Reports today say moves are being considered to ban diesel vehicles from London. This is because diesel cars cause 40% of the air pollution. I do not dispute the figures, but it would not be newsworthy if the headlines read ‘Diesel cars account for less than half the Capitals pollution. ‘
Banning diesel engines in London would bring an end to public transport on the surface and the tube network could not cope with the extra passenger numbers. Eventually a tram or trolleybus network would be established, and chargers for electric cars will be installed at many parking spaces.
The threat of change is a wonderful stimulus to development and the threat of combustion engines being banned from town centres will certainly stimulate electric car research and development.