Leaf it alone

And so, in a decision certain to gain headlines the Nissan Leaf has won the European car of the Year award.

The press release from Nissan highlights why this is so important

Beating forty ‘traditional' combustion-engined cars to the crown, Nissan's LEAF, the world's first 100% electric family car has landed the scoop of the motoring decade in a seismic step-change for the motor industry. The award for the revolutionary LEAF, to be produced at Britain's biggest car  factory in Sunderland from 2013, and hitting the roads in March 2011 signals a watershed moment for British motorists until now unsure about the viability of electric vehicle technology.

No not that, it doesn't of course. the car doesn't go on sale until next year, so the all important, errr, sales figures don't exist. No it must be something else that is so important.

With a GBP5,000 Government incentive scheme for EVs starting in Jan 2011, a rapidly expanding charging infrastructure across the UK, and several mainstream manufacturers set to enter the electric fray next year, today's award could be the final signal the motor industry needs that the combustion engine is no longer the default choice for motorists, ending a 125 year reign of dominance

Could it be this, that the Government is going to be bribing us to buy the ruddy thing (and I weonder if this isn't questionable state aid, as the Leaf is the only mass production all electric car - but I digress) According to Nissan's own pricing structures that still makes the car £5,000 more expensive than its nearest rivals. So no it isn't that either. Aha now I see why this important,

Today marks the first day of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Cancun, Mexico. High on the agenda will be alternative transport solutions to lessen worldwide CO2 emissions

That's it. It fits with the narrative.

Update
I see Mr North has noticed this fine win for Nissan

Green shoots of localism, maybe

Well it must be something like that if this press release from the dreadful British Wind Energy Association,

"Figures revealed today at the wind industry’s annual conference in Liverpool show that local council approvals of wind farm applications have fallen to a shocking new low of just 25%."

I think I need to pick myself up from the floor, but this suggests that despite the bullying, bribery and propaganda, local authorities are beggining to see through the greenwash and represent the interests of their constituents.

Stranger things have happened (not many I grant you).

But the bleating, frighteningly anti-democratic bleating that is at their conference is almost self-parody, listen to BWEA Chief Executive, Maria McCaffery MBE,

“Winning approvals at appeal is second best for everyone, it is expensive, slow and cumbersome for developers and frustrating & confusing for local people. We need a fresh, new approach to local decision making where Councils are not unduly swayed by vocal NIMBY pressure groups but make their judgements on the facts.”

That'll be the people who they represent. You know Maria, the locals. The people who live there. The constituents. The public. The voters, you know them. The ones that fill your gob with taxes, ripped unwillingly from their pockets.

And who is this jumping on the anti-democratic bandwagon with unbridled glee and expansive expenses-stuffed girth? Why it's that vile hoodlum and autocrat John Prescott,

'"It is absolutely scandalous that three quarters of all planning applications for onshore wind turbines are turned down. We cannot let the vocal minority stop our move to a low carbon economy and stop us meeting our global emissions targets.”

Vocal minority eh, so how is that they win, despite the money and propaganda poured out by your goverment you hectoring apology for a night club bouncer?