Nice Parking, Mr Oil!

Ireland
November 7, 2018 9:32am CST
Electric cars are the way of the future. Or maybe it'll be donkey and cart, but let's try to remain optimistic! The Irish government has tried many schemes to try to encourage drivers to exchange their petrol- and diesel-fuelled machines for cleaner electric or hybrid vehicles. These incentives include free charging at certain charging points, little or no vehicle tax, and cash grants for installation of vehicle charging points at home, among others. In the photo above, you can see a "Mr Oil" tanker parked up, blocking access to the only charging points in town for electric cars. It's an image dripping with symbolism! Is your country moving towards clean energy, on the roads and elsewhere? How important do you think this is?
8 people like this
9 responses
@LadyDuck (457835)
• Switzerland
7 Nov 18
They are trying and there are those who realize that all the batteries needed to replace the existing cars could be also be a problem and not a little one.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (457835)
• Switzerland
9 Nov 18
@NormanDarlo A lithium battery has an estimated life of 2 to 3 years. Those lithium batteries can do more damage to the environment than the actual pollution caused by cars. Right now only the 5% of lithium batteries are recycled. I see a problem.
2 people like this
• Ireland
10 Nov 18
@LadyDuck That is a potential problem, of course. Proper management is clearly needed.
1 person likes this
• Ireland
9 Nov 18
Yes, I was speaking to some Argentinians geologists about that subject this morning. It is certainly help raise the world price of lithium, which is a major export of their country.
1 person likes this
• Rupert, Idaho
8 Nov 18
Very interesting, I don't think I would go for it though....I also would probably forget to charge it.
2 people like this
• Ireland
9 Nov 18
LOL yes, that could be a disadvantage, but I suppose no different than remembering to buy petrol (gas)!
1 person likes this
• Rupert, Idaho
9 Nov 18
@NormanDarlo That makes sense, but I don't forget to do that since I always check to see how full the tank is!
1 person likes this
@vandana7 (98778)
• India
12 Nov 18
Honestly, we went wrong almost 30 odd years ago. When we should have been moving towards electric trains linking different parts inter and intra cities, we opted for road network, that would mean more fuel consumption, and pollution, but the main reason was to generate employment and the best way we could think of was to get automobile manufacturers come here, and set up their units, employing people. It worked for a generation. Now many have left, but we Indians have got accustomed to cars. Dad had a car when he was working, and then we had a patch in our lives when we didn't have a car, and we were alright. About 14 years ago, we got a car again, which we sparingly used. Last year I bought one, and well, that is being used extensively. LOL
1 person likes this
• Ireland
13 Nov 18
That is an inherent problem with democracy: the party in power always has an eye on the next election, so most of their projects will be short term. What is the solution? I don't know. A benign dictator, but has there ever truly existed such a thing?
1 person likes this
@JESSY3236 (18885)
• United States
9 Nov 18
neat picture. I think it's a great thing. My fiance loves his hybrid.
1 person likes this
• Ireland
10 Nov 18
My sis-in-law has one and couldn't give it up
1 person likes this
@Courage7 (19633)
• United States
7 Nov 18
In some places yes but it is a long hard haul slog trying to get anyone to change over here. That photo is very symbolic yes excellent
1 person likes this
• Ireland
9 Nov 18
One reason people in Europe may be more inclined to move to electric is the high cost of petrol (gas) compared to in the US.
1 person likes this
@Courage7 (19633)
• United States
9 Nov 18
@NormanDarlo Yes I know it petrol is crazy high over there Norman.
1 person likes this
• Ireland
10 Nov 18
@Courage7 I just checked now and I see we are a little over twice US price (1.70 a litre versus 0.81). I'm pretty sure the difference used to be greater, so maybe things will move in the electric direction eventually over there!
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203454)
• Nashville, Tennessee
7 Nov 18
Electric cars are just starting to take off here but I am not interested.
1 person likes this
• Ireland
9 Nov 18
Many people here feel the same way, but the country is committed to reduce carbon footprint via migration to electric cars , so the government is trying to nudge us in that direction. Beyond my budget currently though.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203454)
• Nashville, Tennessee
9 Nov 18
@NormanDarlo I know what you mean.
1 person likes this
@Ronrybs (17854)
• London, England
7 Nov 18
It does, indeed, tell a tale! This side of the Irish Sea they are putting charging points on the pavement, but that still leaves plenty of room for Mr Oil to block them off!
1 person likes this
@GooglePlus (3807)
7 Nov 18
We had a news that a guy bought a electric car. But we still don't have Cars on electricity and due it charging points like this are nit available. It was marketing strategy to avoid people reaching to the resources and force them to buy what they are saling
@Acefun (1220)
• Malaysia
19 Dec 18
Our country are still using petrol or diesel and with car battery. Recently, the government is researching on using palm oil to make biofuel as a way to replace the dependency of petrol and diesel. I am more anticipate self driving car rather than hybrid car as I am not skill in driving so this type of car can help me to automate everything till the destination. However, self driving car is still in the trial process and hopefully it will be success in the near future.
1 person likes this