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Emissions-free? The end of the internal combustion engine.
The European Commission has outlined proposals for the EU’s climate, energy, land use, transport, and taxation policies with a view to being emissions-free by 2050. Accelerating the transition to zero-emission mobility requires stronger CO2 emissions standards for all cars and vans. Average emissions of new cars will reduce by 55% by 2030 and 100% by 2035 compared with 2021 levels. This means that all new cars registered from 2035, will be zero-emission. Sales of cars and vans that produce CO2, including plug-in hybrids would be banned from this date.
Emissions target calls time on the internal combustion engine
The first commercially successful internal combustion engine was created by Étienne Lenoir around 1860. Usually powered by energy-dense fuels such as gasoline or diesel fuel, ICEs are the dominant power supply for vehicles such as cars, aircraft, and boats. The internal combustion engine revolutionised human life. Not only making travel possible but increasing agricultural productivity and wealth in oil-producing countries. After 160 years the growing push for net-zero carbon emissions requires a new revolution. It will start with our regular modes of transport and end with the way we’ll power our lives, homes, and industries in the future.
Across the globe, nations are pledging to phase out the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles within 15 years. This includes the UK by 2030 and Norway by 2025. In Norway 60% of new cars registered in September 2020 were electric. More plug-in vehicles were sold in China in 2019 than across the rest of the world combined.
Tesla under fire
Tesla is the most valuable carmaker in the world despite making fewer cars than its competitors. Elon Musk who co-founded Tesla back in 2003 recently topped Microsoft founder Bill Gates to become the world’s, second-richest man, but it’s not all good news at Tesla headquarters. Back in April a Tesla Model S needed 30,000 gallons of water to extinguish a fire because “it kept reigniting, burning continuously for over four hours”. This compares to a typical car fire which can be extinguished with only about 300 gallons of water and under control in minutes, according to Forbes.
Bolt EVs a risk even after recall
Also in America, General Motors has told owners of some older Chevrolet Bolts to park them outdoors and not to charge them overnight because two of the electric cars caught fire after recall repairs were made. 69,000 vehicles from 2017 to 2019 were recalled due to fires in the batteries. The company has called for owners to take precautionary steps until investigators can find a repair.
Fires involving lithium-ion batteries have also interrupted other EV rollouts. These include Ford, BMW, and Hyundai who have all issued recalls for newer battery-powered models in recent months.
We wrote recently about whether the UK is ready for electric vehicles and the challenges for the growth of EVs. At Car Magic, we’ve had some experience with electric cars like the Lexus ES 300h but electric vehicles won’t be a common visitor to our workshop for a while yet.
Car Magic – Car Body Repair Specialist for all types of emissions!
See the sorts of vehicles that we repair regularly on the blog and then be sure to check out our customer reviews which go as far back as 2009.
At Car Magic, you can upload photos of the damage to your vehicle at www.carmagic.co.uk/get-an estimate. Alternatively, you can call us from Monday to Friday between 9 am and 5 pm on 01442 864022. Our expert team can give advice over the phone. We can arrange for you to pop in and see us at Wood View Farm, Hog Lane, Chesham. We might even be able to give you a quote there and then.
If you’ve been involved in an accident that wasn’t your fault, you don’t need to claim on your insurance. Handle the insurers and get your car repaired without paying an excess fee or losing your no-claims discount at Non-Fault Car Accident Repair. Call 0800 059 0220 for more information or visit www.nonfaultcaraccidents.co.uk to start your claim online.
Sources: Seeking Alpha, Aljazeera, Forbes.