We all want to do our bit to tackle the climate crisis and help secure a brighter future for our planet, but exactly how far are we willing to go?
We’re able to eat less meat. Commit to recycling our plastics. Make energy efficiency improvements to our home. And how about switching to an electric vehicle?
If you’re hesitant, I can understand why.
The EV backlash
You must have heard that their range decreases in winter? The charge points are unreliable at best. There aren’t enough models to choose from. The prices are skyrocketing, and at the end of the day, they’re not actually that sustainable. These are just some of the messages that we’re hearing from the media.
By 2030, the sale of new petrol and diesel cars will come to an end in the UK. But we’re not ready. In fact, according to recent research, 43% believe the UK will never be ready to switch to electric cars.
With the range of misinformation and criticism reported by the UK media, it is easy to see why. As with any transformation there were always going to be bumps along the way; an expected teething period if you will. Yet, despite it taking over a century to perfect the internal combustion engine, we seem unwilling to accept that electric is a viable option until every single kink is ironed out.
In reality, the EV revolution is proceeding incredibly fast, but the mainstream media attention seems to be more focussed on the challenges than the exciting opportunities.
Flipping the narrative
Last month we attended Move 2023, and having also visited the year before, it was incredible to see the surge of companies promoting their new tools and EV solutions, like:
- Bikes that drive portable batteries around the city to locate and charge your EV.
- Patent-pending technology that charges electric vehicles at scale, making charging possible for all parking spaces at a lower cost base.
- Companies that identify driving behaviour, source real time battery statuses, and locate nearby charging stations to calculate optimal routes for fast and convenient charging.
In that one room, the scale of innovation and range of mobility experts working tirelessly to make the transition a long-term success was overwhelming. It was a breath of fresh air in comparison to the negative rhetoric that we continue to be fed on a weekly basis.
And while it would be naïve to ignore the immediate challenges and barriers facing the shift to electric, when do we call time on the endless negative reporting?
When do we shift the spotlight away from those encouraging despondency with no solutions, to the innovators and problem solvers playing their part in building a better, greener future?
