Monday 4th February 2008

Call To Ban Cars Under 35mpg

Inefficient cars should be outlawed by EU, says ex-chairman of Shell

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Cars that do less than 35mpg should be banned by the EU, the ex-chairman of oil firm Shell believes.

Sir Mark Moody-Stuart told BBC news that motor manufacturers would be able to adapt to tougher environmental rules.

Sir Mark said: 'Nobody needs a car that does 10-15mpg.

'We need very tough regulation saying that you can't drive or build something less than a certain standard. You would be allowed to drive an Aston Martin - but only if it did 50-60mpg.'

Sir Mark disagrees with the argument that drivers of more polluting cars pay their way through higher road tax and fuel duty, arguing that the wealthy should not be able to pay their way out of taking responsibility for climate change.

'It is a social thing. We don't say the wealthy can avoid doing what is needed by society.

'When we eliminated coal fires in London we didn't say to people in Chelsea you can pay a bit more and toast your crumpets in front of an open fire - we said nobody, but nobody, could have an open fire.

'When we introduced catalytic converters the car-makers said it would put the price of cars through the roof - but it didn't. Now we all have to have catalytic converters - that's only right.'

The proposed 35mpg rule would only apply to new cars and old cars should be allowed to die off eventually, he added.

[Polarbert]

[Fidgits]

35MPG in what conditions?

I've managed to get my trip showing an average of 50+ MPG in the S3 by coasting at 50mph in 6th through roadworks on the motorway - with an average of 32MPG for the whole journey?


yep - just another arbitary figure to tax people more through!

[marlinmunro]

Well thats just about all of them,

[Orangecurry]

why is this a problem?

If the manufacturers were FORCED to produce cars that did 35mpg, the technology would have to improve so we ended up with cars that go just as fast - progress is a good thing.

If they COULDN'T make such cars go as fast, then our current cars would rocket in value.

Heads we win, tails we win.

[cirks]

article said:

Sir Mark said: 'Nobody needs a car that does 10-15mpg.

That's perfectly true - we don't NEED cars like mine - 1 that does 3-4mpg (on track) and 11 on the road and the other 16-17mpg on the road. However, we don't NEED an awful lot of things that we WANT and that might not be particuarly good for us or the planet.

However, I also agree that if manufacturers had to design more efficient cars, they would still come up with vehicles that we actually want - ie, fun and quick

Edited by cirks on Monday 4th February 11:14

[Inner tube]

What's the problem? new cars only it says. Is it beyond our technical ability to build something exciting and economical?

[DavidCane]

Sounds like a good time to reclassify exactly how long a mile is. I'd vote for something in the region of 1/4 of the current standard mile. That way I'll be driving an 80mpg car

Yes, I know, I'm clutching at straws.

[chickensoup]

Wrong to name as ex chair of shell

Much less of a story to say that current chair of Anglo American (a mining company) sees hybrid cars as the future

Put me down for a coal fired power station

[kambites]

Inner tube said:

What's the problem? new cars only it says. Is it beyond our technical ability to build something exciting and economical?

It's called a Lotus Elise.

[jagdpanther]

Sir Mark Moody-Stuart said:

Cars that do less than 35mpg should be banned by the EU.

Sir Mark said: 'Nobody needs a car that does 10-15mpg. We need very tough regulation saying that you can't drive or build something less than a certain standard. You would be allowed to drive an Aston Martin - but only if it did 50-60mpg.'

Im going to go for the straight forward, honest answer that everyone is thinking deep down


































































OFF YOU SANCTIMONIOUS ARSEHOLE

[stu_the_flat]

I think that Sir Mark Stuart is lonely and wants hate mail.

Beside I'm fairly sure my car could do more than 35mpg... In free fall

[Fidgits]

kambites said:

Inner tube said:

What's the problem? new cars only it says. Is it beyond our technical ability to build something exciting and economical?

It's called a Lotus Elise.

When i was talking the missues about the Diesel Alfa Spider for an economical sports car thats exactly what she suggested...

if only they had a boot..

[Insight]

Orangecurry said:

why is this a problem?

If the manufacturers were FORCED to produce cars that did 35mpg, the technology would have to improve so we ended up with cars that go just as fast - progress is a good thing.

If they COULDN'T make such cars go as fast, then our current cars would rocket in value.

Heads we win, tails we win.

Agree exactly. Change the mileposts and the manufacturers will meet it. I am sure they could get most cars to do 35mpg anyway as standard. Then for 99% of people who drive a standard car it'll be an improvement. For the 1% who want to modify the car then they always can, just like you can take the cat off presently on your brand new car if you want. I think they should go for something like 60mpg. Then again in America there was a thing in LA about something like 10% of cars being zero emmission by 2010 but thats not happened. Not easy to govern but competition improves the breed!

[kambites]

Fidgits said:

kambites said:

Inner tube said:

What's the problem? new cars only it says. Is it beyond our technical ability to build something exciting and economical?

It's called a Lotus Elise.

When i was talking the missues about the Diesel Alfa Spider for an economical sports car thats exactly what she suggested...

if only they had a boot..

It does have a boot... sort of.

[rlw]

Orangecurry said:

why is this a problem?


If they COULDN'T make such cars go as fast, then our current cars would rocket in value.

Heads we win, tails we win.

Hello Planet Earth....


they will be banned, not rocket in value

[black1]

35 mpg thats good, but just think how much fuel tax would be lost !!

never mind rip you off brown will sort that !

[kambites]

rlw said:

they will be banned, not rocket in value

In that case you're reading a different article to the rest of us.

[Munter]

Fidgits said:

kambites said:

Inner tube said:

What's the problem? new cars only it says. Is it beyond our technical ability to build something exciting and economical?

It's called a Lotus Elise.

When i was talking the missues about the Diesel Alfa Spider for an economical sports car thats exactly what she suggested...

if only they had a boot..

Fit a towbar. Problem sloved....

[kambites]

Munter said:

Fidgits said:

kambites said:

Inner tube said:

What's the problem? new cars only it says. Is it beyond our technical ability to build something exciting and economical?

It's called a Lotus Elise.

When i was talking the missues about the Diesel Alfa Spider for an economical sports car thats exactly what she suggested...

if only they had a boot..

Fit a towbar. Problem sloved....

Now where's that April Fools Day spoof of the Elise pickup?

I actually saw a Smart with a tow bar the other day; surely the Elise couldn't be any worse than that.

Edited by kambites on Monday 4th February 11:23

[Twincam16]

Why is there always this assumption that only rich people drive cars that do less than 35mpg.

For starters, I don't consider 35mpg, 30mpg or even 25mpg to be particularly thirsty.

Secondly, my car doesn't do 35mpg and it cost me £750.

>> Actually, anyone get the idea he's only said that because it's sour grapes as his old firm's just posted record profits now he's no longer running the show?

Edited by Twincam16 on Monday 4th February 11:23