You know that ‘double take’ moment when you’re half listening to your child’s TV in the background? Then you think, oh, I didn’t know that…
Chances are it was a BBC programme, probably one from ‘Maddie’s Do You Know?’ or their ‘Amazing Machines’ series with well-loved Speedy and Grace flying across the screen in a cartoon race car.
As the ‘grown ups’, we feel pressured to keep up with new technology fearing our children might leave us behind. Even the family elders are now ‘on trend’ with smart phones and surfing the internet.
If you googled ‘phonics’ when your child started school, you’re not alone. Progression in teaching, parenting styles, mental health understanding or work-life-balance benefits inspire our mindset to take action for a better tomorrow.
We busily load up the ‘conveyor belt’ of responsibility to prepare children for their future – whether it’s education, career, setting up home or encouraging them to explore the world. You’ve probably thought about their first car or even teaching them to drive yourself (scary thought) so it’s worth knowing about an incoming change which affects our car journeys forever. Plus for those who love Scandi, Norway have already done it.
In 2035 the UK will ban the sale of brand-new petrol and diesel engine cars, also called ICE (Internal Combustion Engine), as well as the more recent Hybrid cars, but to most of us this just means petrol and diesel.
Only Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV or EV for short) will be available to buy as newly registered cars. Car manufacturers have already reduced production of standard petrol and diesel (ICE) cars ready for the ‘Big Switch’ which was originally set for 2030 but recently changed to 2035. Despite this twist in the journey to net zero, the wheels are already in motion throughout the car industry because as each year passes, new legislation dictates how many of the traditional, but polluting, ICE cars can actually be sold.
By law a growing number of electric cars will be on our roads each year from 2024, contributing to a reduced impact on our beloved climate. In fact, by 2035 only EVs will be driven brand new from the car showroom.
Don’t panic though! This doesn’t mean your current car will be illegal to drive overnight; second hand ICE and Hybrid cars will also still be available to buy.
You’ve probably seen the new funny looking posts at supermarkets with a plug painted in the parking space. You perhaps did another double take catching your first glimpse of an EV, momentarily baffled by a silent car moving like it’s sneaking up behind you.
Following London’s congestion charge scheme (Ultra Low Emission Zone, or ULEZ for short), many UK cities are introducing low emission zones to help reduce our dependency on fossil fuels and stop releasing harmful gasses. But why? One paramount reason is to ensure the air we and our children breathe is clean. That’s another learning aspect to the BBC programmes, explaining the ‘why’ a machine is important or produced in a certain way. Grace takes time to really understand the machine, testing it out for herself. Understanding electric cars could be your new superpower!
With each generation more worried about the environment than the last, your child will most likely learn to drive in an EV.
SPOILER ALERT: This means an automatic gearbox, no biting point and definitely no stalling the car at junctions because manual is off the menu.
This is a whole new way of driving with instant power, connected technology and accident prevention from automated safety features. Thinking ahead to plan longer journeys or home charging will also become the new norm. Remember Blockbuster or do we get our movies elsewhere now?
With an infectious buzz, educational children’s TV encourages curiosity. How? Through testing out, the ‘Amazing Machine’, breaking down technical jargon and guiding us perfectly on how the ‘machine’ sounds, looks and feels to explore. Embrace your inner children’s TV presenter to be curious too by discovering more or even drive an EV for yourself. With such a shift in our travel habits, some of us on the school run are already learning how easy an electric car is to drive and live with. However it could take some time for you and your family to be completely happy and ready but that’s OK, we are here to guide you through at your pace. The Women Drive Electric community of real drivers and EV experts simply want to help others steer their journey to EV life.