On this day in 1948: a prewar electric car, rationing petrol and the Austin that 'behaved itself'
New chancellor of the exchequer Sir Stafford Cripps, “haunted by an empty fuel pump”, believed only austerity could prevent economic disaster, upholding rationing and raising taxes to ‘balance the books’ and stabilise sterling, the UK’s dollar deficit having been £475m in 1947.
Nevertheless, fuel minister Hugh Gaitskell had his work cut out to defend and explain the decision to opposition MPs and the public. Fuel rationing ended in May 1950, largely because of a trade deal with the US, and thankfully Cripps’ policies led to growing prosperity.A car promising 60mpg would have been a highly appealing prospect for the indetermined reintroduction of the petrol ration; although the toy-like appearance of Rovin’s D2 surely would have dampened enthusiasm.
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