap forward in battery technology, it's improving but we're not there yet.

There is bound to be lots that I haven't touched on but the little I have indicates a huge investment in money, resources and labour plus acceptance of the attendant disruption will be required. How much? No idea other than it will be big, big bucks, for each of us, that we all will have to pay for. And will we all be happy for that? For that will have to be paid for while we are still running about in petrol and diesel powered vehicles, unlike when these first arrived a century plus ago when people still walked, went by train or horse, and only bought into the new mode of transport when they could afford to do so. Plus the fossil fuel power stations will still be producing pollution to satisfy the new demands. A bit of 'be careful of what you wish for' maybe or perhaps?

In the meantime I'm just off out in my diesel powered car which is probably deteriorating vastly in value as I type!

As Howard intimates, there is no alternative – certainly at present.

Chris

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