Exeter alumnus Felix Leach (2005, Engineering Science) has published his latest book, Critical Mass: The One Thing You Need to Know About Green Cars, co-authored with Christ Church alumnus Nick Molden (1992, PPE). Since 2019, Professor Leach is an Associate Professor of Engineering Science at the University of Oxford, and a Fellow and Tutor in Engineering Science at Keble College.
Building on the insights from Leach’s previous work, Racing Toward Zero, the new release confronts the bewildering landscape of automotive pollution by asking what one piece of information can best describe a car’s total environmental impact – particularly as the automotive fleet moves towards electric vehicles. The authors argue that while the digital age bombards consumers with information, meaningful understanding often eludes them.
Leach and Molden advocate for a sophisticated, yet accessible perspective, proposing a radical simplification of how we assess environmental impact. They push beyond just CO2 emissions to explore the multifaceted environmental and societal impacts of various vehicle powertrains.
The core of the book is the Molden-Leach Conjecture, a bold, universal solution that evaluates vehicles through a holistic lens. This framework aims to simplify complex environmental choices for consumers and policymakers alike. The authors propose a new paradigm for taxing vehicles as the world moves away from fossil fuels and hence petrol tax, enabling policymakers to address pollution and underpin tax revenues simultaneously.
Critical Mass has been welcomed for its contribution to tackling critical climate challenges. Michael Heseltine, former Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and former Secretary of State for the Environment and Industry, stated he welcomed the book as a contribution to “the most important challenge of our time”.
You can purchase your copy of Critical Mass: The One Thing You Need to Know About Green Cars from Blackwells and other booksellers.
