Fears net zero plan could put UK military at risk | United Kingdom | News

Former military leaders have raised concerns that electric vehicles could endanger British troops on the battlefield.

The Ministry of Defense is expected to hold trials in 2025 to test whether electric vehicles (EVs) can match the capabilities of conventional petrol and diesel vehicles.

The project would be an extension of a plan introduced under the Conservative government to develop electric vehicles for combat.

Since the general election in July, the Daily Telegraph reports that the new Labor government has awarded around £400,000 worth of contracts to Magtec, a company specializing in vehicle electrification.

However, plans to deploy electric vehicles in the military are raising concerns in some quarters.

These include concerns about the effectiveness of battery-powered vehicles, how they could be charged and whether they would reduce their combat capability.

Colonel Richard Kemp, former commander of British forces in Afghanistan, told the Telegraph that the switch to electric vehicles amounted to “virtue signaling” from the MoD “trying to get involved in the agenda of climate change”.

He added: “It’s hard enough to keep current vehicles fueled, it’s a massive operation in itself – I just don’t see how it could work with electric vehicles.

“Fighting battles is an extremely difficult activity – making it unnecessarily more difficult seems like a crazy undertaking. »

Col. Tim Collins, who commanded forces in Iraq, said he doubted the battery could provide the power needed for war.

He added: “What’s driving this? Is it a battlefield necessity or a fad? If it’s fad, then it’s a bad idea. Renewable energy alone doesn’t are not enough to provide the energy we need for potential conflicts.”

Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, a Ministry of Defense spokesperson said: “Rapid advances in electric vehicle technology have opened up new possibilities for military applications, with full trials planned in 2025 to determine whether Electric vehicles can match or exceed the performance of conventional vehicles across the world. battlefield operations.

“The Department of Defense remains committed to pursuing innovations that can improve the operational effectiveness of our armed forces, while supporting sustainability where possible.”