kb57
Well-known member
I'm kicking off this thread in response to a couple of questions posed in the Rare Birds forum about the possible impact of the upcoming requirement in UK (and elsewhere) to phase out internal combustion engine (ICE) cars and make us all drive electric vehicles (EVs). I've not attempted to cross-post the quotes, so I hope the authors will chime into the debate, but to paraphrase, concerns were expressed both that the cost of EVs would exclude more people from car ownership, and range limitations would make them impractical for birding / twitching purposes, the example being given of driving from London to Aberdeen at short notice (a distance of 528 miles / 850km). I'm not setting out to refute or challenge these concerns - they are very legitimate and understandable - but instead to just provide some information about my own experience and hopefully get some input from other EV-powered birders, and answer a few concerns and questions from others. There's clearly a whole broader environmental debate about the whole life-cycle impact of EVs, lithium mining etc. which will no doubt kick off, but I'm starting it from the perspective of cost / practicality as a means of getting to birding sites.
I've driven an EV since October when I started leasing a Hyundai Kona through my business - for the previous 2 years I'd driven a PHEV (plug-in (petrol) hybrid) BMW 2-series, and in the past a self-charging diesel hybrid Citroen DS5. I've wanted to switch to EVs in the past, but like many was concerned about range as well as cost - I occasionally have to drive long distances for work, and although I try and use trains this isn't always possible. I don't travel long distances to twitch rarities, but I do the occasional birding trip to southern Scotland or the Northumberland coast which may reach around 200 miles return.
The reasons I wanted an EV were both altruistic and selfish:
(1) I wanted to reduce the amount of pollution my travel generated - not primarily CO2 (a debate we'll surely get into) but oxides of nitrogen, ammonia, and particulate hydrocarbons which are major contributors to excess nitrogen deposition in natural habitats like woodlands and heathland, and major contributors to poor urban air quality with its effects on human health
(2) I wanted to pay less tax and pay less to put fuel in my car. In UK, cars provided by your employer are taxed as a 'benefit in kind' - you are taxed on a % of the new, capital cost of vehicle, the % going up depending on the CO2 emissions, so that a real gas guzzler pumping out >170g CO2/km will be taxed as a benefit worth 37% of its value when new, every year you drive it (unless its a pick-up truck, which is another story...), at a tax rate of 40% if your earnings are over a threshold. In contrast for the 2020-21 tax year, electric vehicles are taxed at 0% of value, rising to 1% next year and 2% the year after.
(3) As well as tax savings, our office landlords provide two 7kW chargers free of charge, powered by the large wind turbine which supplies the building - so not only is the daily commute free, it is unequivocally green (but please lets not get into a wind energy debate, I saw a kestrel killed by it once so yes, I know they can kill birds...).
So, what about cost barriers (purchase / leasing / maintenance) and practicality (are you stuck by the motorway with a flat battery when you should be watching that mega)? I'll come to those in turn below (after I've cooked myself some food - it's 9pm GMT and I haven't eaten yet!)
I've driven an EV since October when I started leasing a Hyundai Kona through my business - for the previous 2 years I'd driven a PHEV (plug-in (petrol) hybrid) BMW 2-series, and in the past a self-charging diesel hybrid Citroen DS5. I've wanted to switch to EVs in the past, but like many was concerned about range as well as cost - I occasionally have to drive long distances for work, and although I try and use trains this isn't always possible. I don't travel long distances to twitch rarities, but I do the occasional birding trip to southern Scotland or the Northumberland coast which may reach around 200 miles return.
The reasons I wanted an EV were both altruistic and selfish:
(1) I wanted to reduce the amount of pollution my travel generated - not primarily CO2 (a debate we'll surely get into) but oxides of nitrogen, ammonia, and particulate hydrocarbons which are major contributors to excess nitrogen deposition in natural habitats like woodlands and heathland, and major contributors to poor urban air quality with its effects on human health
(2) I wanted to pay less tax and pay less to put fuel in my car. In UK, cars provided by your employer are taxed as a 'benefit in kind' - you are taxed on a % of the new, capital cost of vehicle, the % going up depending on the CO2 emissions, so that a real gas guzzler pumping out >170g CO2/km will be taxed as a benefit worth 37% of its value when new, every year you drive it (unless its a pick-up truck, which is another story...), at a tax rate of 40% if your earnings are over a threshold. In contrast for the 2020-21 tax year, electric vehicles are taxed at 0% of value, rising to 1% next year and 2% the year after.
(3) As well as tax savings, our office landlords provide two 7kW chargers free of charge, powered by the large wind turbine which supplies the building - so not only is the daily commute free, it is unequivocally green (but please lets not get into a wind energy debate, I saw a kestrel killed by it once so yes, I know they can kill birds...).
So, what about cost barriers (purchase / leasing / maintenance) and practicality (are you stuck by the motorway with a flat battery when you should be watching that mega)? I'll come to those in turn below (after I've cooked myself some food - it's 9pm GMT and I haven't eaten yet!)
