Andrew Stuttaford of National Review Online reports inconvenient facts for central planners pushing an electric vehicle agenda. It’s a story that should surprise no one familiar with the history of central planning efforts in nations around the globe and throughout history.
[A]bout 1,000 out of 13,000 bus departures had been canceled in Oslo and its surrounding area.
Ruter, the company responsible for operating the buses, does not seem to have been adequately prepared (this is the first winter with an almost all-electric fleet). Who could possibly have expected that it might get very cold in Oslo in the winter?
Central planning is what it is.
Ruter is asking for patience “while we learn to cope with the [energy] transition.”
To which the answer is a question: “Why?”
Is the decarbonization of Oslo’s bus fleet going to make the slightest difference to the climate? Spoiler: No.
One of the benchmarks of human progress over the centuries has been our increased resilience in the face of unfavorable weather conditions. So far, anyway, the electrification of Oslo’s bus fleet has reduced that resilience. Doubtless this will improve somewhat in time, but, for now, this does not look like progress to me.
More problems are expected on Tuesday and Wednesday, but Ruter will be deploying a small reserve of diesel-powered (horrors!) “emergency buses,” which, if I understand the NRK report correctly, were in regular service until the turn of the year.
Oh yes: The diesel buses work.
There are no plans to abandon the electrification of the bus fleet and, just to add to the fun, NRK reports that all of Oslo’s taxis must be electric from November 1.
The plan must be fulfilled, Kamerater!
Imagine that. Central planners failed to take account of basic challenges to their plans, yet still stuck with the plan once faced with reality.
