Richard Hammond: Electric cars won’t end automotive enthusiasm

Richard Hammond, former host of Top Gear, believes the passion for cars thrives, even as the world transitions from petrol and diesel to electric vehicles.

In a recent YouTube interview on the More Drivetribe channel, Hammond discusses the future of car culture with his daughter Izzy. 

The conversation occurs as the two drive their cars, with Hammond piloting his customised Subaru WRX, which he named “Martin.”

Addressing concerns about how electrification, traffic, and rising living costs impact young people’s interest in cars, Hammond responds, “We’ll never lose passion for cars.” He describes the push for electric vehicles as an inevitable part of the automotive journey.

“We have to decarbonise,” Hammond says, emphasising the need to stop burning fossil fuels and protect the planet. “Otherwise, there’ll be nowhere left to drive our cars.”

He also highlights synthetic fuels as a promising solution for reducing the environmental impact of the world’s 1.4 billion existing vehicles. “Synthetic fuels are already here,” he explains. “They let us keep the cars we love on the road indefinitely.”

Set against the vibrant backdrop of a racetrack filled with performance vehicles, the interview showcases Hammond and Izzy’s shared love for cars and enthusiasm for preserving automotive culture. 

Both express confidence that electric vehicles represent an evolution, not a threat, to car enthusiasts.

Hammond’s comments follow remarks by his Top Gear and Grand Tour colleague Jeremy Clarkson, who criticises modern cars, calling them “all sh*t” during a private screening of The Grand Tour’s final episode in Oxfordshire.

“Don’t worry,” he says. “Car culture isn’t going anywhere. It’s here to stay.”