CAMPAIGNERS have called on eco-conscious council bosses to “boycott the electric vehicle industry” over its use of lithium batteries and instead fight for hydropower.

Colchester Council’s environment and sustainability panel came together to discuss their plans to combat what they described as a climate emergency.

The authority is in favour of helping central Government phase-out petrol-powered vehicles in favour of electric ones to help reduce emissions and pollution.

The council previously unveiled a strategy to move to an entirely carbon neutral fleet by 2030 and last year launched a battery-powered car hire scheme.

Gazette:

During the meeting on Tuesday, however, some residents raised concerns over the environmental impact the production of the batteries used in electric vehicles has.

Resident Rachel Matthews said: “We are collectively very concerned about environmental issues and Government policies.

“We do not consent to public money being spent on any lithium battery-operated vehicle no matter how enticing the financial incentives are.

“Can we have the panel’s absolute assurance you will do what is right and not allow yourselves to be pressured into actions that do more harm than good?

“We need to set an example and if everybody boycotts the electric vehicle industry and does not support it then this kind of thing stops.

“We have a duty to make sure these kind of atrocities do not happen.”

Among other suggestions, the councillors were asked if they would consider looking into using hydro-powered energy for their fleet of sustainable vehicles instead.

Rachel, for example, went on to cite JCB’s reported use of zero-emission hydrogen engines, which she says only produce dry steam.

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Responding, Ben Plummer, climate emergency officer for Colchester Council, said: “We are aware the environmental impact of producing lithium batteries.

“We perhaps need to look at mining lithium in a more environmentally-friendly way and I know they are looking at mines in Cornwall.

“It is very difficult to get batteries which are produced in an ethically-friendly way but we try to work with companies that have corporate social responsibility.

“We can lobby Government on some things but we are quite restricted, but we do try and research independently and consult with many experts and academics.”