All Electric Cars in Britain by 2040

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by Neil Bamforth

So 2040 it is then. In 2040 there will be no more new petrol or diesel cars allowed in Britain. All new cars by 2040 must be electric. Apparently this is the way to stop pollution from petrol and diesel vehicles and, on the face of it, fair enough. Let’s just hope there isn’t a power cut when you’re on the M1 between services or some country lane in the middle of nowhere.

Still, logically, power cuts wouldn’t affect electric cars. They won’t be like plugging your kettle in or switching on your lights at home. That electricity comes straight from Britain’s National Grid. Your car’s electricity will come from there too but, once your car is charged up it’s charged up so any industrial action might stop you having a cup of tea but, providing you’ve finished charging your car then you’re home free.

Well, sort of.

The thing is, the taxes the British Government raise on fuel are humongous. Massive. Enormous. Almost 28 billion pounds is raised annually from fuel taxation.

So you environmentals out there, when 2040 comes the government needs to raise 28 billion pounds at today’s rates let alone 2040’s rates. Hope you’re saving up!

Guess what? There is only one way to replace the huge sums raised in tax revenue from fuel once there is no fuel and that is to charge everyone in an electric car for using said car on any road.

A quick trip to the shops? Add £20 to your shopping bill. Only buying a newspaper for less than a pound? Add £20 onto the bill for your trip.

Read: When English Drives You Nuts

Now don’t get me wrong.

I’m cheering on the advent of electric cars.

Primarily because cars that use petrol or diesel are screwing up the planet. Also, oil rich Arab countries are going to be toast as nobody will want their oil – and in Saudi Arabia’s case it couldn’t happen to a nicer bunch of camel jockey’s could it?

Like to see ’em export Islamist terrorist ideologies when they can’t even afford to get their burqas dry cleaned anymore. Ha!

Sweden (is it Sweden? I think so) are aiming to go all electric by 2025. Wow! No idea why Britain is 2040.

Oddly I haven’t heard about America’s stance on this. I must check out Trump’s tweets. Surely he’s got an opinion on this? A stupid opinion probably if he runs true to form but where does America stand on electric cars?

Mind you, the general consensus is that not only will Britain be electric vehicularly speaking but also will only have ‘self drive’ cars to boot.

Is it just me or is technology whizzing along at a somewhat alarming rate? Is technology whizzing along too quickly? Are we actually being left behind by our own cleverness?

Author Richard Carpenter wrote two books about a marvellous magician from the middle ages called Catweazle. Two TV series followed. Catweazle accidentally time travelled forwards into the 1970’s where he found everything extraordinarily confusing and often quite alarming.

He referred to electricity as ‘electrickery’ and, from his perspective, it was indeed.

Catweazle came from the late 9th Century into the lateish 20th Century and was confused and alarmed.

I’ve come from the mid 20th Century into the early 21st century and I’m confused and alarmed.

We may well be causing awful problems for the environment with fuel filled cars but I wonder what problems are heading our way as technology moves far more quickly than we can?

Just a thought. I have so few so please treat it gently.

About Post Author

Neil Bamforth

I am English first, British second and never ever European. I have supported Oldham Athletic FC for 50 years which has made me immune from depression. My taste buds have died due to too many red hot curries so I drink Kronenburg beer and milk - sometimes in the same glass. I have a wife, daughter, 9 cats and I like toast.
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Dale Feltz
6 years ago

I want one of those. I spend far too much on gas.

Neil Bamforth
Reply to  Dale Feltz
6 years ago

Same here….although much of my gas is curry related ????

Glenn R. Geist
6 years ago

Just looked at a VW TV commercial and all it told you about the silly thing was that it could run all your apps. It’s just a smart phone where getting around is just another app. That’s a world the millennials are welcome to and I don’t want to live to see. I probably won’t, statistically speaking, but although electric cars may get to the point of being useful for my driving needs, there are not useful for my psychological needs. Most of my contemporaries, who grew up during the American Car Culture, who worked on cars, modified cars, went on dates to drive in movies and drive in restaurants with car hops – most of us who grew up in cars and for whom the car meant freedom and identity will die of sadness when pistons give way to batteries. No more kicks on rte 66 for sure and no one will remember Jim Bronson or Jack Kerouac and Dean Moriarty at the wheel.

In a way we are now in what may be the last real golden age of cars with 850 HP monsters available right from the dealer and if that’s not enough there are many shops that can improve on that or give you a 56 chevy that will make Ferrari owners piss their expensive pants. Hitting a hundred used to be a big deal, now 200 produces yawns.

If you can’t drive, you’re not alive is my motto and what I see on the road ahead is the end of that road. Doing my favorite roads – perhaps going west to Okeechobee on State Rte 714 arched over with Live Oaks isn’t going to be the same sealed in an electric egg with no steering wheel, but a great big computer screen. I’m not going to be merging onto I95 at 165 mph from that long Indiantown Rd entrance ramp even if the car has the power. I won’t be actually driving it at all and I will be going exactly nuts at the ever decreasing speed limit. Oops, it’s raining, better do 20 under!

And bye bye to the days of drive ins and drag races on the street. Bye bye to the days of putting together motorcycles in the garage in your spare time. You drive what they tall you to drive and where and when and how fast and you might as well be on the A train for all the fun you’re going to have. My Country, ’tis of thee, texting in safety. . .

No Harley snarl. No huge throttle body sucking in half the air in the county with a howl to raise Grendel from his Norse bog, but of course all your facebook friends will know what you’re doing. That’s important.

You can stream Buddy Holly from the internet as you slip silently along the road, breathing canned air and texting your friends, but watch out some dark night for something coming up on your tail – something red with something skeletal in the seat and yes, that’s the finger he’s giving you and your safe, sanitized safety sucking little life. Text this, little boy, It’s the ghost of America passing you and gone.

Reply to  Glenn R. Geist
6 years ago

I can’t really add to that, except to say as one who has driven some really powerful cars in his day I agree completely. Remember this?

“As I was motorvatin’ over the hill, I saw Maybellene in a Coupe-de-ville / Cadillac rollin’ on the open road / Tryin’ to outrun my V-8 Ford.”

Glenn R. Geist
Reply to  Professor Mike
6 years ago

Love it!

Neil Bamforth
Reply to  Glenn R. Geist
6 years ago

I can’t really add to that…there’s not enough room on the page ????????????????????

Arthur Wills
6 years ago

I’ve a friend who has a “smart” car, which is all electric, and he loves it. He also owns a Range Rover though, for when he really needs to get around 🙂

Neil Bamforth
Reply to  Arthur Wills
6 years ago

Does he put the Smart car in the boot? ????

Reply to  Neil Bamforth
6 years ago

LOL! So, for my American friends, a “boot” is the trunk 🙂

Barry West
6 years ago

There isn’t even any talk about this in the USA. Once again goes to show America is losing its place in the world.

Neil Bamforth
Reply to  Barry West
6 years ago

Really Barry? I’m genuinely amazed the US isn’t in the mix with this yet!

Dan O'Brian
6 years ago

This is ambitious to say the least. As Marsha said it won’t happen here anytime soon. Interesting article. I enjoy reading about life in the U.K.

Cheryl Bean
Reply to  Dan O'Brian
6 years ago

So do I Neil. Don’t need to read about politics when everyone has their own problems. Your articles lately have been fun and interesting although we don’t need the videos because they don’t all work in the US. Keep it up ‘old bean.’ Thank you.

Neil Bamforth
Reply to  Cheryl Bean
6 years ago

My pleasure. I’ll check vids are ok isn’t USA b4 using any in future.

Lost my fun button for a while … Long story …. Found it again ????????

Neil Bamforth
Reply to  Neil Bamforth
6 years ago

Isn’t??? In’t auto correct! IN’T!!!!

Neil Bamforth
Reply to  Dan O'Brian
6 years ago

Ta very much. No idea whether this plan will come to fruition or not.

It may well do but it’s always wise to remember it’s politicians saying it ????

Marsha Woerner
6 years ago

Okay, “the uploaded has not made this video available in [my] country. I love watching your videos, Neil, but…
In regards to all electric cars, I doubt that’s going to happen anytime soon (or not so soon) in the US. I’m not even going to comment on our administration, our legislators, or our courts. I am so disgusted with the workings of government, the treatment of science, the treatment of religion, and the treatment of the majority of the PEOPLE in the US, then I’m not sure that anyone of you really wants to hear me; I could go on and on and on…

Neil Bamforth
Reply to  Marsha Woerner
6 years ago

It’s Georgio Moroder and Phil Oakey “Together In Electric Dreams”….now you know ????????

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