XKaLiBaR
04-02-2008, 02:47 PM
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.
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.