Slashdot Mirror
France Set To Ban Sale of Petrol and Diesel Vehicles By 2040 (bbc.com)
France is planning to ban the sale of any car that uses petrol or diesel fuel by 2040. The planned ban on fossil fuel vehicles is part of a renewed commitment to the Paris climate deal, reports BBC. From the report: Hybrid cars make up about 3.5% of the French market, with pure electric vehicles accounting for just 1.2%. It is not yet clear what will happen to existing fossil fuel vehicles still in use in 2040. President Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris climate change agreement in June was explicitly named as a factor in France's new vehicle plan. "France has decided to become carbon neutral by 2050 following the U.S. decision," Nicolas Hulot, France's ecology minister, said, adding that the government would have to make investments to meet that target. Poorer households would receive financial assistance to replace older, more polluting vehicles with cleaner ones, he said. Other targets set in the French environmental plan include ending coal power plants by 2022, reducing nuclear power to 50% of total output by 2025, and ending the issuance of new oil and gas exploration licenses.
Reply to self with a personal example I should have mentioned:
This year, the last of my yard power tools bit the dust. I decided it was time to replace them and went to Lowe's and started research. Was it time for electric/battery? Lots of reading, playing, thinking, and I went back and bought a set of Greenworks Pro (3 tools- weed trimmer, bush trimmer, blower- 3 batteries, and a rebate for 3 more batteries, free). I could not be more happy with them! No more gas, no more smell, no more trying over and over to start them, no more major noise or vibration or smell, and they even weigh less. They just work! And with brushless motors, 48V, and large batteries, they are powerful enough that I don't miss gas tools at all. And then I started telling my family and friends....
This didn't require the government to ban the noisy, pollution-prone gas tools. It didn't require the government to penalty-tax gas tools. It just required reasonable products to be available and work like they should. Early adopters a few years ago got early entry but also less powerful tools at a much higher price. I could have paid less for gas tools, but I understood all the advantages of electric and the timing and features were right at this point. And it is only going to get better as technology improves.
However, I did NOT replace my lawn mower. I don't believe mowers are ready yet (just not quite there in power/life/price) and my gas mower works fine. But maybe in a few years when it is time, something will be available that will sway me.
But I ALSO realize that SOME people still need access to massive power or REALLY long runtime- something that current electric tools can't manage. And for them, it is perfectly fine that gas powered tools remain available. Eventually, they will be in the tiny minority and not contribute much to yard tool gas usage or pollution.
>"They are not banning vehicles that use petrol/diesel, they are banning the sale of vehicles that use petrol/diesel."
Yes, I realize that. They are banning the CHOICE of consumers and manufacturers to make or buy certain products, indiscriminately, and for all cases, outright.
>"You're entire premise of being outraged is incorrect but don't let that stop you from being upset about NOT YOUR COUNTRY doing things they way they see fit."
No, my premise is not incorrect, but don't let that stop you from trying to correct me. And although I don't personally necessarily care that much about what France does, the trend could be catchy. Plus I can still have empathy for those in which their government tries to control everything to the possible detriment of their society.
See my other recent posting for a perfect example of how the market can take care of itself: https://slashdot.org/comments....