The UK’s House of Lords has pointed fingers at renowned actor Rowan Atkinson, famously known as ‘Mr Bean’, attributing sluggish electric vehicle (EV) sales to his critical commentary. During a session before the UK Parliament’s environment and climate change committee, the think tank Green Alliance highlighted Atkinson’s article as a setback to the nation’s ambition of phasing out petrol and diesel cars by 2035.
According to Sky News, the think tank deemed Atkinson’s piece, published in The Guardian in June 2023, as particularly detrimental to the EV cause. Despite subsequent fact-checking efforts, the article’s purported misinformation perpetuated, undermining efforts to promote EV adoption.
Titled ‘I love electric vehicles – and was an early adopter. But increasingly I feel duped’, Atkinson’s article criticized EVs as “a bit soulless” and questioned the environmental impact of lithium-ion batteries. This perspective drew sharp criticism from EV proponents, with Simon Evans from the Carbon Brief website highlighting Atkinson’s oversight regarding the environmental benefits of EVs.
Beyond Atkinson’s critique, the report presented to Parliament identified additional barriers to EV uptake, including high purchase costs, inadequate charging infrastructure, and conflicting messaging surrounding the transition to net-zero emissions.
Despite Atkinson’s background in electrical engineering and control systems, as reported by The Telegraph, the actor has refrained from responding to the controversy. As discussions surrounding EVs persist, stakeholders emphasize the importance of addressing misinformation and enhancing public awareness to accelerate the transition towards sustainable transportation in the UK.
