Climate issues - vehicle replacements

[Dave2002]

Seems that many states in the USA are taking some climate issues quite seriously. Several of them are about to sue the US Postal Service for ordering new petrol powered vehicles - claiming that is against Federal environmental policies.

Would anything like that ever happen in the UK?

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/wa-other-states-sue-u-s-postal-service-over-new-gas-powered-delivery-fleet

[Serial_Apologist]

Seems that many states in the USA are taking some climate issues quite seriously. Several of them are about to sue the US Postal Service for ordering new petrol powered vehicles - claiming that is against Federal environmental policies.

Would anything like that ever happen in the UK?

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle...delivery-fleet

I wonder if it is ever that likely to happen in the US - as a whole.

[teamsaint]

Seems that many states in the USA are taking some climate issues quite seriously. Several of them are about to sue the US Postal Service for ordering new petrol powered vehicles - claiming that is against Federal environmental policies.

Would anything like that ever happen in the UK?

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle...delivery-fleet

Well the UK is planning a ban on sales of petrol and diesel vehicles before most other major economies. Pity the infrastructure to support this is so poor, but hey, we are still functioning with a rickety old power supply network, so with 8 years to go, what could possibly go wrong ?

[Dave2002]

I wonder if it is ever that likely to happen in the US - as a whole.

It is quite interesting that it is even an issue in the US. Here in the UK there are precious few signs that moves towards EVs are being taken very seriously. Car hire companies, for example, could make EVs an option, and I'm sure that some users would like to try those. Of course there are situations where EVs as they are currently are probably not up to the job. Larger vehicles seem unlikely to work well with pure EV fleets in the near future, and although hydrogen storage is not so suitable for small vehicles, it may be a much better option for large ones.

Small vans, such as the ones which do our postal deliveries might be really quite viable, and suitable for postal services, parts deliveries to outlets etc. Of course inter city distances in the US are large, and long distance transport will be a particular problem there, but in many moderately compact cities EVs may be feasible even in the USA.

Regarding UK infrastructure, some cities, such as Brighton are really leading the way and have comprehensive plans to extend and improve the charging and sustainable infrastucture, but many others are likely way behind.

[oddoneout]

It is quite interesting that it is even an issue in the US. Here in the UK there are precious few signs that moves towards EVs are being taken very seriously. Car hire companies, for example, could make EVs an option, and I'm sure that some users would like to try those. Of course there are situations where EVs as they are currently are probably not up to the job. Larger vehicles seem unlikely to work well with pure EV fleets in the near future, and although hydrogen storage is not so suitable for small vehicles, it may be a much better option for large ones.

Small vans, such as the ones which do our postal deliveries might be really quite viable, and suitable for postal services, parts deliveries to outlets etc. Of course inter city distances in the US are large, and long distance transport will be a particular problem there, but in many moderately compact cities EVs may be feasible even in the USA.

Regarding UK infrastructure, some cities, such as Brighton are really leading the way and have comprehensive plans to extend and improve the charging and sustainable infrastucture, but many others are likely way behind.

Increasingly they are up to the job, but the refuelling arrangements aren't. Lots of different companies involved, different pay methods etc, and that's before you've even cracked the "is it working" problem when you find one. Takes me back decades to the days of having a private diesel vehicle and the worry of being able to find a truck stop that would allow use of the pumps. At least the paying part was more straightforward...

[Dave2002]

Increasingly they are up to the job, but the refuelling arrangements aren't. Lots of different companies involved, different pay methods etc, and that's before you've even cracked the "is it working" problem when you find one. Takes me back decades to the days of having a private diesel vehicle and the worry of being able to find a truck stop that would allow use of the pumps. At least the paying part was more straightforward...

It depends on what you mean by "up to the job". For private cars which are mostly used for short distance travel (less than 200 miles per day) there are now quite a lot which will work. For longer distances there are still significant problems with EV only cars, though I have met people who travel long distances in EVs, including one who said he does weekly return trips of around 400 miles - plus presumably daily miles in his destination area. However larger and more powerful vehicles for other tasks are still likely to be problematic for years to come - if they are required to deliver heavy loads and over longer distances. Some delivery drivers can easily clock up a 200 miles in a day even just around the town.

Private users who have houses with space for parking and charging are fortunate. Not everyone has the ability to charge an EV at home, even if they wanted to, so public charging places or communal/shared charging points are essential.

Other vehicles, such as taxis, are also problematic. Some taxi owner drivers do not have access to charging facilities - think people living in flats in a town. Additionally, many taxi users expect to be able to go almost any distance almost immediately - so a vehicle which may have to have a 15-30 minute charging period would be inconvenient, both for the driver - who would perhaps lose a fare - and for the customers.