A new proposal challenges the focus on electric vehicles as the sole solution to transportation emissions. The Molden-Leach Conjecture suggests that a vehicle's weight is a more accurate indicator of its overall environmental impact, encompassing factors like greenhouse gases, air pollution, noise, safety, and infrastructure strain. The authors argue that a tax based on car weight would incentivize the production and use of smaller, lighter vehicles, leading to a more sustainable transportation system.
The Molden-Leach Conjecture proposes a mass-based car tax are really the answer to private transport’s emissions problems? Vehicles of all persuasions – battery, plug-ins, hybrids, petrols and diesels – have become indisputably chunkier in recent years, owing to safety and emissions legislation and the social mores of oneupmanship.
A bigger car, especially a modish SUV, is often perceived to be a status symbol. The weight of a typical family hatchback has doubled in the past 50 years and calls are growing across Europe to stop the automotive obesity crisis. Two automotive analysts in Britain have published a book on the matter –Authors Felix Leach and Nick Molden question if the blinkered approach of electrifying everything is the right answer and point out that electric vehicles tend to be around 40% heavier than traditional combustion alternatives. Bulkier cars require bigger batteries and more materials to build, use up more road and parking space, and furthermore emit greater emissions from tyre, brake and road wear – countering the benefits of zero tailpipe emissions.The book eschews traditional government thinking that focuses purely on carbon dioxide emissions and proposes a new, technology-agnostic solution that insteadon their mass. It argues that a vehicle’s kerbweight is a smarter way to charge road users, as it creates a virtuous circle that will encourage smaller, lighter cars with less environmental impact. ‘Our exhaustive research has revealed that one easy metric — car weight — gives a surprisingly good estimate of overall pollution, including greenhouse gases, air toxics, noise, safety and infrastructure impacts,’ said Molden. ‘Consumers can therefore use this to choose their next car, without being baffled by data from biased sources.’The Molden-Leach Conjecture would use the published kerbweight of a vehicle multiplied by the distance driven in a year to measure its environmental impact. The authors suggest it is a fairer and more accurate way to assess road tax and the data required is already captured in European DIN specifications and MOT certification. In short, the lighter a car and the less it’s driven, the lower the tax burden. The book claims a driver would pay £100 less a year if their car was 150kg lighter than the average or if they drove 1000km below the UK average. ‘No longer will governments have to force a chosen golden technology on everyone. Rather, drivers will be able to freely choose what car to buy and how many miles they drive, but will have to pay the right amount for the environmental damage.’ Molden is the founder and CEO of Emissions Analytics, a company he set up in 2011 to measure real-world emissions of road cars – a topic that fell in the limelight in the wake of the Volkswagen dieselgate emissions scandal of 2016. Leach is an Associate Professor of Engineering Science at the University of Oxford and is a member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. They claim that a move to a weight-assessed taxation system would end the automotive ‘age of auto-besity.’The Times : ‘We have no plans to reform Vehicle Excise Duty to be based solely on weight. The shift to electric vehicles is crucial for decarbonising the transport sector and tackling climate change, and will support growth and productivity across the UK.’ Norway has introduced a tax on heavier cars and France started charging a €10 supplement on petrol and diesel cars for every kilogram they weigh over 1800kg while
Emissions Electric Vehicles Sustainability Car Weight Transportation
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
NoHo Suspected Stolen Car Chase Ends in Violent Crash, Car Flips OverTwo people traveling in an apparently stolen car were seriously injured Tuesday in a two-vehicle crash in North Hollywood. The collision happened about 12:40…
Read more »
New York State Police patrol car damaged in stolen car chase in RochesterA police chase involving a stolen vehicle ended on Clifford Avenue near Theodore Street on Tuesday evening, damaging a State Trooper patrol vehicle.
Read more »
Winter Weight Gain: Tips for Staying Healthy During the HolidaysThis article discusses the common problem of winter weight gain and offers advice on how to manage weight during the colder months. It explores the factors contributing to weight gain, such as holiday indulgences and changes in routines, and provides expert tips for staying on track with weight management goals.
Read more »
Fat-Positive Activist Appointed as 'Weight Stigma' Consultant for San FranciscoVirgie Tovar, a leading expert on weight-based discrimination and body positivity, joins the San Francisco Department of Public Health to combat weight stigma and promote weight neutrality.
Read more »
World's Steepest Cable Car Connects Car-Free Village to Swiss AlpsThe Schilthornbahn 20XX Cableway, with a 159.4% incline, takes visitors up to the peak of Schilthorn in the Swiss Alps, offering breathtaking views and access to hiking trails, the famous Piz Gloria restaurant, and via ferrata climbing routes.
Read more »
Harvey Fierstein Reveals 120-Pound Weight Loss JourneyVeteran actor and playwright Harvey Fierstein shares his 120-pound weight loss journey, emphasizing the role of weight loss medication in helping him achieve balance. He discusses his past weight fluctuations, reaching his heaviest at 310 pounds, and the impact of the pandemic on his weight. Fierstein describes using 'Zepbound,' a tirzepatide-based injectable, to shed the weight and his current weight maintenance strategy.
Read more »