I read today that the latest EV battery manufacturing plant is to be built in France and not in the UK despite millions of pounds of subsidies offered by the Government.  Apparently France signed up for 1.6bn.

The new plant is for Stellantis and Mercedes, and I can’t really blame them for taking the money.

When I started this post I was disappointed – let’s hear it for British manufacturing and British jobs – but then I thought about it.  If that money was mine, which I suppose government money is, would I want to invest in a factory making batteries?

The word is ‘electric’s the future.’  But Germany just argued with Brussels to allow for e-fuels and I notice that the German government didn’t put their hand in their pocket.

Now I like electric.  It makes sense, in a lot of cases.  But I also like hydrogen and I like e-fuels.

So I’m not 100% sure I would ask the government to hand over 1.6bn pounds of ‘our money’ to what is  probably a non-UK company anyway.

Would you?

#evehicles #evbatteries #stellantis #mercedes #britishmanufacturing