Buzz
Despite owning electric cars for a long time, actor Rowan Atkinson isn't impressed with their environmental benefits.
Rowan Atkinson, famous for his role as Mr. Bean, is also known for his passion for cars. He studied electrical engineering at university and owns several luxury cars.
Recently, in an article on The Guardian, Rowan Atkinson expressed feeling deceived by the electric car trend.
Atkinson reveals owning a hybrid car 18 years ago and a fully electric car nine years later. 'Electric cars may seem soulless, but their operation is excellent: fast, quiet, and increasingly affordable,' he comments.
'But as time goes on, I feel more deceived. When you delve into reality, electric motors don't seem to be the ultimate cure for the environment as claimed,' he adds.
Rowan Atkinson's viewpoint seems to counter the UK government's proposal to ban new petrol and diesel cars by 2030. 'The issue with this initiative seems to be based on conclusions drawn from just one aspect of a car's lifecycle, that is emissions from exhaust pipes,' he writes.
'Electric cars, of course, have no emissions. This is a commendable step, especially for air quality in city centers. But if you step back and look at a bigger picture including car production, the situation is very different,' he adds.
He notes that ahead of the Cop26 climate conference, Volvo revealed alarming figures that greenhouse gas emissions in the production process of electric cars are over 70% higher than producing petrol cars due to lithium-ion batteries consuming resources. Solid-state batteries are said to herald a revolution, but it will be years before they hit the market.
Atkinson further states: 'Hydrogen is emerging as an interesting alternative fuel, although we are slow in developing a production method that is truly environmentally friendly.'
Regarding users, he believes not everyone should opt for electric cars as their next mode of transport. In fact, if truly wanting to protect the environment, he believes there is a more effective alternative.
'Environmentally-conscious friends often ask me, as a car enthusiast, whether they should buy an electric car or not. I tend to say that if their car is an old diesel engine and they drive a lot in city centers, then they should consider a change. But if not, wait. Someday, electric engines will truly benefit the global environment, but that day has not yet come.'
'As an environmental advocate once told me, if you really need a car, buy a used one and use it as little as possible,' Rowan Atkinson advises.
