If ever there was a need for single-use plastic bags, it is now. The hygiene that it offers (particularly at the supermarket), along with the current use of throw-away gloves and face masks, wasn’t a consideration when the apparent majority voted them out. As the world economy shrinks and heads into a recession, post-COVID-19 voters will move from the centre-left to the centre-right. Climate change reforms will be put on hold as the focus for many will be on work, maintaining a roof over the family and food on the table. Motor vehicle manufacturers will be rethinking production projections for the next 20 years with the likely-hood of reforms being put on hold.
COVID-19 presents a major correction for the planet in many, many ways. First it is about saving lives and maintaining our health. Next it will be dealing with the global economic downturn. It is a major shift and our ability to recover will depend on our ability to work. Focus will be on this and not necessarily on reform. Reformation may well take place subconsciously as we look for new ways and technologies to get back on our feet.
Electric motor vehicles in Europe
Europe seem to be leading the charge towards electric motor vehicles becoming the only option in the future. So much so that earlier this year, the UK Government decided that all new cars will be 100% electric by 2035. Post COVID-19, it may be a decision they may now regret, or at least the timing of it.
Other European countries have also made the commitment to ban all new petrol and diesel car sales by 2040. The challenge for Europe is not just how to get there, but how to get there post COVID-19.
In 2018 electric cars accounted for just 2% of new passenger vehicle registrations in the UK. That leaves just 15 more years to get to 100% with some major hurdles to overcome. Briefly, these include increasing economies of scale in production and lowering the purchase price of electric vehicles. Huge investment is still required in both battery technology, a recharging network throughout the country and increasing renewable electricity generation.
But here is the kicker! Moving away from the combustion engine to 100% electric, will costs jobs because there are fewer moving parts in an electric motor and therefore less hours to build.
Reuters.com in February 2020 quoted a study showing that around 410,000 German jobs are at risk. In Europe there are approximately 126 factories producing combustion engines with the largest plant the Volkswagen factory in Kassel.
As previously stated, the key to the world economy going forward is our ability to work. At the moment technologies that will take work away from voters will not carry favour with politicians.
The level of investment required for the UK to move 100% to new electric vehicles may now prove less of a priority and we may see politicians move the 2035 date out another ten years.
The demise of Formula E
As with all motorsport, cost cutting measures such as staff on leave without pay and delaying new regulations, are taking place. If Formula One is talking about the potential demise of four current teams then the rest of motorsport is in trouble.
Formula E is no exception. Already we have had the announcement last week delaying the launch of the Gen2 EVO car until 2021/22 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. This is coupled with changes to the technical regulations will cut development costs over the next two seasons in half with manufacturers limited to a single car homologation.
Let’s not forget that two key components prop up the category. That is the support and involvement of car manufacturers – Audi, Porsche, Mercedes, BMW, Mahindra, Jaguar, Nissan, and having named talent (drivers) competing.
Take away either or both key components then the category will fall over. Most vulnerable is the support of manufacturers and this must be on shaky ground. It will be interesting to see what discussion and decisions are made at board level in the next six months.
Car manufacturers’ will be suffering with factories and suppliers in lockdown throughout the world. Couple this with an outlook of lower demand, many, like most business, will be looking at survival, let alone spending money on motorsport.
Don’t be surprised if manufacturers withdraw from Formula One. Odds-on that they will withdraw from FE followed by named drivers when the money runs out.
And the NRL?
Well, the Australian NRL is a side-show. It continues to pursue getting the series off the ground ASAP no matter what it costs. Let’s quote ex Manly, Queensland and Kiwi rugby league coach Graham Lowe who spoke to AAP saying, ‘The coronavirus pandemic has unmasked a greed that has infiltrated the NRL and believes a fundamental re-set should take place.’
They could well learn from FIFA. “The COVID-19 pandemic has clearly changed all the factual circumstances around football for this season…….. one thing must be clear to everyone, especially now: health comes first, well before football,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
And the single-use plastic bag?
Did you know that PPE (personal protection equipment) is only used once and then thrown out?
I have always asked the question, ‘What are you prepared to give up for climate change?’ Giving up your single-use plastic bag is one thing, but are you prepared to give up your car (even your race car), your job or even your house? Faced with this dilemma, many may now answer, No!
The centre-left was always going to get their way with this one when the economy was humming. Post COVID-19 economic recovery and we will see one-use mask and glove wearing voters move to the centre-right as they will start to value their health, job, their home and the vulnerability of life. While still a priority, the fight for the environment and climate change are somewhat less important if the basics of life – health, work, shelter and food – are not there.
Plastic, like pollution, climate-change, natural resources, fossil fuels and energy is all about how we manage it. (By the way, there was never a single-use plastic bag in our household, always multi-use!)
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