Atkinson’s text begins on a positive note. “Electric cars can be a bit soulless, but they are great cars. Fast, quiet and until recently very cheap“. But very quickly the tone hardens. “But more and more I feel a bit cheated. When we start digging into the facts, Electric motorization does not seem to be the environmental panacea it is claimed to be.”

What does he blame the electric car? be much more polluting than a thermal car in its production cycle. “Ahead of the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow in 2021, Volvo has released figures which show that the greenhouse gas emissions from producing an electric car are close to 70% higher than when producing a car with a gasoline engine.” Nothing new under the sun yet. Even if this figure is now more than about 50%.

The problem of electric vehicle batteries

And continue: “How is it done? The problem lies in lithium-ion batteries which are now equipped with almost all electric cars. They are absurdly heavy, and their production requires enormous energy costs. Their lifespan is estimated at only ten years. The choice of equipment for the automotive fight against the climate crisis seems wrong.”

“I feel more and more that our honeymoon with electric cars is coming to an end. This is not bad. We are aware of thisa wider range of options should be explored if we are to properly address the very serious environmental problems that our use of the car has created.’

Hydrogen and synthetic fuel as a solution

For Mr. Bean, the solution will be obtained from hydrogen. “It can be used in two ways. In a fuel cell or as fuel in a new type of piston engine.” Provided, however, that to develop a truly ecological method of production“. This is the essence of the problem of hydrogen, which is currently used. But “if hydrogen wins the race for truck power—and therefore all gas stations have it—it could become a popular and affordable choice for cars continues the Briton.

The second advanced solution: synthetic fuel. “This product is based on two simple concepts. First, the environmental problem of the gasoline engine is the gasoline, not the engine. Secondly, there is nothing in a barrel of oil that cannot be recreated in other ways. But again, we must first develop an entire sector to produce them on a large scale in a respectful manner environment

This is without a doubt reasoning based on common sense that most of our city officials, especially Europeans, are not ready to hear. They are only thinking of banning vehicles deemed “too polluting” from our roads in favor of electric cars.

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