Regenerative Braking

[ppppenguin]

I don't think a modern EV is  simpler than a 1970s petrol car.

All modern cars are more complex than 1970s cars. We need to compare like with like - modern EVs are simpler than modern ICE cars.

The Guardian article quoted is somewhat misleading because it focuses mainly on CO2 emissions which are obviously going to be high in big ICE cars. These are addressed, perhaps inadequately, by vehicle tax bands. CO2 emission doesn't cause local problems but obviously contributes to climate chnage. ULEZ is based on NOx and particulates which do cause local problems.

Of course EV batteries can be replaced. At the moment in most cases the cost would put a vehicle BER.

EV fires are much less common, percentagewise, than ICE fires. But they are nasty, burning lithium is hard to extinguish.