Richard Hammond Confident Electric Cars Will Preserve Automotive Passion

Former Top Gear host and car enthusiast Richard Hammond is confident that the transition from traditional ICE-powered cars to electric vehicles will not dampen people’s passion for automobiles.

In an interview with his daughter Izzy, posted on More Drivetribe’s YouTube channel, Hammond is driving his modded Subaru WRX  and says without hesitation that “we’ll never lose passion for cars.”

“The push for electrification is going to be part of the story,” is his answer to a question posed by user RodWhitney8236 on how the younger generation can remain passionate about cars in an era defined by electrification, traffic, and high cost of living.

“We have to decarbonise, we have to stop burning fossil fuels, digging it up, and destroying the planet, or there will be nowhere to drive our cars,” he adds.

Hammond also acknowledges the potential of synthetic fuels to support the existing 1.4 billion vehicles worldwide in a more environmentally friendly way.

“Those answers are already here … Synthetic fuels are already here. That will enable us to keep the cars currently on the road … in perpetuity,” he explains.

The interview, filmed against the backdrop of race-prepped cars at a track, highlights the shared passion for cars between Hammond and his daughter.

Both see the shift to electric vehicles as an evolution rather than a threat to car enthusiasts.

Hammond’s comments come after former Top Gear and Grand Tour co-host Jeremy Clarkson said modern cars were “all sh*t” after watching the final episode of The Grand Tour at a private event in Oxfordshire.

“Don’t worry for a second … It ain’t going away. This is forever,” Hammond reassures.