Do we admit that the internal combustion engine as we know it is facing a limited future?

There is only so much you can do via electronic intervention to minimize the negative image of a vehicle that relies on fossil fuels to operate. The ceiling is being reached on adding more and more electronic wizardary to reduce emissions which add to complexity and ironically, redundency, which leads the consumer to replace the vehicle sooner and continue the cycle.

My driving conditions allow for electric vehicle usage. School run, daily work and work errands will fall within the parameters of a full charge and my speed is limited by urban traffic and congestion. As an example I recently used a first generation BMW X5 for a week and my average speed shown on the display was 48 km/h.

The difference was: an early X5 is within budget, an electric vehicle isn’t.

As humans we often lament technology, the era before was always better, whether it be politics, music or motor vehicles. I once worked on steam engines and dismissed electric locomotives as cold and souless devices, which they were. The steam engine is a mechanical dragon, blowing flames and hissing at every avalible chance, being forgiving and unforgiving depending on her mood.

Yet the railways moved to electrification, and as such this is the norm and to many of us the sight of a steam locomotive is an oddity.

Vehicles will go the same way, prices will come down with market penetration and generations to come will be stunned at a device that can’t be plugged in and that requires petrol to move.

Enjoy the internal combustion engine whilst you can, it won’t be around forever.