Hydrogen is the way or not; depends on who is the expert
Our columnist was filled with his experts? Not really - but some clarity would be great
Is it getting harder to identify professionals? As I write, a few minutes ago, the Prime Minister was surrounded by two of them, and they were impeccable in their reasoning for the UK's position on the fight against the coronavirus epidemic. Clear, concise, precise, honest, reliable.
But just now I opened the website of the newspaper, which turned to several other specialists, still brilliantly qualified and working in the same field, and they do not agree with the government, experts, or each other, on the way we should accept. I mean, they all think you shouldn't go on a cruise, but I don't think that's news to anyone.
Then I opened up social media and people probably didn't all agree, so I watched a few car construction and cat videos and closed it again.
As soon as you would open a newspaper or turn on the TV or radio, you could be relatively sure that in times of crisis - that's probably counting - you'd like to hear from an expert or two. And whatever it is.
But all these days publishers and the internet have posted information in a matter of seconds, so now everyone can be an expert too. Or rather, they can take a certain position and then build a case around it to look like one.
It's not that the virus experts we've heard from are diametrically opposed - they all know there's a storm coming and what the science suggests (not great) - it's just their interpretation of the facts that makes them change to what they think they'll give us a chance .
But then I wondered. And I'm going to drag it out here, perhaps insensitively, but there we are, it's 2020 and not the glibest thing you're reading today. (Less smart, I wish you all the best in the coming months.) We are the experts here, fashion. I have done nothing but work in the field of cars since I was about 16 because I think they are inventions that have changed the world for the better. (And I like vroom sounds.)
And there are hundreds of thousands of other automotive experts around the world, all known to science for all the technologies that will drive our cars in the future. Toyota currently has similar hybrids and fuel cells. While I was talking to a senior executive from another manufacturer the other day, who thinks hydrogen has no future; what if you start with sustainability as a base point, end up with an electric car battery, and Basta. But China is investing quite heavily in hydrogen – and if you're investing in infrastructure, why not use it for a car? Good argument. Because manufacturing isn't yet as efficient as charging batteries, and storage and transportation is a nightmare, it's possible to reduce the carbon output of trucks by running them on biofuels. Another compelling argument.
Back then I asked the experts and not quite the wiser. No wonder Michael Gove once said that "the people in this country had enough experts." Although later the University of Sheffield conducted a study, in Gove's claims and found there was no evidence that he was right, either.
Forget the experts do not agree with each other. We can't even agree on specialists.
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