Encourage automobile manufacturers to agree upon an open and non-proprietary standard for wireless automated vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication to improve road safety by reducing both congestion and collisions.
Incentivise existing fuelling stations to install charging units for electric vehicles to help create a nationwide network and overcome the perception of 'range anxiety' amongst consumers.
Incentivise existing fuelling stations to install hydrogen fuel pumps.
Incentivise research into retrospective modifications to existing vehicles allowing them to run on hydrogen. This would facilitate an easier transition from our dependency on fossil fuels, and encourage the development of new hydrogen based vehicle (which doesn't have the same carbon footprint as the manufacture of lithium ion batteries.)
Develop a long-term plan for complete electrification of the national rail network, and the replacement of diesel trains with electric multiple-units. This has the benefit of reduced emissions, improved efficiency, quieter and more comfortable trains. Alongside electrification, signalling should be updated to ETCS level 2 or 3 standard for improved safety and efficiency.
@glynnchaldecott could I ask you to sign the contributor license agreement at http://www.clahub.com/agreements/openpolitics/manifesto please, so we can rightfully accept your contribution? Thanks!
@EdCaplen you would, yes, except by the rules you don't get a vote until you've had a contribution accepted, so get writing something :)
The OpenPolitics Manifesto
@glynnchaldecott - almost 8 years ago
Although it was great to see electric vehicles being Incentivised, they have a rather large carbon footprint linked to the manufacture of lithium ion batteries. Though they may have a smaller carbon footprint compared to petrol and diesel based cars in the long-term, their manufacture would almost negate this benefit. Additionally due to the relatively low availability of lithium, they would ultimately increase vehicle prices as stocks drop, and mining would need to be intensified which is equally terrible for the environment. Whereas hydrogen is easy to manufacture and has a higher energy storage per gram value making it the best choice. Additionally it is theoretically possible that hydrogen could be used in standard combustion engines with little modification allowing for existing car stocks to be converted, thus helping establish the technology in the shorter term.