China speeds push to all electric vehicles (Wall Street Journal)

CHINA SPEEDS PUSH FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES Wall Street Journal 2017 Sept 29 page A1 Summarized by Eugene Cramer China will force auto makers to accelerate production of electric vehicles by 2019, a move that will ripple around the globe as the industry bends to the will of the world’s largest car market.

The latest signal that officials across the globe are determined to phase out traditional internal combustion engines in favor of environmentally favorable vehicles powered by batteries, despite consumer reservations. The UK and France are aiming to end sales of gasoline / diesel vehicles by 2040. India has a goal to sell only electric vehicles by 2030.

California Air Resources Board suggested to move to eventually replacing internal combustion engines with renewable powered electric cars.

FORD Motor company, RENAULT-NISSAN and VOLKSWAGEN have setup joint ventures with local car makers to specialize in pure electric cars. GENERAL MOTORS said in April that it would build 10 electric models in China by 2020.

Comments by John Shanahan The push for countries to switch to all electric vehicles is influenced by certain environmentalists to impose reduction in use of fossil fuels for all people. There are many technical, economical and practical details that are not discussed, much less allowing market freedom.

The village of Saas Fee, Switzerland has only allowed electric vehicles. Taxi drivers complain that the vehicles are expensive and replacement batteries tremendously expensive.

A policy of all electric vehicles concentrates the source of energy in central power plants, instead of numerous gasoline stations. In cases of sabotage, natural disasters, military conflicts, the supply of energy for electric vehicles is more easily lost. Replacement of power stations can take years: no electricity, no transportation.

Electric cars are much simpler machines, that’s good, but the environmental impact of millions of large batteries has not been addressed.

Rushing to force a switch to electric vehicles for all or most transportation in a few decades is very questionable. Will they insist that all military vehicles be electric also?