The sa国际传媒 government will introduce legislation next spring mandating that all new cars and light trucks sold in sa国际传媒 must be zero-emission by 2040. It鈥檚 a fantastic goal, one that would bring a massive reduction in exhaust fumes and make for quieter traffic.
But whether the goal is fantastic as in 鈥渨onderful,鈥� or fantastic as in 鈥渋maginary,鈥� depends on what else is accomplished between now and then.
All the legislation in the world won鈥檛 put electric cars on the road if they are not available, if there are not enough charging stations or if the range of the vehicles鈥� batteries is not sufficient for long-distance travel.
The government is acknowledging those realities by setting a timeline that stretches to 2040. During that time, much can change. Batteries are constantly improving, more charging infrastructure is being built and car manufacturers are ramping up production of electric vehicles.
But putting an electric car in every garage is not assured. Legislation does not trump supply and demand. The vehicles need to be affordable and practical, as well as desirable to consumers.
The technology needs to improve. Because an electric vehicle does not emit noxious gases, that does not mean it is pollution-free. The batteries themselves require the use of various minerals, the mining and processing of which is far from environmentally friendly. If the power used to charge a car is not generated from renewable, clean sources, its carbon footprint can be larger than that of a gasoline-powered car.
These are challenges, not obstacles, but they cannot be ignored. To paraphrase a character in a Robert Heinlein novel: 鈥淭here ain鈥檛 no such thing as a free ride,鈥� even an electric ride.
