It's also possible it is related to what seems to be going on in the US.

The government is heavily promoting short-range EVs to capitalism our way out of climate change. Never mind there is a carbon cost in buying a new car versus using an existing car of recent vintage with good pollution controls, or just finding ways to drive less.

I've also a theory that perhaps those campaigning for the EV future hope people will then use EVs to try and travel longer distances, resulting in frequent recharging stops at diners and such every couple of hundred miles, leading to a return to the 1950s when travel was with short-range inefficient gas cars.

Think back to Route 66 and all the "American car traveling" adventures of the time with motels and diners and gas stations being a frequent stop. Small towns are now suddenly relevant again! All sorts of new business across the country! All because people have to stop more often to recharge.

Much different than using modern efficient gas and hybrids that can go 500-800 miles on a tank of gas.

Only a theory though. I'd hope that it is an incorrect one, as that would be quite an unsustainable boondoggle for the government to gamble on. Only came to mind as there are many olds in power these days that could be thinking back to "the good old days".