Invest in low emission vehicles

Proposer
BenTrimble
State

Rejected

Vote Score

0

Age

3453 days


@BenTrimble edited manifesto/transport.md - over 9 years ago

Removal of Fossil Fuels

We will decrease emissions from road transport by setting a date beyond which no new fossil-fuel powered vehicles may be sold in the UK.

We will decrease emissions from road transport by ensuring that the technology to create low / zero emission transportation and related infrastructure is as cheap and freely available as possible. We will aim to set a date beyond which no new solely fossil-fuel powered vehicles may be sold in the UK and will pursue an agenda to eliminate fossil fuels from the transportation network entirely.

National Infrastructure Organisations

BenTrimble

@BenTrimble - over 9 years ago

Changes made to try to make the pledge more in line with achievable end result. The existing technology available does not allow us to eliminate fossil fuels and hence we should look at the steps needed to achieve that first, with a commitment to extend into zero-emissions later.

Floppy

@Floppy - over 9 years ago

I think we can do both. Setting a definite date is important to put stake in the ground, but we should definitely state that in order to hit that date we need to invest in the technology.

Floppy

@Floppy - over 9 years ago

I do in fact want to set that date at 2030, but I've not written that PR yet.

BenTrimble

@BenTrimble - over 9 years ago

Setting a date with no idea if that is achievable is folly and shows immaturity within a political party. We should focus on facilitating the technology in order to better strengthen the country to be able to make the change.

Floppy

@Floppy - over 9 years ago

With electric buses and cars now entering the mainstream, 15 more years of technology development should be plenty. I think not setting a firm date, based on the demands of climate science, shows a lack of ambition and understanding of the speed at which we need to make this change. Pursuing a vague sustainability agenda with an unspecified time period is basically the approach of the current parties, and I think we have to be more ambitious.

Floppy

@Floppy - over 9 years ago

BTW, I'm not trying to dismiss your contribution, I'm just defending my position in the discussion - welcome to the project! :)

BenTrimble

@BenTrimble - over 9 years ago

I'm not overly concerned with availability of such transport, i'm more thinking around infrastructure and personal accessibility. Electric cars are great for people who zip to work then head home and charge the car overnight at low rate in the garage but what about people who live in flats and have no parking? What about buses which cover 500+ miles a day? Requiring 3 electric buses to replace one diesel bus due to charging duration is not environmentally friendly.

IMO we should be seeking to push the technology and infrastructure to the necessary place - once zero-emission cars are the sensible option, people will flock to them without requiring regulation to push them.

And thanks, happy to be here - making small contributions to test the waters :)

philipjohn

@philipjohn - over 9 years ago

👍 A good addition I think, that still maintains the original wording for me. I'd also like to see that date as well @Floppy ;)

Just on the date issue - there would be no better incentive for car manufacturers to step up the production of fossil fuel-free vehicles they know they can produce by threatening almost their entire existing business if they don't. It would also make the UK the centre of the renewable car manufacturing industry (at least to start with...)

philipjohn

@philipjohn - about 9 years ago

@Floppy Are you happy with this other than having a set date? If so, does it makes sense to 👍 this one and do another PR afterwards?

@BenTrimble Can you click the big button on https://www.clahub.com/agreements/openpolitics/manifesto please so that we can include your contributions?

Floppy

@Floppy - about 9 years ago

Yeah, OK. 👍

Floppy

@Floppy - about 9 years ago

Since this was submitted, we've got a date in there for no new fossil fueled vehicles after 2029. This PR should, if we still want it, be updated to reflect that wording, or change it. As the source text has changed, it might be best for @BenTrimble to resubmit this change based on the new words maybe? I suspect he wouldn't be happy with just adding "by 2030" on the end, given this thrust of this change is to remove such talk of deadlines.

Floppy

@Floppy - about 9 years ago

I'm moving to ✋ on this, as I think it probably needs redoing based on the current text.

Floppy

@Floppy - about 9 years ago

We need @BenTrimble's input on this one, but seeing as the underlying text has changed substantially and this has passed the 90-day merge deadline, I'm going to close this and invite @BenTrimble to propose the update again based on the existing text if he wants to.