DickieG wrote:
One good thing the program mentioned was that occupants in vehicles inhale far more pollution than other methods of transport such as walking or cycling (the lowest) which makes a mockery of driving the little darlings to school each day.
I'd like to see that verified. Modern cars nearly all have a cabin filter which should address that. I grew up in London, mostly cycling around, and I just don't believe this at all. The lungs are more susceptible to contaminants when exercising as well because the bronchioles of the lungs relax to enhance airflow.
I believe all this stuff is propaganda aimed at steadying Tax revenue to the predictions the treasury makes. As far as burning fuel goes, burning is bad full stop. Weather we crack diesel into petrol (an energy using process which pollutes) or just burn it as diesel is irrelevant.
The hype on electric is bull as well unless we can get all our power stations onto "green" energy. How would you feel knowing that your new car doesn't generate any CO2 or NOx from the exhaust but is responsible for X tonnes Nuclear waste a year? Or maybe if you live nearer a coal or gas plant it's worse, energy is lost sending electricity down wires so you need to produce more than you use. If the electric supplier predict demand incorrectly the energy only gets used to vibrate electrons in wires anyway because no one is plugged into it. Thats kind of the beauty of cars having an engine and alternator, it keeps inefficiencies very low.
Guy Martin said something which always comes to my mind when I think about this. "heres an old Scania 500, good engine and with a good driver it'll do 10Mpg. Heres the modern equivalent which has all its euro emissions stuff to make it greener, it does 8Mpg with the same driver. Can anyone explain to me how using more diesel to move the same weight the same distance in the same time is better for the environment?" That won't be word perfect, but he definitely pointed it out and I can't answer him.
Heres a link if you'd like to hear it from him
My solution would be non ownership of cars. We're far to capitalist to ever accept it but if we want to make a worthwhile impact on the environment all cars should be modestly engined pool cars. Not only would fuel be saved by people better planning but valuable materials would be saved which are just as significant a worry as exhaust gasses. Yes my idea has it's problems and wouldn't really work in our society but I'm yet to hear a better and realistic one.