FairFuelUK’s Response to Government’s Consultation on ending the sale of new petrol, diesel and hybrid cars and vans

Consultation Response
Office for Low Emission Vehicles
Zones 3/29-33
33 Horseferry Road
London
SW1P 4DR

15^th July 2020

RE: FairFuelUK’s Response to Consultation on ending the sale of new petrol, diesel and hybrid cars and vans

• THE decision to reduce net carbon dioxide emissions to zero by 2050 seems to be one of great ambition or acute idiocy.

• What we know for certain is that it is not an example of ‘evidence-based policymaking’. The Government and Parliament have given little thought to how it might be achieved, and how much it might cost. The resultant demonisation and devaluation of UK’s existing vehicle fleet and their drivers is based on emotion, not science and most certainly not economic common sense.

• The diesel and petrol ‘phase out’ dates 2035 or 2040 are neither achievable because the critical infrastructure will not be in place to meet demand nor is there the right level of capital investment necessary to meet that demand.

• The investment necessary to support all drivers switching to EVs will bankrupt UK Plc. If all 37m drivers switch to electricity as the ‘only’ fuel supply, the national grid will not meet that demand without an estimated 16 new nuclear power stations being built. There is also not a clean energy source available that could power the electrical output required to continually meet the demand to power these vehicles

• Battery manufacture, lifetime maintenance, shelf life, safety, inherent volatility, and their disposal, is a massive environmental issue, probably more destructive to the environment and health than today’s lower petrol and diesel emissions. The elements required to build these batteries are already in short supply and being sourced from third world sweat shop and unstable economies.

• The environmental damage from electric vehicles has not been objectively researched or been described by any credible body honestly. Why has this been such a secret?

• Buying an electric vehicle is also economically a barrier against the lower incomed in society. The forced shift to electric power will unhelpfully affect the labour force ability to travel and work and live a considered life of social cohesion.

• There is little consideration by Governments to the fact there is over 100 years of oil still to be extracted from the earth. With ICE technology getting cleaner year by year, more testing and research should be put in place to implement fuel additives and catalysts that are proven to reduce emissions and improve fuel consumption for all carbon-based fuel engines. FairFuelUK is happy to supply a list of these catalysts, some of which are a legal requirement in bulk fuel deliveries to forecourts around the world. They are here now, let’s use them to reduce emissions. It is scandalous they are not compulsory now.

• By directing the oil industry to add an effective fuel catalyst or any similar proven product – the Government could reduce the UK’s vehicle fuel consumption, by a minimum of 5% or at least 2.2 billion litres per year. Using fuel catalysts, the benefit to the economy, improved air quality through vehicle emissions reduction, would be immediate and measurable. With an ensuing £2bn+ being put back into the economy due to less fuel consumption, the impact on inflation, jobs, investment and growth taxes would be comparatively easy to track. This  benefit to the economy will help drive post covid UK’s economic recovery both fairly and sensibly.

• Although, fuel catalysts may not solve the environmental challenges of the world forever, they answer part of those questions for now and will continue to, for decades to come.  Fuel additives are also a much fairer solution today for millions of voters, drivers and businesses who rely on vehicles in their daily lives. Fuel catalysts are a win-win for all parties, the economy, and the environment

• The disposal of 40m vehicle carcasses almost all at once, will be an environmental disaster that has not been planned for. There has been no analysis of such a huge scrappage impact of 400,000 km, the distance to the moon if all current vehicles were lined up end to end.

• But instead, allowing an evolution of new transport fuel technology alongside a market driven decline in carbon-based fuels, will be both manageable and not a cliff edge economic and oil based labour force fiasco.

• What about Hydrogen cells and clean up emission’s mechanical technology? Filters, roadside and road surface purification and photosynthesis synergies. I.e. more trees. Where is this research?

• With the 5th largest income to the Treasury coming from UK’s 37m drivers each and every year, how is this to be matched/replaced from taxation of EVs. Are some electrical supply sockets to be taxed with others free from EV charging usage and from taxation?

• Throwing extra tax and constantly increasing the cost of motoring is doing nothing to help apparent bad air quality. Years ago, we were all forced into diesel cars and now the cost of running them has shot up while the 2nd biggest investment – the car- is now worthless thanks to Government policy and Sadiq Khan’s cash grab tax schemes. Diesel fuel was always cheaper than petrol until supply and demand and it is a disgrace its now dearer just because more revenue from tax can be made.

• CO2 is a life gas like oxygen the earth will not survive without it. Its about time Governments recognised this. Road tax should not be based on CO2 emissions and more on how much you drive. At every step we are taxed to death in this country It cannot go on. Rises in oil prices happen instantly and take ages to fall but the problem is not just oil companies. 70% is fuel duty and that never gets a mention.

• Why has the Government taken evidence only from the well-financed environmental and Green lobbies? The grass roots who need their vehicles, the majority of whom voted Conservative have never been consulted. FairFuelUK must be a stakeholder in future decisions regarding a long term road user transport strategy. That is what is wanted by grass roots hard pressed drivers.

• Cleaning our air is an absolute priority but it will not happen through aimless virtue signalling by politicians. Government and local councils need to apply evidence-based science to the sources and causes of pollution to clean up our urban air.

• The UK is woefully underprepared for vehicle electrification, is broadly ignoring marine, aviation, industrial and domestic combustion and needs to really incentivise consumers and industry to change their behaviours through evolving technology not draconian cliff edge target ban dates. The UK needs a consistent and well-crafted national air quality strategy that’s supported by world-class scientific research.

• The 2008 Climate Change Act must be repealed. The fraudulent science has incorrectly identified carbon dioxide as a pollutant; this has led to the unfair VED system, diesel-gate and the unjustified higher than petrol fuel prices, as well as the rest of the global warming swindle and corruption.

• The motor industry has progressively improved engines to the point where street air pollution is approaching lower levels than that in the home, as older vehicles are replaced. The deliberate congestion-causing anti-motorist policies should be eliminated, and all motoring-related revenues spent on our long-neglected road network and a gradual, low cost fair evolution to new fuel technologies.

• Haulage companies for example are the backbone of the UK economy. The HGV sector has done more than any other to reduce NOx emissions. Down by more than 50% since 2013. It is important to change to a low emission future in a managed way that supports investment. It is unacceptable to have counter-productive punishment taxes targeted at the wrong people as a result of a disjointed national and local government approach.

• FairFuelUK and its 1.7m supporters, wants to help achieve cleaner and cleaner air but not through threatening vehicle sales bans. No, through serious consultation with representatives of the majority who will feel the economic impact the most. There are practical proven solutions to reduce emissions and fuel consumption, its time we used them.

We stand ready to help constructively with the Government. Please use us to get the country back on your side.

Please call us now.

Howard Cox

Founder of the FairFuelUK Campaign