Seeing the Changes 2092

A Silver'Y' moth (Autographa gamma) visits my Loughor garden.

Charging Electric Vehicles (For Road Use)

It's necessary, where possible, to replace diesel and petrol-fueled vehicles by electrical equivalents. Electric vehicles (EVs) don't produce climate-altering 'greenhouse gases' or health-damaging exhaust emissions. They do, however, use roads. The batteries of EVs, also make them proportionately heavier than diesel/petrol-fueled equivalents. They consequently exert more 'wear and tear' on road surfaces. The UK government currently gets a healthy income from the duties on petrol and diesel fuels. Some of this, is used to pay for the upkeep of roads as well as new builds. EVs, of course, don't pay fuel duties. The Campaign for Better Transport (CBT) consequently advocates the UK Chancellor reforming vehicle taxes. They say, cars and trucks should be charged for each mile travelled on UK roads (https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/sep/03/uk-electric-car-drivers-per-mile-vehicle-taxes-campaign-for-better-transport). Charging per mile, could be easily done by using the available tracking of vehicles. Allowing government to know where each vehicle has travelled, however, might be regarded as a bit 'big brother'. Cutting duties on diesel and petrol (there might be calls for doing this, if all vehicles are charged by the mile), would certainly slow down the transition to EVs. The CBT scheme isn't the only one that's been trialled in other parts of the world. For example, the electricity supplied to EVs, could carry an additional surcharge. The annual road tax could be substantially increased. It's clear, however, that the status quo isn't sustainable.

I Look Dangerous But I'm Not Really

Batesian mimicry is where a harmless species avoids predators by taking on the characteristics of a harmful species. The mimic doesn't have to expend resources developing a harmful property. It might, however, reduce the potency of the harmful species' signals.

We All Give the Same Message!

Mullerian mimicry is a feature seen in insects from bumblebees to Postman butterflies. A number of distasteful/dangerous species converge in appearance, to strengthen their aversion message to potential predators. Attacking one, benefits all.

I'm Dangerous!

Aposematic invertebrates and vertebrates, freely advertise their properties with garish colour schemes. Their bodies may be loaded with toxins. Alternatively, such animals may have a poisonous bite, a sting or irritating hairs. Advertising reduces their chances of being predated.

New Cars For Old?

Manufacturing a mid-sized electric vehicle (EV), generates circa 8.8 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e). This compares with 5.6 tCO2e for a similar-sized petrol/diesel car. It's battery production, that accounts for 40% of the EV's build-related emissions. Converting an existing petrol/diesel vehicle to electric could, however, save more than 5 tCO2e. The bigger the vehicle, the bigger the savings. So, buses, bin trucks, lorries and vans become prime candidates for conversion. A number of UK companies are now fitting electric motors, batteries and charging points to former petrol/diesel vehicles (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/aug/31/upcycling-a-black-cab-or-bin-lorry-growing-industry-converts-old-vehicles-to-electric). These upgraded products can be markedly cheaper than buying a new EV. They also can save money, by not being liable for London's Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) charges. There has, however, been some difficulty in getting the replacements re-classified by the UK's Driver and Vehicles Licencing Agency (DVLA), here in Swansea. ULEZ (and other city schemes), depend on information supplied by DVLA. This should be easy to update, as conversions become more common. Conversion of existing vehicles, where possible, to electric, would be a much better way of countering climate change than everyone buying new EVs. The environmental benefits of reduced health-damaging vehicle emissions could be obtained, with markedly lowered 'greenhouse gas' emissions. This is not, of course, likely to appeal to car manufacturers!

Can't See Me!

Many invertebrates (and other animals) use crypsis (camouflage) to blend in with their backgrounds. This enables prey and their predators to avoid easy detection.