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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. Tim Ward Avatar
    Tim Ward

    Hertz rental cars just sold 20,000 EV and going back to ICE vehicles

  2. David Avatar
    David

    Do we need a national conversation with subject matter experts to explain the pros and cons to Barbadians? We tend to follow the narratives of politicians like lambs to slaughter. Not sure what it says about us.

  3. John Avatar
    John

    EV s are for the moment a waste of time.

    I bought a chainsaw when MWC closed down for $300 from the Fontabelle branch.

    Clearly it was gas operated, it also gave good service, still have it.

    Decided to try a small hand held electric chainsaw recently for pruning.

    90$ for the saw, $160 for the battery and charger, total $250.00.

    It also works well, I am happy with the purchase but it is also a pain.

    Battery goes dead and constant recharging is necessary.

    I cannot imagine the purgatory a whole big able EV would be … and then there is maintenance, I do the majority myself,

    I figure a car is a waste of money so for me an EV is an even bigger waste of money.

    The gas operated chainsaw is vastly superior, I pull it starts … except when it gets carb troubles which are fixable.

    No debate or conversation necessary!!

  4. John Avatar
    John

    PS ….. I know I am going to have to throw away the electric chainsaw, the electric motor will fail, but I will still have my gas operated chainsaw I bought maybe 20 or more years ago.

    Until recently, my 38 year old Toyota Starlet I bought new for $15,000.00 still gave good service, started it the other day with no problems.

    Can’t beat Toyota.

    What does Toyota say about EV’s?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-4Ql0rWeCc

    Even Ford ….!!

  5. John Avatar
    John

  6. John Avatar
    John

  7. John Avatar
    John

  8. Disgusting Lies and Propaganda TV Avatar
    Disgusting Lies and Propaganda TV

    John Boy…. Just from the price alone that electric chainsaw cannot be one of proper quality or not one intended for for the same level of usage as the gas one. I mean a proper cordless drill that doesn’t use as much power as a chainsaw costs more that $250. (drill and battery combined)

  9. David Avatar
    David

    An all in 100% EV policy fits the political narrative nicely given Mottley’s pursuits on the global stage. The blogmaster is not saying the policy is an incorrect one BUT have we had enough discussion about it as a people vested in the long term investment.

  10. John Avatar
    John

    Guess what!!

  11. Disgusting Lies and Propaganda TV Avatar
    Disgusting Lies and Propaganda TV

    @DavidBU I think the timelines world over for the adoption of EVs are optimistic. However once one understands the tech behind EVs, there is nothing wrong whatsoever with govt policy. From memory I think govt wants to replace, where possible THEIR fleet of vehicles. There wasn’t a mandatory target set for the general public

  12. David Avatar
    David

    @disgusting

    Barbados is public sector led in every regard. If there is large scale adoption of EVs there is infrastructure and legislation that should operate in parallel. Are we there yet?

  13. John Avatar
    John

    https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/riyadh-s-multi-billion-ev-dream-risks-crashing-into-reality/ar-BB1haDC7?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=DCTS&cvid=e49fea3878374321b1b9f56875ea40c6&ei=13

  14. John A Avatar
    John A

    @ David

    So when we go 100% electric where the $400 million she gets at the pump for the fuel tax that replaced the license fee going come from?

    Dont mind all the green talk, the oil burners will be around for decades to come, either in hybrid or fuel form. I for one will not buy an electric car if i did alot of driving. Reason being when I go to sell it with say 40% battery life left, the discount i would have to give would be massive.

    Also they are small diesel cars in the Uk giving 60mpg already so a hybrid claiming 40mpg aint saying nothing.

  15. David Avatar
    David

    @John A

    The obvious answer is to tax EV vehicles.

  16. John A Avatar
    John A

    Will never be able to tax them to the point of replacing the $400m. Also how would you tax the hybrid as it still uses gas.

    I see Europe had to push forward their deadline for selling new fuel vehicles pass 2030. We are way way off of replacing fuel vehicles at this stage. The other question too is what for when i can buy a 3 series BMW DIESEL giving 60mpg, or a Peugeot giving close to 70mpg? Green talk is one thing but green backs in the wallet is another. These electric vehicles have a long way to go before it makes hip pocket sense. As i said too if you try to sell a second hand one with below 40% battery life, you tail soak in depreciation.

  17. David Avatar
    David

    @John A

    The devil is always in the detail?

  18. John A Avatar
    John A

    Yep when you hear Toyota speak you know the truth, as they are a leading car manufacturer globally and would obviosly know the reality way better than us or any government could.

  19. David Avatar
    David

    @John A

    We need to implement an efficient waste management system before we adopt EV vehicles as a way forward. How will we dispose of the batteries for example?

  20. John A Avatar
    John A

    @ David

    Dont even know if any of the local recyclers are taking them at this time.

  21. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    The government’s EV policy suffers from the same flaw as do all their other policies.
    These issues are much too complex for simple-minded politicians to resolve successfully, and they tend to typically have NO cut and dry ‘answer’ that fits nicely into political jargon.

    First thing is that electric vehicles ONLY make sense from two key perspectives.
    1 – They are naturally much more efficient than are ICE vehicles since regenerative brake energy can be recovered quite simply; and electric motor drive is simpler and more efficient that ICE.
    2 – They are ONLY ‘green’ when the source of the recharge energy is ‘green’ – ie from hydro, solar, wind etc.

    In Barbados, because of the ridiculous taxes on petroleum products, and because electricity is largely produced from cheaper heavy fuels, electric recharging may be cheaper at the moment, but the pollution simply takes place at the power company – rather than at the vehicle.

    The matter of disposal of hazardous battery and other waste, is a headache which we are leaving for our grand children.

    Truth be told, Barbados needs a comprehensive mass transit solution and a serious re-education away from the albino-centric inefficiency of energy-guzzling status symbols, mostly good for causing gridlock and pollution.
    But such thinking is ‘a bridge too far’ for politicians who take years to ‘resolve’ petty issues- like a dozen wayward teenage girls….

  22. Observing Avatar
    Observing

    @David
    “An all in 100% EV policy fits the political narrative nicely ”

    Yup. Globally the EV market is slowing down. Excellent idea and initiative but as Bushie says, needs “backing” and renewable energy sources in order to be profitable. With Emera and FTC back and forth with each other the cost benefits cannot be realised.

    Just observing

  23. GreenMonkey Avatar
    GreenMonkey

    “EV Depreciation is BRUTAL”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYRilEdf5A8

    If sometime you happen to come across an EV or hybrid (most hybrids also equipped with lithium batteries) on fire in a parking lot or on the road side get on the upwind side and as far away from the scene as you can, as the fumes from a burning EV battery are extremely toxic. Firefighters have to use self contained breathing appartus to approach. Damaged EV batteries produce their own oxygen from the chemical reactions between the components and thus their fires are significantly harder to smother and extinquish than is the case with ICE/gasoline/diesel fires and require much more water to extinguish than for an ICE vehicle – usually much more than just one or two fire trucks can provide.

    Even slight damage to the low slung EV battery cases on EV vehicles such as might occur in a traffic accident or by bottoming when driving over a kerb or hitting a pothole can cause problems with the interior battery cells leaving them prone to thermal runaway and to the battery spontaneously bursting into flames days or weeks later.

    Furthermore, EV battery fires that seem to have been extinguished are known to spontaneously burst into flames with no warning hours or even days afterwards. So that means the garages, autowreckers and salvage yards storing EV wrecks or used EV batteries have been advised to allow a much greater area of free space between the wrecked and damaged EV vehicles or used batteries compared to wrecked ICE vehicles.

    Just search for “extinguishing EV battery fires” on the internet for more details.

    Personally I thing the alarmism over excess carbon dioxide (at 0.04% percent of earth;s atmosphere) causing climate change is buIIsh1t. But, then what do I know? I thought the same thing about the alarmists’ claim that there were no available treaments for COVID so everyone should run at full speed to take the emergency use authorized, grossly undertested, new mRNA technology C19 jaberwacky as well,

  24. John Avatar
    John

    David
    on January 24, 2024 at 2:54 PM said:
    Rate This

    @John A

    The obvious answer is to tax EV vehicles.

    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    No necessarily!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    https://barbadostoday.bb/2021/11/13/make-electric-cars-tax-free/

  25. David Avatar
    David

    Too many issues swirling to keep an engaged political opposition busy. Are we there yet?

  26. Enuff Avatar
    Enuff

    Any ah wunna own one? Sigh. EV use is declining where? In spaves as small as Barbados?

  27. David Avatar
    David

    @Enuff

    You have conveniently ignored concerns mentioned?

  28. Enuff Avatar
    Enuff

    What? Infrastructure? Battery disposal? Cars catching afire? Replacement income? I haven’t ignore a thing.

  29. David Avatar
    David

    Charging from fossil fed ports?

  30. David Avatar
    David

    Concerns expressed by Toyoda?

  31. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    Pm’s deputies.

  32. John A Avatar
    John A

    @ David

    What I would like to see the state do is reward ALL vehicles based on their MPG figures, with a lower rate of duty.

    So for example vehicles with an mpg of between 60-70mpg will pay say 40%. Vehicles with an mpg between 50-60mpg 50% etc. These numbers come if you look at the UK figures, from a wide selection of small diesel engined vehicles. Comfortable enough 5 seaters that any family could use without the need for a hybrid platform. The CO2 emissions on these vehicles are also way down on say 10 years ago. Also how do you calculate the damage to the climate with an EV without factoring in the effect of its battery disposal?

    Personally i dont see it as either EV or Fuel. What I see as a solution is including all possibilities and rewarding those buyers with lower duties, who go for smart high MPG choices. So why should an EV vehicle pay a lower rate of duty than a small diesel car returning 60 mpg?

  33. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    https://www.cp24.com/news/honda-considering-18-4b-electric-vehicle-and-battery-plant-in-canada-media-report-1.6715288

  34. GreenMonkey Avatar
    GreenMonkey

    Are car parking structures, strong enough to support the higher weights of EVs?

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWDMPGF_IDQ?si=ejsV42hvbnmrRsDP&w=560&h=315%5D

  35. Tim Ward Avatar
    Tim Ward

    Know EV fire at bushy park had to wait for fire truck from airport to put it out as the regular trucks was unable to

  36. GreenMonkey Avatar
    GreenMonkey

    Posted on X (formerly Twitter):

    JOHN CLAUSER, 2022 PHYSICS NOBEL PRIZE WINNER:

    “I can very confidently assert, there is NO climate emergency.”

    “As much as it may upset many people, my message is the planet is NOT in peril. … atmospheric CO2 and methane have negligible effect on the climate.
    The policies government have been implementing are total unnecessary and should be eliminated.

    So far, [we] have totally misidentified what is the dominant process in controlling the climate, and all of the various models are based on incomplete and incorrect physics.

    The dominant process, is “the cloud-sunlight-reflexivity thermostat mechanism.

    Clouds are all bright white, and they reflected 90% of the sunlight back into space making them the most crucial yet most overlooked aspect of the climate system.

    Two-thirds of the Earth are ocean. The Pacific Ocean alone is half the Earth. The average cloud cover for the Earth is 67%; about 50% over land and 75% over oceans.

    I claim that the above conspicuous properties of clouds are the missing part of the puzzle.

    I can very confidently assert, there is no climate emergency.”

    See slides from his talk on the thread below:

    Source:
    https://x.com/robinmonotti/status/1750190093405503620?s=20

  37. John Avatar
    John

  38. BeautifulBeige Avatar
    BeautifulBeige

    Thank you Green Monkey. One hundred percent correct. Climate change is ANOTHER HOAX like COVID.

    On the subject of the PM upgrading to EV’s the PM is a SOLD OUT GLOBALIST.

    If they tell her to go and jump of Hackleton’s cliff she will do so willingly and in the process ask how high.

    Case closed.

  39. John Avatar
    John

    BeautifulBeige on January 25, 2024 at 12:48 PM said:
    Rate This

    If they tell her to go and jump of Hackleton’s cliff she will do so willingly and in the process ask how high.

    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Too heavy to jump up, can only jump down.

  40. John Avatar
    John

    More trouble with chargers in the US.

  41. David Avatar
    David

    https://www.instagram.com/reel/C2gHT2Ktd1U/

  42. GreenMonkey Avatar
    GreenMonkey

    Pleasurable ride on what looks to be a brand new, sporty looking, $6,000 E-Bike ends abruptly when a bonfire spontaneously erupts between the rider’s legs.

    To cut the suspense you can forward the video to the 9:10 mark.

    E-Bike rider says, “This didn’t at all go how I expected. $6k up in smoke
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxr1iXEf9lY

    And see this June 2023 report from AP:

    4 dead after battery causes fire at New York City e-bike shop that spreads to apartments

    NEW YORK (AP) — A fire at a New York City e-bike shop quickly spread to upper-floor apartments and killed four people early Tuesday in the latest deadly blaze linked to exploding lithium ion batteries.

    apnewsDOTcom/article/new-york-ebike-store-fatal-fire-789d04a128a93160810743acf9c4f893

  43. Enuff Avatar
    Enuff

    David

    Changing from fossil fuel ports? Where are current owners charging theirs?

  44. David Avatar
    David

    @enuff

    Bush Tea made the point, many are charging from home ports which means pulling from the national grid.

  45. FearPlay Avatar
    FearPlay

    Another nail in the EV coffin is that of increased insurance. The current situation in the USA is that there are not enough qualified technicians or workshops to cope with damaged EV’s after an accident. This results in long wait periods for repairs to be effected. Additionally, manufacturers are so busy making cars that the inventory for parts are low to nonexistent which additionally adds to wait time for repairs.

    One of the brags used to promote EV’s is that they don’t have many moving parts so maintenance costs are drastically reduced but what is not told is that after an accident, no matter how insignificant, body panels have to be replaced, not repaired, AND DUE TO THE RISK OF BATTERY EXPLOSION (as stated above), batteries are replaced as a precaution. What is the upshot of this? Insurance rates are higher for EV’s initially and after an accident they can double or even triple due to the extreme cost to the insurance company.

    Has the Barbados government taken any of this into consideration? What will the duty rate be like on replacement batteries? Does the Transport Board have spare batteries in inventory? What about local dealerships? Do they have spare batteries in stores?

  46. GreenMonkey Avatar
    GreenMonkey

    Higher purchase prices, insurance and repair expenses for driving EVs?

    Remember Klaus Schwab and his friends and associates at the World Economic Forum (WEF) and in politics have been telling us that we are supposed to ultimately, “own nothing and be happy.” Furthermore, they are forecasting in the not too distant future, we will live in 15minute cities or regions with restrictions on our ability to freely travel to other parts of our city/region/country/planet outside of our own permitted 15min area. They are already implementing the 15min city plans is some cities in the UK, e.g. Oxford (See video link below)

    This artificialy forced EV push, under the guise of reacting to an artificially created panic, serves to poison minds against ICE cars and reinforce the notion that EVs are the only acceptable cars for “right-thinking” individuals to consider owning nowadays. This in turn could be a method of pricing more of the “commoners and serfs” out of the car market so more and more people are forced to abandon the idea that car ownership and the easy travel options it brings are for “everyday people” like themselves.

    Of course the millionaire/billionaire class will have ways and means in place to suit their accustomed lifestyles. They will be able to afford the higher costs of EV ownership and pay for the special permits to allow them to travel as they will outside their allotted 15min zones, and while we are eating ground up, crickets, centipedes and earthworms formed into supposedly tasty burger-like patties, you can bet the high rollers will sttill be eating their prime rib, filet mignon, caviar and whatever else tickles their tastebuds.

    Thousands of protesters brought Oxford to a standstill to protest against 15-minute cities and the trialling of controversial traffic filters which campaigners argue will restrict freedom of movement. Despite large scale protests and vocal opposition to the proposed traffic filters, the Oxfordshire County Council are determined to push ahead whether the people of Oxford like it or not.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4Pl0NJ6b-Y

    After PragerU Personality @aldobuttazzoni asked people if they would follow a World Economic Forum recommendation to eat insects to reduce climate change, an NPR reporter accused him of spreading a “conspiracy theory.” But Aldo’s got the receipts. In this video, he exposes how the WEF has been pushing a bug-based diet for years.

    http://www.youtubeDOTcom/watch?v=4zDHe3upl88

  47. John Avatar
    John

    EVs are like CLICO, a con job.

    No doubt the Chinese intend to make a killing and have paid of the leaders of various countries to promote the brand.

    ….. like CLICO!!

  48. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    https://www.youtube.com/shorts/kNEXV-KQ-iY

  49. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    https://www.youtube.com/shorts/iZx15p9T15A

  50. John Avatar
    John

    Elon has seen the writing on the wall for EV’s.

    He went into the market and made a killing causing everybody to want to follow.

    But he figured out the pitfalls were real and put his money into Twitter to fill another need.

The blogmaster invites you to join the discussion.

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