Catherine Conlon: Cars are not the future of transport

More oversized EVs and more roads take the focus off what is needed — better public transport and active travel

Green Party Leader Eamon Ryan is optimistic that transformative change in how we move about our towns and cities will happen.

"On my watch, the great American road trip is going to be fully electrified," President Joe Biden tweeted recently as he announced the up-to $7,500 federal tax credit Americans can receive for buying a new electric vehicle (EV), while sitting inside a new all-electric 9,000 pound Hummer.

What is completely missing from this announcement is how overhauling the global car fleet to meet climate targets is not just about how cars work. It is also about how big they are. A car that weighs 9,000 pounds poses both a threat to pedestrians as well as consuming a lot of energy to drag around on city streets or country roads.