The Replacement of Hydrocarbon-powered Vehicles

The North American "War Between the States", from April 12, 1861 to  May 26, 1865, ostensibly fought to eliminate slavery from new western territories, resulted in the death of over 600,000 men and boys and billions of dollars in property destruction. The fact is that every slave in the US could have been purchased, as they, private property all, had once been, by parties interested in giving them their freedom. The death and destruction could have been avoided. That option was never explored.

A similar situation is developing now. The production and sale of internal combustion engine vehicles is scheduled to be prohibited in some jurisdictions in the future. There will still be many thousands of hydrocarbon fueled vehicles on the road after the prohibition takes effect. What of them? 

The current thinking is that these vehicles will be allowed to operate until they have reached the extent of their reliable usefulness, however that might be determined. It would also be simple for motor vehicle agencies to refuse to license banned vehicles. Another possibility would be that at some point their continued use would be forbidden and all ICE vehicles would face mandatory destruction. The schedule might resemble that of the Carter presidency when drivers could purchase gasoline only on dates that corresponded with numerals on their license plates. Owner compensation might be part of such a circumstance but that would be an overly optimistic view. The exact plan won't be broadcast.

In fact, as the years dwindle before the prohibition date, compliant citizens will cease to purchase ICE vehicles, not knowing how long they would be able to legally drive them.  Manufacturers will no longer make them. Used cars will leap in price. The change-over to EVs will be a fait accompli. No vote of the subjects will have been taken.

The Whig elites of government and their crony capitalist  partners won't be inconvenienced by this development. On the contrary, it will propel them to an economic wonderland. It won't matter that, for the ordinary person, travel will be more expensive and circumscribed. Unemployment at the most basic levels will increase. The subjects will be taxed even more to maintain the insane subsidies that enable the installation of new age power generation supposedly making the EVs practical. That's the future.