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Is government’s Electric Vehicle (EV) policy on-track?

Electric Vehicles

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Minister of Home Affairs recently heralded a plan by government to upgrade its fleet to electric vehicles (EV). The Prime Minister’s Mercedes M50 has been retrofitted to EV as she leads the push from fossil powered vehicles.

Government’s policy position on transforming to EV is interesting against a recent pronouncement by former CEO of Toyota and Chairman Akio Toyoda.

Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda predicts battery electric vehicles will only ever capture 30 percent of the car market. Hybrids, hydrogen fuel cell and gas-powered combustion engine cars will take the rest, he said during a press conference in Japan this month.

read more @Mail online

A question being asked by BU family member Fearplay is – has the time arrived for the government of Barbados to rethink its commitment to an all electric vehicle Barbados?

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81 responses to “Is government’s Electric Vehicle (EV) policy on-track?”

  1. Enuff Avatar
    Enuff

    David

    You’re aware of solar carports in Bim? You’re also aware of homes with PV right? What about solar farms, other RE sources and decentralised battery storage and their expected role in greening the national grid? In a RE dominated national grid, charging one’s car from home would mean what?

  2. David Avatar
    David

    @enuff

    The blogmaster is aware that the base load at BL&P is fossil powered. The blogmaster is aware the fuel adjustment clause is still a significant factor to determine final price to consumer. The blood aware many charging ports of EV owners pull from the national grid. Can you point the blog to hard data?

  3. Enuff Avatar
    Enuff

    You don’t understand what I’m saying or asking though. Nought.
    What I said is simple reasoning. An RE based national grid means RE based charging.

  4. David Avatar
    David

    You are correct Enuff, the blogmaster does not understand you.

  5. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    worth reading.

    https://builtin.com/transportation-technology/electric-car-companies

  6. David Avatar
    David

    @enuff

    The following link raises concerns about other issues that must be considered if the plan is to move aggressively to EV. We tend to see issues to be solved through blinkered lenses.

    The audio clip is 6 minutes.

    Why Did Car Insurance Get So Expensive? https://assets.bwbx.io/s3/readings/S7TD8CDWX2PS1706292477169.mp3

  7. Enuff Avatar
    Enuff

    Context. When you start to contextualise the discussion get back to me.
    Right now you’re not in Bim. You’re sounding like the man I heard recently on Brasstacks warning Bajans not to buy EV cars because the winter weather in Canada was affecting battery performance.🤣🤣

  8. David Avatar
    David

    @enuff

    There is too much context. From where the blogmaster sits there is no robust structure being implemented to efficiently manage the EV emerging sector. It is being done off the seat of the pants. Many countries are identifying concerns but by some stroke of genius Barbados has been able to navigate the same concerns. Time will tell as usual. A word to the wise…

  9. Disgusting Lies and Propaganda TV Avatar
    Disgusting Lies and Propaganda TV

    Judging from the comments, people are thinking about the short and medium term drawbacks. Commenters are not fully comprehending the technology and economics behind the EV industry and its benefits in the long term (especially for countries like Barbados).

    To start by comparing Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) to Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles (ICEVs). BEVs are simpler to manufacture and for the end user far easier to maintain over the life of the vehicle. This is probably the most overlooked point. This is the main reason the Barbados Govt went to electric buses (even thought the upfront cost is higher). Even one of the diesel buses was retrofitted right here in Barbados. BEVs do not use engines or need transmissions. In short there are more components that make up and can break down in an ICE Vehicle. Anyone that owns a car knows that preventative maintenance is mandatory to prolong the life of the engine, transmission, the cooling system, starting motor etc. To repair/ replace those components if not costly in itself is just an overbearing annoyance. BEVs suits the majority of car drivers who are not mechanically inclined. BEVs simply needs less maintenance than ICE

    In terms of benefits to countries like Barbados:-
    1) The main one would be to put a dent in the fuel import bill at several angles. Barbados can theoretically produce electricity from sources other than fossil fuels ( even though we know it is far cheaper now and the foreseeable future to acquire electricity from petrol / diesel powered turbines )

    2)An ICE is very inefficient (efficiency defined as transforming the fuel to automotive power ). At best ICE have less than 25% efficiency. EVs easily have over 70% efficiency when they are charged. In simple terms, it means less fuel to import to produce the same automotive power. More gas/diesel may be consumed to power the electrical grid to charge EVs. This is offset by less vehicles using gas/diesel directly.

    3) EVs can be charged at the home, work place, hotels etc. In other words the “fueling” (charging) infrastructure becomes more decentralized. There is less of a need to go to a dedicated charging station. compared to ICEVs where refueling at a dedicated gas station is a necessity.

    4) Current EV tech is practical enough to be used in a country the size of Barbados (and in even larger countries).The range of typical BEVs is between 150 – 300 miles on a single charge. That is more than enough for a small island. The biggest “con” for BEVs is the recharging (refueling) time compared to ICEV. I anticipate that along with the point made above, people would just charge their vehicle in between commutes

    5) as some people have pointed out EVs are “greener”. My observation is that is now more a desirable outcome than a primary motivator behind the EV industry. In other words, even if there was a greener fuel found to power ICEs its just would not make sense to pursue to compete with current EV tech. ( re the simplicity of EV manufacture and inefficiency of the ICE)

    Some commenters on BU have mentioned the slow take up of EVs which is due to some factors:-

    1) Cost is the main one. Large countries (economies) like USA, Japan are producers of both vehicles and fossil fuels. It is still cheaper to own and fuel a ICEV. That will be so until the economies of scale increase for EVs.

    2) Driving Behaviour. Once the driving range is outside the 150-300 mile range. ICE vehicle will aways be preferred, ICEVs have a further driving range on a full tank and are faster to refill. In countries that do a significant amount of transportation and freighting over land ICEVs I anticipate will never be fully replaced.

    My opinion is that Barbados pursuing some kind of EV policy is a “no brainer”. EVs are here to stay. Economics will determine the rate that they are adopted. @DavidBU any “national conversation” would be to determine at what point to phase out ICEVs totally at the national level. As i had inferred, any time period less than 15 yrs is just optimistic.

  10. David Avatar
    David

    @Disgusting

    Your prolix does not fully reconcile with the audio file posted above re rising cost of insurance and limited support for the sector. Many are not against an emerging EV sector, it is about an inefficient managing of the transformation.

  11. David Avatar
    David

    https://www.instagram.com/reel/C2npsdJtKx4/

  12. Miller Avatar
    Miller

    @ Blogmaster:

    It seems the time has come for the policymakers to step up to the plate (formerly the wicket) and start identifying replacements to the existing highly ‘rewarding taxation cash cow called ‘Road Tax’ currently levied on vehicles powered by imported gasoline and diesel.

    Anything in mind you can recommend to replace this dying cash cow?

    The plus side is that there should be huge savings in forex as a result of the significant reduction in the importation of gasoline and diesel.

  13. David Avatar
    David

    @Miller

    We need a much improved public transport system. Until we get it what must be done will be left pending which is to reduce that 140,000 vehicles on the road.

  14. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    @ David
    In addition to the usual lack of proper management of the process, another elephant in the road is the heavy reliance by EVs on rare earth metals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese, and graphite….
    This not only exposes countries like Barbados to supply chain challenges even more complex than does fossil fuel; and to price fluctuations Just as volatile; … but also introduces complex waste disposal issues that will make our current solid wise mess look like a joke.
    These are very complex issues, that require professional analyses by knowledgeable experts. Instead we get U-Tube plagiarism and more than ‘Enuff intuitive hunches’….

    No wonder our donkeys are in tall grass…

  15. TLSN Avatar
    TLSN

    @ Miller,
    Many years ago on BU when I was prepared to donate ideas that would ameliorate Barbados. I proposed that we should abolish the private motor car and develop a public transport system, specifically a light rail train/ tram system. This would be augmented with other forms of public transportation.

    Miller, our country does not manufacture cars, nor do we generate anything that we can export in its place in order to balance our balance of payments. We also do not produce oil. Check the link below.

    Apart from the above, please note that in the video they mentioned wetlands. A subject matter that I have always raised. What’s the latest on The Graeme Hall Sanctuary? What a complete waste of the only valuable natural asset that the country still has. The latest news that I heard was that plans were been made to develop part of the sanctuary into real estate.

    https://youtu.be/6YxHbQowRcU?t=85

  16. John Avatar
    John

    TLSN

    Agree on a light rail system, talked about it too.

    There are other ways of skinning a cat.

    Keep your eye on Toyota.

  17. Miller Avatar
    Miller

    @ John on January 27, 2024 at 10:43 PM said:
    (Quote):
    TLSN
    Agree on a light rail system, talked about it too.

    There are other ways of skinning a cat.
    (Unquote).
    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Some dreams do indeed come true!

    This light rail system dream could come true as a reincarnation of the railway in early 20th century Barbados.

    The question is: where would the land space come from to accommodate this (new) rail system?

    Would the existing makeover cart roads designed to accommodate horse-and-buggy type vehicles be converted to a modern electrically-operated rail network?

    Why not get the country’s priorities in ‘straight’ order?

    Why not look to tiny Bermuda in order to learn how to tackle the road transportation congestion?

    Wouldn’t a cycle track around the island make more sense on a small flat coral island?

    How about building a modern-tertiary sewer system on the West Coast and upgrading the South Coast where your major tourism-dependent bread baskets lie?
    Where do you think all the chemicals (including the thousands of litres of bleach) used on the island yearly end up?

    Without healthy beaches tourism in Barbados is dead.

  18. David Avatar
    David

    PSV operators aim to cut fossil fuel

    Public service vehicle (PSV) operators are trying to hit the brakes on their fossil fuel emissions, or at least slow the pace.

    Director of the Alliance Owners of Public Transport’s (AOPT) Transport Energy Project, Kelvin Scott, made the point yesterday as he spoke about the 15 to 20 electric vehicles they are pushing to secure this year.

    “It’s our desire to have either fully electric buses by 2030 or at least buses designed to reduce the fossil fuel emissions, whether this be compressed natural gas vehicles or any other means that would reduce this.

    “Therefore, we are looking to have a pilot programme of at least between [15 and 20] buses that would either be fully electric or designed in such a way to reduce the fossil fuel emissions by at least 45 to 55 per cent,” Scott said during a press conference held at Infinity On The Beach, St Lawrence Gap, Christ Church.

    Although they were unable to reveal all of the details about the project, he said they were already in talks with the National Petroleum Corporation, L & N Workshop, as well as Trinidadian and Chinese companies in hopes of making their plans a reality.

    “We appreciate that it will be a relatively expensive endeavour, but the long-term gains for public service vehicles would be tremendous. For example, there are some operators paying $250 per day in diesel. Initially, you can get an electric bus or a bus designed to at least cut fossil fuel usage by at least 45 per cent.

    “There is an allotted $3 million but it has not been disbursed as yet. There is money specifically put aside for this endeavour and several financial organisations are willing to work with interested AOPT and PSV owners to give loans so that individuals can be comfortable in this transition,” Scott said.

    He acknowledged that although the transition would be costly in the short term, it would pay off in the long run. For example, while a standard 14-seater route taxi can be sold for $125 000 to $150 000, an electric one would cost more.

    “The electric vehicles may run you just over $200 000. That may seem like a lot of money. . . if you are paying $60 000 more than you would pay for a regular vehicle, but you are getting a vehicle that over a ten- to 15-year period, would save you at least 120 per cen, it would work out in the long-run.”

    AOPT chairman Roy Raphael, director of complaints and legal affairs Craig Banfield, and communications and marketing officer Mark Haynes also spoke at the press conference.

    Raphael said he was in full support of the initiative as they were striving to work with the Government to reach the 2030 carbon-neutral goal and reduce the amount of money spent yearly on fuel.

    (TG)


    Source: Nation

  19. John Avatar
    John

    Miller

    Take a hike!!

    … third Sunday next month, February.
     
    https://www.bajanthings.com/the-colin-hudson-great-train-hike/

  20. John Avatar
    John

  21. John Avatar
    John

  22. John Avatar
    John

  23. John Avatar
    John

    Just can’t get away from this man!!

  24. John Avatar
    John

  25. John Avatar
    John

    Related

  26. John Avatar
    John

  27. John Avatar
    John

  28. David Avatar
    David

    @enuff

    You see a trend? Note this is not coming from the BU intelligentsia.

    https://www.cleanenergywire.org/news/german-govts-2030-target-15-million-e-cars-unlikely-be-met-orders-drop-industry

  29. John Avatar
    John

    Jeep’s out,

  30. John Avatar
    John

    Here’s what’s the real story about the alternative energy market.

    Our politicians are bought and paid for by China.

    https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/nothing-left-eu-industry-in-crisis-as-market-overwhelmed-by-cheap-chinese-solar-panels/ar-BB1hVjwn?ocid=msedgntp&pc=W069&cvid=3b6bd05ccd5947b49c095367e3c1b67d&ei=51

  31. David Avatar
    David

    “Again someone is asking did MAM make the correct decision when championing the electric vehicle as the vehicle of choice for Barbados?

    https://www.msn.com/en-xl/news/other/electric-cars-release-more-toxic-emissions-than-gas-powered-vehicles-and-are-worse-for-the-environment-resurfaced-study-warns/ar-BB1jjWZH”

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