Editor:
Bjorn Lomborg, renowned author of ‘The skeptical Environmentalist’ and ‘Cool it’, reveals Green Cars have a dirty little secret. Electric cars don’t emit CO2 on the road but the energy used for their manufacture and battery-charges far negates any benefits.
Yet another study confirms what has been long known as a 2012 life-cycle analysis in Journal of Industrial Ecology shows that almost 50 per cent of the lifetime CO2 emissions come from the energy used to produce the electric car, especially the battery. Compare that to the manufacture of a gas-powered car at 17 per cent of its lifetime CO2 emissions.
The electric car fresh off the production line has already used up the equivalent of 80,000 miles (128,700 km) of travel emissions, more than twice that of the gas car.
Consider the limitations, for example, long recharging times. The Nissan Leaf has only 73 miles (117 km) per charge, however, after five years as the batteries fade, the charge/range drops to 55 miles (88 km). The report concludes, as a way to tackle global warming the electric car does virtually nothing and the government subsidies are a very poor deal for taxpayers.
Our BC Liberals ignore the real science and continue to buy elite votes with our tax dollars as they subsidize each new hybrid/electric $5,000 plus $500 to install a charging station at home. Another $6.28 million for ‘Community Charging Infrastructure Fund’ for 570 public charging stations and upgrades around the province, to Prince Rupert. Plus many more Liberal riding campaign subsidies to local governments for charging stations to try to influence green voters.
Without subsidies electric vehicles would not be selling on their own merits as they are inefficient in cold Canadian winters. Instead of $40,000 for a Chevy Volt Hybrid, a $20,000 regular gas car will get better mileage.
The ‘electric/hybrid’ is merely a status symbol, which has about a 15 year average payback period, unless of course you get free electricity.
People who purchase electric/hybrids are higher income earners, so through taxes it’s the struggling lower income class subsidizing the more affluent class.
The market is the best judge whether gas, diesel, electric, hybrid cars are used, not the government trying to pick winners and losers with no regard for our tax dollars.
Roland Seguin, Langley