The UK rail network serves as a linchpin in public transportation and is a growing stakeholder in the nation’s transition to a greener, more secure future.
The escalating energy crisis, underscored by soaring gas and electricity prices, poses significant challenges but also opportunities for the rail sector.
ScotRail’s initiative in Scotland provides an excellent case study.
The current hike in global energy prices is fuelling optimism in the electric vehicle (EV) sector. ‘Energy security adds to the economic and environmental arguments for battery-powered transport,’ notes the industry.
This is especially critical in times of geopolitical instability, where energy security becomes an extension of national security.
Welcome to the second instalment of our three-part series on Rail Infrastructure and UK Energy Security. In the first part, we examined the indispensable role of the rail network in the UK’s energy infrastructure.
Today, we focus more closely on the ongoing initiatives by rail companies like ScotRail and their implications for both national security and the energy landscape of the United Kingdom.
In 2017, ScotRail ambitiously planned to establish 100 new electric vehicle charging spaces across 50 stations. As of 2023, the firm has exceeded expectations by offering fast-charging facilities at 56 stations.
This initiative not only promotes the use of EVs but also greatly contributes to reducing the UK’s dependence on fossil fuels, in line with a recent House of Commons report regarding energy security.
Jurag Ulehla, co-founder of Voltia, adds perspective: “The average EV owner in the UK is now paying 43% higher than prior to the Ukraine conflict. Yet, compared to the far greater spike in petrol and diesel costs, switching from fossil-fuels to electricity is a clear money-saving tool.”
National Security?
With the ongoing Ukraine conflict affecting fuel prices, these EV initiatives are not just saving money for individuals, but they’re also contributing to national security by lessening dependence on volatile international oil markets.
Rail stations offer an untapped resource for electric vehicle charging. ScotRail and other companies are leading the charge in this regard. With strategically positioned charging points at stations, the commuter population can enjoy a seamless, green door-to-door travel experience.
“We didn’t anticipate that our charging demand would be as high as it is currently,” says Toddington Harper, founder and chief executive of the UK-based sustainable energy company Gridserve.
This underscores the increasingly important role that electric vehicle infrastructure plays in securing a resilient energy system, vital for national security. Ensuring ready access to these charging facilities is crucial.
Protecting Access
ScotRail actively discourages non-EV vehicles from occupying these bays, paving the way for more widespread EV adoption and use. Babatunde Ajala, ScotRail Parking and Connectivity Manager, told the UK Defence Journal:
“ScotRail is committed to creating a low carbon and sustainable railway which contributes to an environmentally aware Scotland. The provision of electric vehicle charging points at a number of stations across Scotland, including at Uddingston, is just one of the ways we’re doing this.
The parking bays are designed specifically for electric vehicles, and we will always try to educate customers who park non-electric vehicles in these spaces. However, all car parking offences can be reported to British Transport Police.”
The ‘Energy Trilemma’
As noted in this House of Commons Committee report, the UK faces an ‘energy trilemma’—the daunting task of balancing affordability, security, and climate considerations.
The report starkly outlines the national security implications of climate change and energy dependency, emphasising the need for a comprehensive energy strategy. By transitioning to renewable energy sources, rail networks can mitigate the risk of energy supply shocks that could cripple the national infrastructure.
Jo Lewington, Network Rail’s Chief Environment & Sustainability Officer, adds, “As part of our wider Environmental Sustainability Strategy, we’re working towards delivering a low-emission railway and aiming to reach net-zero emissions by 2045 in Scotland and by 2050 in the rest of Britain.”
The goal of reaching net-zero emissions feeds directly into this energy trilemma, and it has vital implications for national security by establishing a resilient, locally-sourced energy infrastructure.
The Point
Integrating EV charging infrastructure into rail networks has dual benefits: it accelerates the transition from fossil fuels and strengthens the UK’s energy security by reducing reliance on volatile foreign energy markets. Such symbiosis between electric vehicles and the rail network could be a bulwark against energy supply shocks, and by extension, national security risks.
With the EU’s commitment to ban imports of Russian oil, Mark Tarry, Network Rail’s Supply Chain Operations Director, observes, “Energy security has fast become a priority concern for European industry.” Hence, the electrification of the transport system adds a further layer of security against external geopolitical threats.
As the UK grapples with the energy trilemma and its national security implications, rail networks like ScotRail are already contributing to a resilient and secure energy landscape. By embracing renewable energy and electric vehicles, these networks can play a crucial role in buffering the nation against global energy volatility, thus ensuring both energy security and national security.
Toddington Harper of Gridserve explains the “almost perfect match” between electricity demand by EV users and electricity production at the solar plants powering Gridserve’s charging network. “So, our charging network actually takes pressure off the grid, as well as providing the renewable energy supply,” he states. This not only supports energy security but becomes a strategic asset for national security by ensuring a more stable, resilient energy supply.
Stay tuned for the third and final part of our series, where we will examine the untapped potential of the rail network as a source of renewable energy and its broader implications for the UK’s energy and national security.
Do the station owners take a cut of the energy costs for charging at a station?
Do rail operators pay less for electricity than industries? Many questions.
Is it more expensive to charge at a station? Do all companies that have charging points on there property charge extra?
Train operators pay more for electricity. Some of the freight companies have switched to diesel even on electrified routes because it’s now significantly cheaper.
The government really need to sort out the price of electricity, the wholesale market is totally dysfunctional because it was never designed for renwable energy.
Railways have a power transportation network in place that could allow renewables to be placed near the network. In effect generating its own electricity.
Currently the tech for EVs is insufficently mature to solve the issue of replacing ICE. When it matures and people start adopting in serious numbers we will know the charging times & range of the vehicles. Only this will dictate what charging infrastructure we need & where it should be placed. I doubt it will alter the relevance of trains to any serious extent.
“Currently the tech for EVs is insufficiently mature to solve the issue of replacing ICE”
Absolute rubbish. As of the end of August 2023, there are around 850,000 fully electric cars on UK roads. Source; Zap-Map.com.
It costs about £19 to do a 200 mile charge, 20% of which is Kwarteng’s imposition of VAT
Less than that David..I pay 15p per Kwh overnight charging and my car goes 4 miles per KWh.
If didn’t pay tax of fuel I can fill the car for £45 and do over 600 miles, if I pay the same tax as electricity its £48, if I hyper mile I can get over 700 miles! 48/600 = 0.08p per mile. Probably on daily commute you’d beat an ICE car but on 600 mile trip you’ll take longer due to recharging and you’ll be paying premium charging rates well over you 15p. I will be back with my family probably 1 hour before you (how much is that hour worth especially if you travel a several times a… Read more »
But and this is the big one..how many times a year does the average person travel more that 300miles in a day….it’s effectively going for the less optimal option to cover what is for most people less than 1%….if you add up how many much time in a year I spent filling my car ( when I had an ICE car) …one a week five mins a week vs spending 30-40mins once a year waiting for my car to change on a long 300mile plus journey ( which I would have a 30min coffee break for anyway…….also that very rare… Read more »
Does it really take 40mins – I tend to drive my Tesla for two hours and then plug it in for 20 mins rinse and repeat.
I’ve driven across Europe doing that.
That way I arrive fresh
I was giving the times for when not using the Tesla network…trying to be balanced…TBO one of the best reasons for getting a Tesla is the supercharge network….a few of the motorway services I use don’t have superchargers and it’s around 40mins…..
I agree about the changing network.
Mine came with free lifetime supercharging so it is cheap to take on holiday!
That said 150kW chargers are getting quite common now.
Free for life supercharging that’s very nice indeed, I’m assuming you have a model s ( very nice ) which variety have you go…alway fancied a Plaid…but I’m not convinced 0-60 in 1.9 seconds and 200miles an hour is justified.
I’ve got a Model X long range with the 100kWh battery.
Very comfortable and great for long drives.
0-60 3.6s is fast enough for me.
Model x, that’s one very big beast of a car, I did test drive one and almost did go for one, the kids loved the back seats and they youngest especially liked the last row of seats to herself….the doors are cool as well.
It is massive – too big.
I say that as an ex Discovery 4 driver.
My kids love it.
The doors are a nightmare – they work when the feel like it.
I’m not surprised Tesla are dropping it as it is built to hobby standards of fit and finish.
David according to the DVLA 16% (2022) of new registrations were for BEVs. People are voting with their feet and sticking with Petrol (50%) or some form of Hybrid. Batteries are currently a work in progress & a hive of activity. Peoples reticence will evaporate if we have a full charge taking us 500-1000 miles and/or charging taking 5-10 minutes and/or they are make of relatively cheap stable locally sourced substances. Sure there are BEVs which can service some of the market but we need it to function in the real world for everyone.
So my diesel car does 45 mpg. It has 60,000 miles on the clock and has a value of about £5k, I do about 5000 a year of mixed motoring. At this rate I expect it to last me out, I am a pensioner. To buy a new EV car would cost me the rest of my pension lump sum. Alternatively I have seen a nice Morris Minor Estate with renewed ash frame for £10k. No road tax, no microchips, 40mpg. What do you advise?
The Morris should be in a museum. The world has moved on since the UK had a domestic car industry and there is no place for sentimentality with finance! If you wanted a BEV, the second hand market is the way to go. Since Tesla dropped the price for its cars substantially in Jan they have got a lot cheaper The second-hand value of one-year old EV’s have reduced significantly in the past six months. A one year old, 10,000 mile example of a Peugeot e-208 can now be had for £16,095 (Sep’23 price), a Hyundai Kona Electric for £18,913,… Read more »
Mmm. My current car is a comfortable 2 litre cat 5 diesel with a range on a full tank of just over 500 miles. I will keep it for long journeys and possibly buy a small and hopefully cheap mini for urban journeys…or an EV Vespa for about £3k, I agree with the posters who are saying that EV technology has a way to go at least for long journeys, which we should be making by train and using park and ride EV + hiring an EV at destination. Manufacturers have so far concentrated on marketing huge expensive SUV models… Read more »
“I understand that you can expect to have to replace the lithium batteries every 2 years or so”
Not so. Tesla offer an 8 year/100,000 mile warranty on their batteries. If you don’t run the battery flat too often they last a long time
So that just leaves me with the problem of finding £60k or so then I will have a car that takes up the road space of the 20 or so cyclist who are overtaking it at 20mph. We are not really addressing the problem- regardless of how they are powered there are too many cars on the roads. Public transport and neighbourhood shared taxis powered by hydrogen fuel cells are the way to go. Ditto rural train multiple units and many delivery vans / lorries.
https://mag.toyota.co.uk/hydrogen-hilux/
But on average there’s a 2.3 reduction in range each year, its just science of the battery cycling and lithium. After 10 years you’re range is lower by 23%. If you cycle the battery more (lets say plug it into your house as storage as we may be expected to do) it will loose efficiency faster.
Hi Paul, at present they are estimating that the battery packs will still be ticking along way beyond the life of the car….estimated 15-20 years and around 200,000 miles…Kia even guarantee there batteries for a decade and 100,000 miles to still retain over 80% capacity..a battery pack is going to last longer than an engine and gear box.
Thx. Even so, for reasons of weight, expense and charging time I am minded to wait for solid state batteries.
Only 3 years ago Mazada created a petrol engine which was 17% more efficient than anything before it. You couple that with say another 10% biofuel to the current fuel mix at our pumps that’s a 27% reduction in carbon from an ICE engine, use that ICE engine with much smaller batteries in a Hybrid format you get more efficiency still. Engineers believe Mazada petrol compression engine being the first iteration of a petrol compression engine will only improve. Problem is we may never get to see where the tech goes as the possibilities for the technology are being stifled… Read more »
Indeed, JCB have successfully converted an engine to run off hydrogen. Apparently its not too difficult. I have posted a comment ( waiting approval) with a link to the new Toyota Hilux which runs off hydrogen. You fill it up like LPG. Why are we not locating the reserves of white hydrogen? I do wonder whether Lithium EV isn’t the new Beta Max to hydrogen’s VHS. Follow the money…..
Nothing ironic about it …that what they are aiming for…there always needs to be the next big thing …and this is this decade’s one.
You can get a nice Nissan leaf for 5 grand and honestly you will not look back.
Yes, for me an ‘urban’ car makes sense. I have solar panels installed and if I buy more battery I could run something like a Leaf for nothing for most of the year. But its no good for 600 mile trips up to Scotland and it won’t tow my sailing dinghy. Its part of the solution. Regarding the article I applaud the Scot Rail initiative. It has legs and would be even better if the trains themselves ran on hydrogen fuel cells. There are proven prototypes of this technology. (We need to find the white hydrogen deposits before Russia and… Read more »
Interestingly we worked out the economics and the one thing my car cannot do is move my who family and all our camping kit and sail boats around the county…so if we are off on a camping expedition we just hire a big 7 seater car/van…( it’s still cheaper than owning the T5 I use to have on the driveway)….but my next EV is going to be one of the bigger ones which can tow and have the space for a family of fives camping and sailing gear.
Yes, I think hiring vehicles for specific tasks will become normal.
I’d keep your diesel. I’ve got an ancient RAV4 diesel. It just keeps on trucking and does 45-48 mpg on combined cycle. I can get 50+ mpg on a long run. It’s worth <3K so I'd have to really increase my annual mileage to even get close to an argument for the ludicrously expensive initial outlay for a decent and comparable EV. What's not mentioned about EVs is their excess weight. In some cases X2 the weight of an ICE vehicle. These heavier vehicles have much greater wear and tear on our roads. Ergo you should be paying twice the… Read more »
Thx. Similar considerations to my own. The initial outlay is the killer. My daughter bought a used Hyundai Kona 64 KwHr model. She is pleased with it. Big fuel savings on local journeys versus previous diesel. Long journeys have to be planned e.g. Scotland to Wiltshire is 2 stops. In practice the range is 2/3 of the advertised range. Queuing for motorway chargers and traffic jams can throw out the plan. And they do continue to run a small cheap diesel Skoda Fabia …simple technology …guaranteed to start.
Problem is UK needs to be able to generate 600Twh of energy reliably per year once everything switches to electricity. Which means we more likely need 800Twh of generation capacity as renewables can’t work all the time and when it does we need excess energy to charge storage. That storage needs to be huge, considering on Tesla battery is only 75kwh you can do the maths on how many batteries you’ll need for just 1Twh of storage. You need shift that power around the UK has renewable won’t supply even power (wind blowing up north nut not down south) so… Read more »
Clearly we need grid scale enery storage systems. Once a certain number of BEVs are on the roads soaking up wind farm electricity at night – avoiding curtailment costs – we have such an energy storage system. Many think 1.5 million EVs would provide such storage. A smart grid could then draw some of this back when renewables are unavailable, say 15% There are other energy storage systems in development, by the University of Manchester which has a pilot plant in operation gathering data, and Gravitricity who are building weights based systems going up and down in deep coal mine… Read more »
There’s too much magical thinking taking place in the EV conversation. We need realism not evangelism.
1.5m vehicles will give will give around 112 GW of storage, if you cycle those batteries fully to empty, that unlikely to be allowed to happen, will you let the grid zero down your EV battery? No. Even if you didn’t you battery life will shorten thus you cars range will diminish quicker. I doubt it’ll be long before the AA are offer battery tests on used cars to give used buyers piece of mind the battery hasn’t been hammered. Will warranties remain valid if you plug in to the grid, probably if you have followed the dealer rules to… Read more »
The technology is not yet mature enough! Clearly it works for you but far from most other people. Both generating capacity and grid infrastructure needs to be matured and expanded, and not least far more public charging points are needed. One factor that EVs do not address is how to charge something in an emergency away from the grid. Sorry we can’t send an ambulance, police, or fire engine as they all need a charge to work. How about fire engine water pumps and many more issues, like standby generators. And what happens when there is a power cut, no… Read more »
Mark, do you drive an electric car ?I have for around 3 years now and I can categorically say that the only time an ICE car is a better option is if you are dong more that 200-250 miles in one go on a regular basis (daily). my car does 4miles per KW…as I charge over night that costs me 15p per KW ( 2 years ago it was 5p)…so just over 3p per mile…that’s £9 for 300miles..the best ICE cars realistically can to about 10miles per litre of petrol…at £1.50 a litre that’s £45 for 300 miles… my electric… Read more »
OK I am sold on it, what sort of electric car do you have
Tesla model 3…
Nice – you can find them on Autotrader, two years old with less than 8000 miles for about £30,000
I drive hybrids (at the moment) and have done for over 15 years. You are proving my point a little. Battery technology is improving day by day however the research that is going on is mindblowing. Nobody is going “that’s it – best we can do” – they are saying “we have only just started”. As I suggested in my view the tech is not yet mature. Any new car should last on average 9-10 years. Much can happen in that timeframe.
This does assume you have some were off road to charge it. for large numbers of the UK who live in a terraced street, that is a problem
Check out Zapmap.com for public chargers in your area
I am fully sold on the benefits of Electric Cars Jonathan. But my issue is with residual value for owners. As you approach that 8 year battery life guarantee point i expect the second hand value to nosedive. Who wants to buy a car and then pay the same again to replace the batteries?
BTW i expect my next company car to be an EV and we have also just purchased a 125cc equivalent EV moped for zipping around town.
Actually LiPo technology is very mature, which is the problem- it’s about as good as it’s going to get and it’s still not fit for purpose. We’ve seen a roughly linear improvement in energy density achieved by an exponentially increasing R&D spend, which is what happens with any technology when all the quick wins have come and gone. Obviously an exponential increase in spending can’t be sustained. Other potentially superior battery chemistries exist, but they are at about TRL 1, so not going to be achieving anything useful in the near term.
Solid state batteries are the way forward because they offer at least double the range and half the charging time. Toyota, VW, GM and Ford are close to starting manufacture
2025 possibly more likely 2027 but as with all new tech its price tag is expensive 40k USD for an average car battery. As with lithium batteries there will be supply issues and we’re 10 years away from it being affordable for the masses. And we’re only just getting grips with LIPO recycling, there’s no known way to recycle a solid state battery. Now if car manufacturer said they had a new petrol engine there was no known way to recycle a key component what would the response be I wonder 🙂 Like wind turbine blames which are now finding… Read more »
I need to add some additional info here on the EV question as its not just about the battery but the whole supply chain to get the power into the battery. LiIon is a mature technology and will be replaced hopefully with a technology using less harmful (and explosive) materials which will be lighter, higher density and quicker charge. On the supply side this is where the problem lies, the electrical infrastructure in the UK is not setup for this move to a significant increase in electricity demand. I will give you and example. A filling station will nominally have… Read more »
Thanks for highlighting this. I believe the Chinese are producing EV cars which you ‘recharge’ by stopping at the garage and swapping out the dud battery for a fully charged one. Bit like Calor has bottles.
Agree, some think this is a very easy problem just stick in a few chargers add some wind turbines and it job done. Its a massively complex task. Forecast are that electricity consumption will double before 2050 as it replaces fossil fuels. We simple don’t have anywhere near the infrastructure to deal with moving that amount of power to right places.
Agree with practically everything you’ve said. Costs are obscured by various taxes, tariffs and subsidies. If we compare apples to apples (as you have), the economic argument isn’t that effective. I’ve also been asking; ‘how do we replace the energy from 4,000,000,000 litres of petrol & diesel per month?’ for years. Not saying we can’t or shouldn’t, but no policy makers or climate activists seem to be asking or presenting a plan to increase our electricity output and grid by 40-60% in 7 years… so, what do they want? We just won’t be allowed to go anywhere. Is that the… Read more »
Yes it is …motoring for the rich
Diesel generators to charge green EVs….you couldnt make it up …fantastic/pathetic (delete on your appreciation of irony)
its not just the charging at stations either. Currently home charging works, due to not many owners on the same street. But the cable that supplies the leccy to your house is shared with upto 100 other people, and is designed for an average of 2-3kw use across them. then we get to car chargers 7kw, solar batterys and heat pumps. these will all charge run overnight on “cheap” electricity. But at some point when enough people have a charger you will hit the limit for the cable. This will if you are lucky cause the protection on your local… Read more »
It is not just about numbers though there are practicality issues. What if you live on the 10th floor of a high-rise? , there is no way you could have your own charger installed and you would have to rely on public chargers which may not be situated anywhere near your home.
What happens when the batteries eventually fail? and how much does it cost (financially and environmentally) to replace them?
As for battery failure, they will last longer than the cars life..at present they are working on 15-20 life and 200,000 miles…Kia even guarantee for the first 10 years and 100,000 miles…..re home charging that’s where the work needs to be…if you live in a flat you need a designated parking space with a home charger, I’d you live in a terrace the laws need to be changed so you can have a designated spot built outside your house with a home charger….it just takes will.
That is also assuming you can park near your house /flat. I have lived in streets where the (street) space nearest my home is rarely available and most days I could only find a parking space 2 – 3 blocks away, This scenario is not uncommon in large cities. A lot of flats simply do not have dedicated parking spaces, so that excludes many people from having the means to charge at home Also, many large blocks of flats are leasehold, meaning the public spaces are not owned by the flat owners, you would have to get the landlord to… Read more »
A dose of reality. We need to improve public transport to the point where it makes more sense to use it. And the government needs to incentivise or compel employers and car park owners to electrify their car parks.
Increasing capacity and introducing Air-Con, these days I have no tolerance for hot and overcrowded trains /buses.
And you are not alone. Government thinking needs to change so it views people as human beings.
That’s the point we would need to change how it works…effectively giving a house a designated spot on the road with charger…..we aready do it for the disabled.
That would never fly with most councils as roads are public spaces to be shared not owned, but especially in inner cities where parking spaces are controlled by permits or pay meters. Also if the property is located in a cul-de-sac or pedestrianised area, you simply would not have enough road space near the residence to allocate dedicated parking space to each property, again this is a reality in British cities, some properties (e.g blocks of flats) do not have much road space adjacent, or the road is a thoroughfare (no parking allowed). In many parts of the UK, you… Read more »
The issue is, EV doesn’t solve the vast majority of problems that ICE present, because the issues really aren’t about the motor inside, but basic facts of car dependency. The only real long term solution is to move away from car based infraststructure and build in a way that allows people to use active and public transport for the majority of their trips.
Hi Dern, this is a strategy which has been aggressively pushed for decades with limited success. Those in London or any other large metropolis will look out of their windows and see many buses, underground stations and bikes but also vast quantities of cars & vans. Running modern life requires cars & vans however much we would wish it otherwise. In the countryside where the weekly (and empty) bus only comes on a Tuesday you can speak to any driver and understand the necessity of their journey or the fact that they are free human beings and they will enjoy… Read more »
Exactly, people are too focused on engine emissions and forget that all vehicles put brake dust and tyre particulates into the environment. As you said private transport is never really green.
https://i.postimg.cc/wBJ2mrgj/Opera-Snapshot-2023-09-21-173541-jokes-scoutlife.gif
The issue is, if you build a moat of charging points around train stations then you make the train station less attractive to people trying to arrive there by other means (or even to people arriving by train). Nobody wants to travel to a parking lot.
On the subject of the security implications of EV surely the biggest impact is on countries which previously used to supply oil or gas & those providing raw materials for vehicles. These changes are destabilising and may result in countries attempting to control their resources and/or invading their neighbours in order to influence their future prosperity.
Exactly, we face the same (supply) security risks if we keep going down the EV route and not researching alternatives.
China has already woven itself into the EV and renewables supply chain. We are essentially jumping out of the frying pan. There’s vested interest from states like China and now big renewable companies to stay the course on electrification.
So higher prices increase security…
This is an outstanding, well researched article. Let’s hope nobody drawns it to Sunak or Hunt’s attention, in case they demand that the railways run on coal or diesel again
Unfortunately, only 38% of the UK rail network is electrified, meaning diesel traction will be needed for the foreseeable future. About a third of that electrified network uses a (legacy) 3rd rail DC system which is energy inefficient and hazardous to people who have to work on those lines…. IMHO the railways in the south of England should have started converting to 25Kv overhead lines as soon it was deemed BR standard decades ago.
It really should have and it’s a crime that we aren’t, but then the current government seems happy to invest billions into roads, while cutting rail investment at every opportunity.
What’s wrong with Biodiesel? Surely having an energy mix like biofuels, hydrogen even carbon capture is better than relying on the entire country needing electricity. Ironically the the revolution in EV and technology will see the the rise in Advanced Air Mobility which will take a significant % of rail revenues. So I question if the article is well researched as its ignored other forms of transport and transport revolutions.
For Trains? Diesel is inefficent and polluting in general, remember that trains have to go into population centers, and living near a diesel line compared to a electic rail line has proven health risks. But the other thing is that even Diesel trains are actually electric, the vast majority have big electric engines driving the wheels, they just generate the electricity with big, heavy, diesel engines. Having electric trains just means you can still generate power by diesel, but do so more efficently in a power station, and not require your trains to lug great big diesel generator sets with… Read more »
If you’re just using an EV to get to the station you’re better off using an ebike in the cities. I’d like to see some train carriages adapted for bikes, e-scooters, wheelchairs and cargo bikes.
Would probably be good for car clubs though.
Adopting double-deck trains on commuting routes too as they do in other parts of Europe.
not sure thats viable I would assume many routes have bridges that would stop double deck trains – and rectifying that would be a huge undertaking be easier to have longer trains surely?
You’re right about the double deckers, but the length of trains is in turn determined by the length of passing sidings and timetables.
Still changing those would probably be easier than altering all the bridges and tunnels on a route.
Another alternative would be more frequent trains which is easier for us to do than others (*cough* USA *cough*) as we’ve already made the investment in electric rail.
If only we had made more investment in electric rail. Part of the solution also would be genuine highspeed lines to create more capacity that run into city centres, especially in the north. But I can’t imagine any project like that Mr Sunak!
Even re-opening the branch routes that were closed, back when we thought infrastructure could be run for profit, would be a huge step forward.
True, although that’s a solution to a very different problem, helping reduce car dependency in wider britain, while what I was talking about was reudcing congestion on the mainlines (which theoretically would be made worse by the reversing beeching cuts actually).
Having traveled on SNCF trains they achieved double deck by making the lower deck lower than normal trains they are only about 0.6m taller than standard stock.
Clever Frenchies!
Assume they moved the bogies to the extremities and had the lower passenger cab slung below platform level.
Yes indeed.
Uk Railways have a very restrictive Loading Gauge, Double Decker Trains make sense but few routes would be able to use them.
And that is where Network rail needs to invest.
The really sad thing is we’ve gone backwards in this regards. LNER used to run train sets that had bike carriages, but now almost all UK intercity services have these tiny bike lockers that fit 1-2 bikes and if you are frail or disabled good luck with using them.
Aye those EV batteries really environmentally friendly …..are they shite !If you bother to research instead of accepting the shitehoose “official narrative and look at the bigger picture that includes the car’s manufacture, you will see it’s environmentally UN friendly. Prior to cop26 Volvo released figures claiming that greenhouse gas emissions during production of an electric car are nearly 70 per cent higher than when manufacturing a petrol one. The green street crew need to accept reality that the problem lies with the lithium-ion batteries fitted currently to nearly all electric vehicles: they’re extremely heavy, huge amounts of energy are… Read more »
While there are valid concerns about EVs, it’s important to approach the subject with accurate information and a comprehensive understanding. It’s true that the manufacturing of electric vehicles, especially the batteries, can have higher greenhouse gas emissions compared to petrol cars. However, focusing solely on the manufacturing process doesn’t provide a full picture. Over their entire lifespan, including manufacturing, charging, and driving, electric vehicles generally have a lower carbon footprint than traditional petrol cars. One significant reason for this is that EVs have no tailpipe emissions, which means that, during their operation, they emit significantly fewer greenhouse gases. The mention… Read more »
So in summary they are not the panacea many would have us believe and do indeed have an impact on the environment. There will be other manifold impacts of the headlong rush for EV cars etc that are not yet known or fully understood. For freight (trains & lorries, buses etc) it may be a viable solution but there are many studies even in that area that have concluded deisel is still a prefered solution when all things are considered. Nonwithstanding the conflated arguements around the real environmental benefit of EV cars in particular the public neither want nor can… Read more »
I think the West generally would get far more from EV if we went back to a non throw away culture. My father was extremely well paid in goverment however he bought a car and as long as it was reliable he kept it as long as possible. I do the same with mine at 9 years and counting. Surely this would be when EV comes into its own as the pollution manufacturing costs are paid and the longer you keep it the more enviromentally friendly it really is.
Do we all need a new car every 2/3 years??
George whilst true. We are ignoring other advances in technology. As you quote as technological advancements continue, the efficiency of these batteries and the methods for producing them will likely improve. It seems biased to say EV problems will be solved with technology then completely overlook carbon capture, hydrogen (JCBs hydrogen engine) which if given the chance could flourish rather than regulating them out of existence. Do we wait 10-15 years to see how EVs and battery tech plays out before considering anything else? https://www.jcb.com/en-gb/campaigns/hydrogen Will you be mentioning the amount of electrical energy that will be required for the… Read more »
Your emphasis on technological diversity alongside EVs is spot on. While my earlier discussion might have seemed heavily slanted towards EVs, it’s not a denial of the potential of other technologies. Hydrogen and carbon capture certainly hold promise, especially in sectors where electrification might be a harder sell. The prominence of EVs in current discussions arises from their readiness for wide-scale deployment. But, the infrastructure for hydrogen, whilst still in its early stages compared to EVs, has immense potential too. Addressing the grid and our burgeoning energy demands, you’re bang on. Electrifying everything, from transport to industry, would undoubtedly place… Read more »
If EVs are promising but not quite there yet surely we should be focusing on solutions we can practice right now? Better public and active travel infrastructure in cities can allow most people to get rid of their cars entirely today, bringing a host of benefits such as: a) more space for traffic now that 99% of road users aren’t dragging a small living room with them b) more profitable city centers as people can go to town, without getting stuck in traffic or waiting to cross the high street at some lights, instead of buying online c) people actually… Read more »
EVs, undoubtedly, have their place, especially in scenarios where public transport might not be as feasible, such as in rural areas or for specific types of journeys. But you’re absolutely right: in many cities, the transformational change required could be more about how we use space and how we encourage more sustainable forms of travel, rather than simply switching from petrol cars to electric ones.
😃 see this is debate , this is good , we might disagree however as with most things in life their are two sides…… to clarify for the hoose I was referring to the relentless information push proclaiming electric vehicles as being ‘environmentally friendly’” is untrue and is in-fact propaganda. As the official narrative is pushed in such a way that people would believe there is no environmental damage or negative downside to anything associated with electric vehicles and that they are completely environmentally friendly.which if people did some research as I have done would discover is simply not true.… Read more »
Sorry that’s just not evidenced based…re the CO2 your EV will be neutral within around 4 years ( and that’s from 100% coal of gas generated electricity)..it’s earlier if your mix is mainly renewable..as an average car is on the road for a decade an EV works out at around only 30% of the CO2 emissions. As for how we extract the elements needed yes that needs regulation…but everything you buy is poisoning the third and second world from the cloths on your back to up your sofa….that’s just because the west is willing to buy cheap goods from deregulated… Read more »
J i don’t think we are ever gonna be on the same page on this but hey . The idea cars kill you is the same crazy train thinking as the earth is flat ( c’mon man you guys know who you are in here😉😂) combustion engines in modern cars have never been so efficient and clean as they are now this is indisputable So pollution from them can only diminish. Air quality in London for example is well within acceptable limits. PM2.5 concentration currently meets those freedom loving we’re only looking out for you WHO’s annual air quality guide.… Read more »
Utter nonsense. Just marketing hype from those hoping to profit from the unnecessary imposed shift to renewables. Until electricity baseload is provided by nuclear plants, increased use of BEVs will only serve to increase the use of fossil fuels ( or the completely nonsensical so called biofuels used in the Drax scam) at the power stations. Conflating energy security with decarbonization is dishonest. To improve security( before the inevitable France type move to nuclear) just issue more exploration licences for oil and gas. Wind and solar do not provide security in its broadest sense.A prolonged cold spell with low/ no… Read more »
Thank you for your insights. I’d like to address some of the points you’ve raised. To start, while a 100% renewable grid does pose certain challenges, particularly concerning baseload power, it’s not accurate to suggest that the adoption of BEVs will automatically lead to an increase in fossil fuel use. Even with a grid mix that includes fossil fuels, BEVs can often result in a net carbon emissions reduction compared to traditional petrol or diesel vehicles. And, as the grid becomes greener over time, the benefits of electric vehicles will only amplify. Regarding the intertwining of energy security and decarbonisation,… Read more »
Nicely put 👍
Indeed Renewable electricity last winter displaced more than a third of the UK’s entire annual gas demand for power generation, the equivalent of 95TWh of gas – equal to 110 tankers of LNG, saving us £billions in import costs. In 2022, UK renewables provided 38 per cent of the country’s electricity generation, nearly as much as gas (at 40 per cent) and we became a NET ELECTRICITY EXPORTER for the first time since 2010. Over 1.5 million people are now working in the UK green economy. Sunak, Hunt and Schraps are heavily influenced by the fosiil fuel lobby. And Liz Truss… Read more »
The 38% you quote includes Drax biofuels, woodchip imported from USA that emits more CO2 than coal but counts as green because new trees can be planted!
The aim of phasing out fossil fuels, not just in electricity generation, but in domestic heating, vehicles etc means that electricity demand will more than. double. That cannot be delivered by renewables not least because of intermittency.
The only way to achieve that level is nuclear. We need to start building new SMRs now before we even contemplate a ban on fossil fuels.
George, I am absolutely not criticizing your site or even your article( though I obviously disagree with its advocacy on this occasion) The hype I referred to was that coming from those with a financial interest in pushing net zero. From Lord( why? ) Deben to air miles Kerry to the CEO of Ford UK, their arguments are tainted by financial self interest. I do not accept the so called settled science of AGW. The way that its adherents try to stifle sceptical views rather than disprove them and the absurd misuse of evidence by the IPCC( global boiling Gutierrez… Read more »
All you are doing is repeating big oil propaganda and disinformation. Here is a potted history of some of it The fossil fuel industry has perpetrated a multi-decade, multi-billion dollar disinformation, propaganda and lobbying campaign to delay climate action by confusing the public and policymakers about the climate crisis and it’s solutions. They seek to convince the public that the climate crisis is not real, not human-made, not serious and not solvable. This campaign began in 1991. “Informed Citizens for the Environment”, an American front group of coal, oil, gas and utility companies announced that “Doomsday is cancelled” and asked,… Read more »
You have just swallowed uncritically the mendacious so called science of the likes of Michael Mann, the climate modellers predictions all of which have turned out to be nonsense and the whole ludicrous idea that a rise in a tiny trace gas, essential to all plant life, from 280 to 400+ parts per million is an existential threat to life on the planet. Compared with the constant propaganda of the green lobby, the fossil fuels industry barely gets its voice heard. It is actually tragic that political leaders, who have real problems to solve, waste so much of their time… Read more »
And the problem with pro-fossil fuel climate crisis deniers such as yourself is that you are too bady educated to understand the physics and the science. So if you lose the debate, it must be because the environmentalists are mendacious There is a direct, causal relationship between rising global temperatures and CO2 levels since the industrial revolution. And particularly with CH4 (that’s methane for the uneducated) which leaks out from oil wells and especially fracking facilities I suggest that you study the NASA data under the following link, which will educate you https://climate.nasa.gov/vital-signs/carbon-dioxide/ And lastly, big oil knew 50 years… Read more »
There’s an argument to tax BEVs more than ICEV because BEVs are heavier thus do more damage to roads.
I’m not pro carbon emitting sources but we need some balance and consideration for alternatives.
I live in a 1950s ex-council house, I would not trust the electrics to charge a car.
It would cost a packet to get mains to the part of my house near the drive.
There must be many with my situation.
I have a diesel that will get me from Cardiff to Canterbury AND BACK on one tank, and still get to work the next day.
Why would I bother changing?
If you live in a 1950s ex-council house with original wiring, it’s understandable that you’d have concerns about the electrical infrastructure. However, modern EV charging installations often involve a thorough assessment of a home’s electrics. If there were any safety concerns, they’d be flagged up. While it might come at an additional cost to upgrade certain aspects of the electrical system, many people find it a worthwhile investment, not just for EV charging, but for overall home safety.
Agree
But you would, in practice, have a sub main (separate modern fuse board) directly off the meter to charge an EV anyway.
That way the existing electrics won’t be touched.
TBH if you have original 1950’s electrics with fuses you are overdue an upgrade for safety reasons alone.
That way can they also charge you more for the electricity to charge your car – as they apparently intend to do?
I have no real idea how that would work in practise btw or how practical or hack proof it would be.
If you own your roof stick solar panels on it then you have free electricity to put into your EV.
If it does go through the meter you can’t be charged for it.
My electricity bill is almost nothing for nine months of the year.
In theory but not in practise. ev battery for a medium car is around 60kw, unlikley to be empty so say a required charge of 40 kw. At the height of summer with a larger than average solar array (9KW) you can generate enough excess to top up the car. In the Day. most solar have one hybrid inverter for batteries, upto 20 kw hours stored over a number of batteries is possible. so double the standard battery/inverter fit to get to 40kw to charge the car overnight. and likely an extra £11k as well. in the winter you wont… Read more »
Yup – I know I’ve had the setup for a few years now.
That said it all works fine charging off with off peak.
With a big battery you don’t need to charge every night anyway.
Yes, EVs are fine if you have a drive or a parking spot near your house where you have the ability to run a charging cable a short distance They are no good for people who live in high-rise flats or residential areas where you have to park your car a distance away from your property.
You can use a public charger in your local supermarket or garage or motorway service centre
The local supermarket garages have no chargers, that is just the way our town center is laid out. Anyway, I prefer the quickness and convenience of filling up with petrol and being able to drive off again within 2 minutes.
ok but i didnt notice them putting in 60 chargers at every petrol station round my way. to cover 5 pumps at a petrol station requires around 60 chargers, car fills up and gone in 5 minutes, ev charges for about an hour. and most forecourts are 12 or more pumps. as for home charging thats ok til it get popular, then its not. shared cable not designed for the draw from that many chargers overnight. fix is the replace the cable with bigger fatter cable, thats down to your local electricity company, every cable in every street, may take… Read more »
Some don’t even have a drive. If you live in terrance you need on street charging, so either a community charger and therefore fight with you neighbour for or a lead on a telescopic poll over the pavement and guaranteed access to the space outside your house, which again you will need to fight your neighbours for.
Our first priority should be to convert all the power stations that still rely on fossil fuels, after all, EVs and electric trains rely on these too, and ATM the ‘non-polluting vehicle’ argument is not a strong one because you are just offsetting that pollution elsewhere.
Not a big fan of EVs either as manufacturing the batteries uses rare metals, which again have to be sourced from countries that are less than friendly towards us.
I would prefer to see research going toward the extraction and storage of ‘green’ hydrogen, That way we could keep ICE-based road and water transport.
The big issue is “who is making the EV’s”. Given that it is anticipated that by 2025, 40% of EV’s will come from China, how do people feel about the fact that at a stroke a “potential hostile country” could disable 40% of our cars at the flick of a switch. The technology to disable vehicles remotely by the OEM is already mature. JCB have the ability to use it on their hire fleet, to prevent rouge renters continuing to use the kit when it is off hire. Who knows what data car companies are collecting these days with regards… Read more »
Are you talking about using hydrogen as propulsion in Vehilces directly or Hydrogen to create electricity as green electricity ‘off vehiicle ‘ (so to speak). If the later then Hydrogen used to produce electricty will produce nitrous oxides if Oxyen is ‘ in the mix’ (as it would be in produced in cars) which is not good for us. If you are talking about grren electricity from Hydrogen combustion then yes thats possible but again the disctribution issues to the car remain the same. I suippose using hydrogen as a directly replacement for petrol/gas has its own issues. I understand… Read more »
I wish people would do some research themselves instead of believing the anti-renewables and anti EV disinformation that they read in the rightwing press Jaguar Land Rover, Nissan and BMW have all announced that they will build BEV’s in the UK. Envision have built a battery gigafactory in Sunderland which is already producing batteries for the Nissan Leaf. Tata Group has announced that it will invest over £4 billion in a new UK gigafactory which will create thousands of jobs.Their gigafactory will supply JLR’s future battery electric models including the Range Rover, Defender, Discovery and Jaguar brands, with the potential… Read more »
I am one of those people who doubt that BEVs are the best solution going forward, it does not mean I am right-wing, implying so is a horribly cynical way to try and shut down the debate here. Neither am I anti-renewable, I am, however, concerned we are currently not choosing the best solutions My reasoning does not come from political debate, but I am more interested in articles that discuss technical, infrastructure, and long-term solutions to our transport problems. We still very much rely on Diesel engines to haul long-distance and bulk freight via rail, sea, and road, I… Read more »
Hydrogen is a dead end for road transport IMO. BEVs are significantly cheaper to run than ICE, and hydrogen will be even more expensive to produce than petrol or diesel. They already have massive BEV road trains in Australia, and those massive Caterpillar dump trucks (which were already electric drive) too. For large plant running 24/7 there are huge BEV savings on maintenance too because diesel engines wear out and need a rebuild. Ships are more likely to use ammonia, albeit that is produced from hydrogen. Trains can use overhead electrification, it’s proven and it’s much cheaper to run. The… Read more »
A power monoculture of ‘electric only’ does not achieve energy security and the rail network is already an infrastructure target. Diverse, dispersed and distributable energy sources are required. True (energy) security would require a readiness to allow primary industries to exploit UK resources (both mineral and hydrocarbon), to retain a viable industrial/manufacturing base and for there to be a full spectrum of energy choices. A nation of warehouse operatives bullied into electric cars and now increasingly bicycles does not make for a secure nation.
I am afraid this ignorance has to be tackled. Carbon has a flow life of 3 & half years-fact.IE it’s captured. man’s carbon is 5/7% of all free carbon according to the government, one scientist has stated is only 0.4%. Between 1940 and 1970, the planet cooled, but man’s carbon emissions rose- Fact.All the reported mechanism by which the planet cools or warms are in favour of heating. For the eco loons to be right man emissions would have to be different carbon molecules to natures and persist in the atmosphere for 100s of years. They are not- fact.So this… Read more »
The assertion that carbon has a “flow life” of 3 and a half years is misleading. While it’s true that carbon dioxide (CO2) is subject to various processes that can remove it from the atmosphere, such as absorption by the oceans and photosynthesis by plants, a significant fraction of CO2 remains in the atmosphere for much longer periods — ranging from decades to centuries. This accumulation of CO2, which results from our burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and other activities, is directly linked to the ongoing increase in global average temperatures. The assertion about mankind’s contribution to CO2 also warrants… Read more »
I’m concerned about the environment, hate the way humanity is trading the planet and probably more onboard with net zero etc than most are but… practicalities get in the way here… The majority of the population can’t afford the ridiculous cost of an EV with decent range. Lots are struggling just to stay afloat as it is! People talking of tesla’s and the like are as far removed from the real world many live in as the fools in parliament are. Charging is an issue, if you go on holiday you potentially build the holiday around finding charging points. I… Read more »
So an extra two charging points over 50 stations! Not exactly an encouragement to use EVs is it? What about all the others, and by definition cars are left in station car parks for an extended period of time so cannot be moved away from the outlet to let someone else use them.
Shapps on the Sunday round. Is he an epic bellend of mystical proportions? And why do both sky and BBC allow him to blag interviews? East West rail is an essential part of Northern Powerhouse rail. Heavens, his knowledge of Geography makes our officers look enabled. Northern Power House rail – descoped by… Shapps, is essentially HS3… who knew? Certainly not us in the North; HS is a railway above 250KPH and no where in the North is there any plan for that speed. We’ve sent 300,000 rounds of ammunition to Ukraine… his grasp of figures his appalling. This idiot… Read more »