There is growing concern about the practical reality, the timing and costs associated with the mandated transition from the ICE to battery driven cars (EVs).

The UK legislation bans the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in 2030, but we only have one dedicated “gigafactory” making car batteries.

It is not just the obvious issues such as range anxiety, availability, standards and the cost of public charge points, particularly in rural areas, but the environmental impact of the mining and processing of the rare earth minerals, the virtual Chinese monopoly, and the global scarcity of lithium, copper, cobalt and other essential components for batteries.

There are many essential Island businesses that depend on small vans, but in just seven years, new diesel vans under 3.5 tons will be banned from sale, which will have a serious impact on commercial operations.

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Around 90 per cent of domestic freight in the UK is shipped by road today.

Cost and range are a major concern.

A battery-powered Ford Transit costs over £10,000 more than a similar specification diesel van.

The diesel, depending on the fuel tank size selected, can carry its payload over 500 miles and takes a few minutes to refuel.

A fully laden battery Transit will manage 90 miles in the summer, less in the colder months, and take hours to recharge.

Then there is the even more serious problem for HGVs, and for the heavy equipment used on farms or in the construction industry, expected to operate a full working day without a break.

Time for an urgent rethink on the targets, and the social/economic costs for the UK economy, in an increasingly competitive world.

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