How might the Climate Emergency affect railway policy?

[Bald Rick]

Dramatic changes to the way we tax motoring. The principle being the road network being entirely funded by its users.

Much as though it is not believed by many on this forum, the road network is entirely funded by its users many many times over in cash terms, through VED, fuel duty, VAT and tolls. That even allows for most external costs such as accidents, ill health through air quality and so on.

There is, as you point out, an imbalance between infrequent users and heavy users, particularly HGVs.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Much as though it is not believed by many on this forum, the road network is entirely funded by its users many many times over in cash terms, through VED, fuel duty, VAT and tolls. That even allows for most external costs such as accidents, ill health through air quality and so on.

There is, as you point out, an imbalance between infrequent users and heavy users, particularly HGVs.

It pains me to say so but you are absolutely correct. In fact, with a switch to electric road vehicles government would miss the taxation revenue so electricity would have to be taxed to compensate I fear.

 

[jagardner1984]

Much as though it is not believed by many on this forum, the road network is entirely funded by its users many many times over in cash terms, through VED, fuel duty, VAT and tolls. That even allows for most external costs such as accidents, ill health through air quality and so on.

There is, as you point out, an imbalance between infrequent users and heavy users, particularly HGVs.

Happy to stand corrected. I think somehow people can deal with taxation better if they understand it’s purpose and can see a link. The “penny for the NHS” being an often quoted one.

It seems to me taxation is going to have to return a bit to the principles of “you do something we want, you get a tax break, you do something we don’t, we will tax the hell out of you (think smoking etc). Localisation in taxation here really helps I think too. Scottish Road Pricing pays directly for development of better rail linked park and ride into Glasgow Edinburgh, for example. Seek to fund projects with big building costs, but limited extra running costs, (as presumably the hope would be better public transport infrastructure would lead to modal shift, and thus lower revenue from Road Pricing). This would be particularly true of air passenger duty.

 

[dcbwhaley]

Government U turn when faced with a backlash following the crash in property values for flats and terraced houses as the inability to charge an EV effectively bans residents from owning their own vehicles.

Why on earth do ou think that people in flats and terraced houses will be unable to charge their e-vehicles?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Why on earth do ou think that people in flats and terraced houses will be unable to charge their e-vehicles?

If anything flat dwellers in modern blocks might find it easier, because the landlord could perhaps get funding to install a charging system in a much more compact space than a row of houses.

 

[dcbwhaley]

If I park on the street at night, and I can’t always park outside my house, how do I charge the car... @GRALISTAIR this could be another meaning for the Great Extension Lead

From a kerbside charging point, paying by plastic or mobile.

 

[johnnychips]

From a kerbside charging point, paying by plastic or mobile.

There are two streets of maybe 100 terraced houses where I live. It is hard to get a parking space after seven. How many of these chargers will be needed? Even if cars don’t need charging every night, I do think many people are not considering the logistics of the infrastructure of the widespread use of electric cars.

 

[Bald Rick]

There are two streets of maybe 100 terraced houses where I live. It is hard to get a parking space after seven. How many of these chargers will be needed? Even if cars don’t need charging every night, I do think many people are not considering the logistics of the infrastructure of the widespread use of electric cars.

Personally I think many people are looking at the difficulties that will be encountered by a small proportion of users, and thinking that is an obstacle for the whole concept. Most of these issues are easily overcome.

 

[Bletchleyite]

There are two streets of maybe 100 terraced houses where I live. It is hard to get a parking space after seven. How many of these chargers will be needed? Even if cars don’t need charging every night, I do think many people are not considering the logistics of the infrastructure of the widespread use of electric cars.

I think it would be a good idea (for many reasons) to move away from terraced house rows with cars parked tightly up each side, and replace them with one way systems and herringbone parking bays on one side. This would ease the installation of charging points on that side and probably increase capacity as the cars can be rather closer together in that orientation.

If you can't find a space you can't park anyway let alone charge!

 

[Indigo Soup]

I think it would be a good idea (for many reasons) to move away from terraced house rows with cars parked tightly up each side, and replace them with one way systems and herringbone parking bays on one side. This would ease the installation of charging points on that side and probably increase capacity as the cars can be rather closer together in that orientation.

If you can't find a space you can't park anyway let alone charge!

There's also a rather strong argument that areas where mass parking is impractical are areas which were developed around public transport and what we now call active travel. That paradigm might well be more appropriate; I doubt you'll get people to give up cars entirely, but many urban households' second cars could probably be easily replaced with bicycles - if the will was there.

 

[jagardner1984]

In terms of charging, is it not a little strange no one has standardised a single charging connector yet ?

I think the real solution to parking / charging issues is a wider rollout of car clubs. I am in one when I go and see family, and it’s economically and environmentally far more sensible than owning a car in that part of the world.