Rowan Atkinson has been blamed for “damaging” the reputation of electric vehicles (EVs) and contributing to slow sales.
The Mr. Bean actor was name-checked in the House of Lords on Tuesday during its environment and climate change committee meeting. [emphasis, links added]
Thinktank Green Alliance gave its views on the main obstacles the government faces in its bid to phase out petrol and diesel cars before 2035 and said a comment piece by the Johnny English star published in June 2023 was damaging to the cause.
The pressure group told peers in a letter that was shared: “One of the most damaging articles was a comment piece written by Rowan Atkinson in The Guardian, which [was fact-checked by Carbon Brief’s deputy editor Simon Evans, hardly an unbiased commentator. –CCD Ed.]
“Unfortunately, fact checks never reach the same breadth of audience as the original false claim, emphasizing the need to ensure high editorial standards around the net zero transition.”
The 69-year-old actor’s piece was headlined: “I love electric vehicles – and was an early adopter. But increasingly I feel duped.”
Atkinson wrote that EVs were “a bit soulless” and criticized the use of their lithium-ion batteries.
He suggested solutions like drivers keeping the same car for longer periods and the increased use of synthetic fuels would negate the need for EVs, saying: “Increasingly, I’m feeling that our honeymoon with electric cars is coming to an end, and that’s no bad thing.”
The actor, who described himself as a “car person” having got a degree in electrical and electronic engineering, said he advised friends to “hold fire for now” on EVs unless they have an old diesel vehicle.
The Guardian published a response the following week from Simon Evans, deputy editor and senior policy editor of climate news site Carbon Brief, which looked to debunk Atkinson’s claims.
Mr. Evans wrote: “Atkinson’s biggest mistake is his failure to recognize that electric vehicles already offer significant global environmental benefits, compared with combustion-engine cars.”
Atkinson’s views were used to make a wider point about “misleading” reports stunting EV sales.
Other challenges highlighted during the committee meeting included insufficient numbers of charging points, higher prices on EVs, and “a lack of clear and consistent messaging from the government“.
Read more at Sky News
As always when it gets right down to it they lay the blame on others they cant face the fact that they don’t want to drive a four wheel Firebox
Did Mr. Bean (Atkinson) have to step in it to find out what it was?
Life imitating art?
If you don’t like the message, bad-mouth the messenger. – especially when he’s right.
Atkinson did not utter any untruths – and said nothing that hasn’t been raised by hundreds of experts – universally ignored by the mainstream media – as it did not suit their narrative.
However the opportunity to attach the name “Rowan Atkinson” to any headline was just too juicy a piece of journalistic click-bait to overlook.
And yes – he is right – which makes it “worse”.
When he was little Zazus father sealed up him and his mother in a tree cavity