Converting EU motorists from diesel/ petrol to electrically powered cars will be very costly.

It will also make the EU politically dependent on a new set of suppliers. Russia, and Saudi Arabia will be replaced by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, China, Australia, and South Africa for minerals needed to manufacture and operate electric cars. 

And, just as oil will eventually run out, these new minerals will also be in finite supply, although new reserves of them will be discovered to postpone that day.

Electric cars require Lithium. By 2050, the EU will have to import 35 times as much Lithium as it is importing today. At the moment Australia produces half of all global supplies of Lithium.

Electric cars require what are known as rare earths. 60% of known rare earths are now found in China and it is estimated that by 2050, the EU will have to increase its imports of them by up to 26 times. Given the deterioration of relations between China and the West, this could be a problem.

Cobalt is needed for electric cars and 70% old global Cobalt is found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a country that has been invaded and wracked by civil wars for years.

Platinum is also needed and 70% of known reserves of Platinum is found in South Africa  at the moment. 

Supplying the global electric car industry will involve opening many new mines. Mining can damage local water supplies and damage the environment. It involves transfers of wealth which will be politically controversial.

Eventually, techniques for recycling minerals from used cars and batteries will become a local source of supply in the EU, and mines will prospected for and opened within the EU, although not without controversy and disruption.

The so called Green Transition to electric cars , and to renewables more generally, will involve a huge capital investment. This will mean a transfer of resources from other uses, including consumption . It will push up the cost of living still further. But it is unavoidable if we are to prevent a climate disaster. That said, it is important that the voting public are prepared for the changes involved and fully accept them.