Uploaded November 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The reality is that most people outside the south-east still drive to work. Life outside the biggest cities would be much harder – indeed, sometimes impossible – without access to a car. While many argue that electric cars are the future, the financial costs involved in transitioning to battery-powered vehicles are simply too much for most people to contemplate. Have we really fallen out of love with the motorcar, or is it a vocal minority? Was mass personal transport a hubristic dream? Is it time to send the motorcar to the scrapyard, or is it possible still to make a positive case for car ownership for the future?
The speakers in this debate filmed by WORLDwrite volunteers at the Battle of Ideas Festival are:
Timandra Harkness- Journalist, writer and broadcaster; presenter, Radio 4's FutureProofing and How to Disagree; author, Big Data: does size matter?
Hilton Holloway- Founder, 5054 magazine; automotive industry writer and specialist; future tech specialist
Simon Nash- Environmentalist; speaker; activist and founder, Green Oil bicycle lubes
Nigel Ruddock- Accountant and insolvency specialist; trustee, former head and chairman of automotive services, Grant Thornton;
The Chair is- Niall Crowley, Designer; writer; former East End pub landlord
Help the charity's volunteers keep their edit suites going to bring you more debates by hitting the THANKS button here on YouTube and adding a few £'s. Thank you.
The reality is that most people outside the south-east still drive to work. Life outside the biggest cities would be much harder – indeed, sometimes impossible – without access to a car. While many argue that electric cars are the future, the financial costs involved in transitioning to battery-powered vehicles are simply too much for most people to contemplate. Have we really fallen out of love with the motorcar, or is it a vocal minority? Was mass personal transport a hubristic dream? Is it time to send the motorcar to the scrapyard, or is it possible still to make a positive case for car ownership for the future?
The speakers in this debate filmed by WORLDwrite volunteers at the Battle of Ideas Festival are:
Timandra Harkness- Journalist, writer and broadcaster; presenter, Radio 4's FutureProofing and How to Disagree; author, Big Data: does size matter?
Hilton Holloway- Founder, 5054 magazine; automotive industry writer and specialist; future tech specialist
Simon Nash- Environmentalist; speaker; activist and founder, Green Oil bicycle lubes
Nigel Ruddock- Accountant and insolvency specialist; trustee, former head and chairman of automotive services, Grant Thornton;
The Chair is- Niall Crowley, Designer; writer; former East End pub landlord
Help the charity's volunteers keep their edit suites going to bring you more debates by hitting the THANKS button here on YouTube and adding a few £'s. Thank you.
