The podcast which explores the big questions about the future of motoring - and how we make it more sustainable.
With Nick Molden, founder of Emissions Analytics, the leading independent testing and data specialist.
And Oliver Schmidt, the automotive engineer best known for the Volkswagen Dieselgate saga.
Going nuclear
Could nuclear power be the key to sustainable motoring? We don't mean putting atomic reactors under car bonnets. What we mean is: whether nuclear power could generate electricity so cheaply it could be used to mass-produce biofuels. They work in conventional engines, and altogether this could make it much easier to decarbonise motoring.
So far so logical, but is it achievable? That's the question we discuss with Dr Tim Gregory, nuclear chemist and author of ‘Going Nuclear - how the atom will save the world’.
Could nuclear power be the key to sustainable motoring? We don't mean putting atomic reactors under car bonnets. What we mean is: whether nuclear power could generate electricity so cheaply it could be used to mass-produce biofuels. They work in conventional engines, and altogether this could make it much easier to decarbonise motoring.
So far so logical, but is it achievable? That's the question we discuss with Dr Tim Gregory, nuclear chemist and author of ‘Going Nuclear - how the atom will save the world’.
EV v AI
What does the explosion of AI mean for the electrification of motoring? Will there be enough power to sustain both? And if push comes to shove, won't governments prefer sexy data centres to humdrum EVs?
That might well be true of Donald Trump, who's making hay from a pushback on eco-policies in the US - where, as it happens, sales of hybrids are on the rise.
The US seems happy to let the best tech win, while the UK and Europe have put all their chips on BEVs. But in the long run - which will prove better for sustainable motoring?
We discuss all those topics and more with special guest Tammy Klein, chief exec of Transport Energy Strategies, in Washington DC.
What does the explosion of AI mean for the electrification of motoring? Will there be enough power to sustain both? And if push comes to shove, won't governments prefer sexy data centres to humdrum EVs?
That might well be true of Donald Trump, who's making hay from a pushback on eco-policies in the US - where, as it happens, sales of hybrids are on the rise.
The US seems happy to let the best tech win, while the UK and Europe have put all their chips on BEVs. But in the long run - which will prove better for sustainable motoring?
We discuss all those topics and more with special guest Tammy Klein, chief exec of Transport Energy Strategies, in Washington DC.
The great road-pricing debate - Molden & Schmidt Episode 16
What happens to taxes on driving when we stop using petrol and diesel? Governments will have a big fiscal hole to fill. One answer is road pricing for electric vehicles. But will it put people off BEVs? And would motorists baulk at having their mileage tracked? With special guest Michael Dnes, road-pricing advocate and former senior official at the UK Department of Transport.
What happens to taxes on driving when we stop using petrol and diesel? Governments will have a big fiscal hole to fill. One answer is road pricing for electric vehicles. But will it put people off BEVs? And would motorists baulk at having their mileage tracked? With special guest Michael Dnes, road-pricing advocate and former senior official at the UK Department of Transport.
Critical Mass 4: The Politics - Molden & Schmidt Episode 15
We've heard about the big idea - taxing cars by weight and mileage, not engine type. We've looked at the science, the money, and the practicalities? But what about the politics? What could persuade governments to revolutionise the vehicle taxation system? How could this concept overcome the scepticism of the press, public, and politicians who don't like meddling in the costs of driving? Those are the big questions we explore in this final episode of series 2.
We've heard about the big idea - taxing cars by weight and mileage, not engine type. We've looked at the science, the money, and the practicalities? But what about the politics? What could persuade governments to revolutionise the vehicle taxation system? How could this concept overcome the scepticism of the press, public, and politicians who don't like meddling in the costs of driving? Those are the big questions we explore in this final episode of series 2.
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Critical Mass 3: The Money - Molden & Schmidt Episode 14
So how would this radical new system work in practice?
How much would motorists actually pay?
Would petrol still be taxed, too? And could you cheat your way around it?
Those are the questions Nick and Felix set out to answer in episode three of our second series. Their new book - Critical Mass - explores the concept of taxing cars by weight and miles driven, not by type of engine. Oliver's here to 'stress test' their proposition, and see if their answers really stack up.
So how would this radical new system work in practice?
How much would motorists actually pay?
Would petrol still be taxed, too? And could you cheat your way around it?
Those are the questions Nick and Felix set out to answer in episode three of our second series. Their new book - Critical Mass - explores the concept of taxing cars by weight and miles driven, not by type of engine. Oliver's here to 'stress test' their proposition, and see if their answers really stack up.
Critical Mass 2: The Science Molden & Schmidt Episode 13
In the last episode, Nick and Felix pitched their big idea - to tax cars by weight, not type of engine. They say mass is the critical environmental factor, in an electrified world of motoring. But what's the science behind it? Do the sums and formulae add up? That's the subject of this second podcast of series two.
In the last episode, Nick and Felix pitched their big idea - to tax cars by weight, not type of engine. They say mass is the critical environmental factor, in an electrified world of motoring. But what's the science behind it? Do the sums and formulae add up? That's the subject of this second podcast of series two.
We're joined again by Felix Leach, Associate Professor of Engineering Science at the University of Oxford. He and Nick are the authors of a new book - Critical Mass: The One Thing You Need to Know About Green Cars.
And Oliver's on hand, too - to put Nick and Felix through their paces.
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Critical Mass 1: Reimagining car taxation - Molden & Schmidt Episode 12
In this episode of Molden & Schmidt - Nick Molden, CEO of Emissions Analytics, and Felix Leach, Associate Professor of Engineering Science at the University of Oxford, introduce a groundbreaking concept in sustainable transportation: taxing vehicles based on their weight and miles driven.
In this episode of Molden & Schmidt - Nick Molden, CEO of Emissions Analytics, and Felix Leach, Associate Professor of Engineering Science at the University of Oxford, introduce a groundbreaking concept in sustainable transportation: taxing vehicles based on their weight and miles driven.
Drawing from their new book, Critical Mass: The One Thing You Need to Know About Green Cars, Nick and Felix explain how this approach could transform motoring sustainability while aligning with governments' revenue needs.
The conversation explores the mechanics of this proposal, exploring its potential impacts on drivers, policymakers and the automotive industry. With Oliver asking the tough questions, Nick and Felix break down how this model could work in practice and why it might be the key to harmonising environmental and economic priorities.
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Molden & Schmidt Episode 11 - John McElroy
Nick and Oliver's special guest is John McElroy, host of the Autoline webcast and one of the world's most respected automotive commentators. There's lots to discuss. How can the US electric vehicle industry compete with China's? Will the growth of EVs actually reduce emissions? And can you cope without cobalt?
Nick and Oliver's special guest is John McElroy, host of the Autoline webcast and one of the world's most respected automotive commentators. There's lots to discuss. How can the US electric vehicle industry compete with China's? Will the growth of EVs actually reduce emissions? And can you cope without cobalt?
James Court, and even more of the big EV questions - M&S episode 10
Nick and Oliver are joined by James Court, chief exec of the Electric Vehicle Association of England. They discuss - is it better for the environment if everyone gets an electric car? What's needed to make EVs better to own and drive than petrol/diesel vehicles? And if electric cars are cheaper to run, why do people call for subsidies?
Nick and Oliver are joined by James Court, chief exec of the Electric Vehicle Association of England. They discuss - is it better for the environment if everyone gets an electric car? What's needed to make EVs better to own and drive than petrol/diesel vehicles? And if electric cars are cheaper to run, why do people call for subsidies?
Ade Thomas and the big EV questions - M&S episode 09
Nick and Oliver are joined by EV expert Ade Thomas - creator of World EV Day and the Ebike Summit, and publisher of ElectricDrives. On the agenda - how do you choose the most environmentally-friendly EV to buy? What matters more - price, or range? And as software becomes ever more important, will models become obsolete more quickly?
Nick and Oliver are joined by EV expert Ade Thomas - creator of World EV Day and the Ebike Summit, and publisher of ElectricDrives. On the agenda - how do you choose the most environmentally-friendly EV to buy? What matters more - price, or range? And as software becomes ever more important, will models become obsolete more quickly?
Can you run your car on vegetable oil? M&S episode 08
All kinds of alternative fuels are appearing on the market - made from plants, vegetable oil, waste plastic, or synthesised. In theory they provide a third route to decarbonisation - after battery-electrics and hybrids. Alternative fuels are clean and many work with standard petrol/diesel engines. So what's the catch?
All kinds of alternative fuels are appearing on the market - made from plants, vegetable oil, waste plastic, or synthesised. In theory they provide a third route to decarbonisation - after battery-electrics and hybrids. Alternative fuels are clean and many work with standard petrol/diesel engines. So what's the catch?
The car-makers fight back - M&S episode 07
The US has quadrupled import tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles to a whopping 100%. But only China can make battery EVs at an affordable mass-market price. So does this spell trouble for taking the carbon out of American motoring? And how will Europe resolve its own dilemma? Resist China's EVs and say goodbye to the 2035 target? Or allow a flood of cheap imports, whatever the consequences?
The 2035 ban is looming for petrol/diesel vehicles in the UK and Europe. But there are signs - particularly in the EU - that manufacturers are pushing back. Several major car-makers are shifting emphasis away from electric and towards hybrids - or even traditionally-fuelled engines. How will regulators respond? Are we heading for a showdown? And who will blink first?
China in your hand - M&S episode 06
The US has quadrupled import tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles to a whopping 100%. But only China can make battery EVs at an affordable mass-market price. So does this spell trouble for taking the carbon out of American motoring? And how will Europe resolve its own dilemma? Resist China's EVs and say goodbye to the 2035 target? Or allow a flood of cheap imports, whatever the consequences?
The US has quadrupled import tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles to a whopping 100%. But only China can make battery EVs at an affordable mass-market price. So does this spell trouble for taking the carbon out of American motoring? And how will Europe resolve its own dilemma? Resist China's EVs and say goodbye to the 2035 target? Or allow a flood of cheap imports, whatever the consequences?
The 2035 headache - M&S episode 05
Europe and the UK are set to ban petrol/diesel cars in just nine years' time. But with electric-vehicle sales falling - and production-capacity inadequate - the deadline looks increasingly unachievable. So what happens now? And why have policy-makers pushed the ban so aggressively?
Europe and the UK are set to ban petrol/diesel cars in just nine years' time. But with electric-vehicle sales falling - and production-capacity inadequate - the deadline looks increasingly unachievable. So what happens now? And why have policy-makers pushed the ban so aggressively?
Jacob Rees-Mogg's Bentley - M&S episode 04
You're buying a new car - how do you choose the most sustainable option? And what's better for the environment: a brand new electric vehicle, or extending the life of your old banger - even a 1936 Bentley? The answer to both questions is...it's complicated.
You're buying a new car - how do you choose the most sustainable option? And what's better for the environment: a brand new electric vehicle, or extending the life of your old banger - even a 1936 Bentley? The answer to both questions is...it's complicated.
Why tyres kill fish - M&S episode 03
Tyres are the dirtiest part of your car. They generate 1,000 times more emissions than the tailpipe, and toxic tyre debris is poisoning waterways. But regulators have only just begun to grasp the problem. And there's a real conundrum - because electric vehicles are the worst offenders.
Tyres are the dirtiest part of your car. They generate 1,000 times more emissions than the tailpipe, and toxic tyre debris is poisoning waterways. But regulators have only just begun to grasp the problem. And there's a real conundrum - because electric vehicles are the worst offenders.
The hybrids paradox - M&S episode 02
Hybrid vehicles generate more CO2 than full battery-electrics - but less than traditional internal combustion engines. Compared with electrics, hybrids are cheaper, and you don't have to charge them - which makes the vehicles an easier proposition for consumers. But then again...they still use petrol. So where should the focus be? That's the question Nick and Oliver try to answer.
Hybrid vehicles generate more CO2 than full battery-electrics - but less than traditional internal combustion engines. Compared with electrics, hybrids are cheaper, and you don't have to charge them - which makes the vehicles an easier proposition for consumers. But then again...they still use petrol. So where should the focus be? That's the question Nick and Oliver try to answer.
Our backstory - M&S episode 01
Nick the emissions analyst, and Oliver - then a Volkswagen exec - used to be on opposite sides of the fence. Here's how they met, crossed swords - but then found common cause.
Nick the emissions analyst, and Oliver - then a Volkswagen exec - used to be on opposite sides of the fence. Here's how they met, crossed swords - but then found common cause.