Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms First and second

I agree with you, I never understood the move from 2035, most probably in response to the UK taking the chairmanship of COP26 and being seen to set the benchmark.............Boris has a lot to answer for on this issue.

I just listened tp a Spanish Lady minister berating the UK for doing what the EU did by taking 2035.
The reality is we won't make a major impact N America & China can easily. I was in Alaska & Canada for 3 weeks outside of trndy places like Vancouver or Toronto I saw no e charging points. I saw none & no e vehicles in Alaska in Juneau or Ketichkan.

One has to take any Spanish Minster comments with a pinch of salt, I feel the ongoing Gibraltar issue, colours their commentary.

I also believe the likely introduction of further taxes on motor vehicles based on local manufacturing content that has arisen over currently Chinese sourced batteries for UK and EU vehicles sales in 2024 has influenced the ICE cut off date. The net effect will be to delay the level of EV sales once the country of origin rules come into effect, giving both the UK and Europe the opportunity to develop European battery production and hence future new UK and EU sales may meet the local content rules and not subject to 10% extra duty. Add in the EU investigation into subsidized Chinese imports coming to some conclusion.........the net effect is too reduce EV sales in the immediate future, so that cheap Chinese EV's and Chinese sourced batteries don't become embedded and undermine the UK and EU car manufacturing base.

I think it is important to understand the structure of an EV batteries when country of origin is being quoted.

EV batteries (more accurately called Battery packs) are constructed by taking battery cells and assembling them into small boxes called battery modules. A battery pack (which is a bigger box) is then made up by filling the big box with a large number of battery modules.

All of this helps to disguise the country of origin of the battery pack, as manufactures will claim to be assembling battery modules and battery packs (which they are) but the reality is that the vast majority of battery cells (80% globally) are still coming from China. Unless countries can competitively manufacture battery cells the rest of it is mostly packaging and some software thrown in to control the batteries.

If the UK / EU prevented the use of Chinese battery cells my guess is production of EV's would stop as there isn't sufficient battery cells being made in Europe.

Thinking of our reliance on potentially unfriendly countries for critical goods, should the West be concerned about China’s domination of battery production? Look what Russia has done with gas and grain. Crude oil cartels control production to manipulate barrel price. Our demand for cheaper consumer goods means producers move production to cheaper options.
Governments never seem to deal with longer term strategic decisions but jump on short term cost cuts and savings. Quick fixes that seem good at the time either financially or political expediency.
The UK has been deindustrialised for many years with service industries being preferred. Manufacturing exported to cheap labour countries. Globalisation has shown some negative aspects. Dependance on shipping from manufacturing bases to consumer bases via the Suez Canal had a big effect not so long ago.

Back to the 20mph limit......
The petition to reverse the change has reached 350,000+ signatures already. Looks like a vote of no confidence in Lee Waters and Drakeford is on the cards.
Today I had a short drive into town. The speed zones varied from 40 to 30 to 20 on my route. The frequent changes meant more attention on the speed limit as it was new. “Am I speeding” more prevalent in my mind. Also, spotting where the changes were was not always easy. This was in my home town on roads used regularly so other towns will be more of an issue. I drive to Canton in Cardiff weekly and my route after the M4 goes through St Fagans and on via Fairwater where long sections were already set to 20. These were main road routes with commuter traffic not rat runs through residential areas with a couple of short stretches where I’d have no issue with a 20 limit. School areas that should have time dependant 20 limit.
Today in these 20 zones ( and the Cardiff trips) I have been in 2nd or 3rd gear a lot. On a Speed Awareness course I did a few years ago the advice given was use the matching gear for limit. 2nd for 20, 3rd for 30, 4th for 40 etc., ignoring the performance, power band, gearing of different cars.

Lancashire moved to the 20mph speed limit on all side roads, main roads remained at 30mph inbuilt up areas. The costs of the 20mph signs alone was £8m and the Police at the time and now some two years on still do not in general Police the 20mph speed limit. The Police have their local regular speed trap areas and only police those areas speed limits whatever they maybe.

The net effect is that the 20mph limit is being completely ignored by motorists, in essence we are introducing laws (speed limits) that can be openly flouted by all concerned, which must overtime increase the level of acceptable lawlessness (although minor infringement) in society. What we have seen as a result since the introduction of the 20mph limit is a growing increase the average speeds in local side streets considerably above the average speed when they were 30mph and potentially policed. In essence side streets that have pedestrians, children playing etc have become increasingly more dangerous rather than less since the unpoliced 20mph zones were introduced.

You should never introduce laws or restrictions that you are not prepared to enforce.

I can't imagine how reduction you would get from batteries in Alaska during winter months.

Most cars we saw in Alaska were older models as they come over by ferry. Most were 4wd trucks. I can't see evs working well there in winter

Hot news from Drakeford. Because cars are going so slow he has asked the police to pick up the chasis number on the radar guns as well.... Em.