Is the car a steel “soft toy”? Are sport utility vehicles (SUVs) an environmental heresy? With energy and a desire for objectivity, Maman, j’aistoper l’avion, the weekly magazine presented by Daphné Roulier, attempts to respond around two reports, debated in the company of three guests. Today: Marie Chéron, head of vehicle policies for the NGO Transport
Regular collaborator, Raphaël Hatier lines up the numbers. In France, 39,000 private vehicles are responsible for a sixth of our greenhouse gas emissions. Before launching the subject at the Lyon Motor Show in September, where, on all stands, sales of SUVs are exploding, despite their measurements and their weight (on average 200 kilos more than a compact sedan) , and their impact in terms of CO2 emissions. Which makes Loup Espargilière, journalist for the Vert media, say that “large SUVs are an aberration in themselves”.
Measures to deter
Pierre Guignot, general manager of Honda France, proudly presents his three new models, all SUVs, from the “iconic” CR-V (1.9 tonnes) to the HR-V (1.4 tonnes). More distressing, the sidewalk microphone made at the entrance to the show, notably among a group of young engineering students, while one of them asserts: “We don’t care about consumption as long as There’s a big V10. » Out of the ordinary, indeed…
Without looking for a clash, which is appreciable, measures which could dissuade future buyers are mentioned. From the most fun (a chase on an electric bike in the next James Bond to make the car outdated) to the most tragic: according to Karima Delli, SUVs would double pedestrian deaths.
Everyone agrees on one point. If in the future we will not all drive electric, this type of car will become predominant. Hence the need to establish a global carbon footprint for these vehicles – Raphaël Hatier is doing this – and to take stock of global lithium resources and the challenges of its extraction, while waiting for battery recycling sectors to are put in place. The same goes for hydrogen cars, biofuels, the A69, rural mobility, the development of the TER network, teleworking, the pedibus (subject of the second report).
The “Yesterday Again” section, produced with the INA archives, takes us back to the exhaust fumes of the 20th century, just to show how far we have come. A much-needed note of optimism for the show which ends with: “Be happy! »
