Plug-in-hybrids the best solution to our woes
To: Alistair MacGregor, MP
FIX Carbon emissions practically, quickly, economically.
NOT with zero emission vehicles, but a mix of hybrids, EV’s.
Transportation in Canada uses 60 billion liters/year, gasoline and diesel, emitting 147 million tonnes of CO2 yearly. Average vehicle is 12 years old and covers 19,000 km/yr using about 10 liters of fuel/100km, traveling 62km/day on a six day week.
Cut fuels by 88 per cent, to 7.2 billion liters/year in 12 years, CO2 to 18 million tonnes/yr. Saving fuel costs of $74 billion each year, for vehicle owners (about $3,200 each). CO2 down 130 million tonne/year. Canada uses about two per cent of world fuel consumption, at twice U.S. cost and half the cost of Europe, Asia. Extrapolate, FIX to the world.
Plug-in-hybrid vehicles, PHEV’s, achieve that goal, not EV’s. EV battery is too expensive, too little range, too short a life and no electricity, no transport. PHEV’s have none of these problems. They also produce electricity. Charging only at night means no extra power plants or any charge stations, saving billions of dollars. Eight-eight per cent less fuel/CO2 with PHEV’s as primary vehicle, EV’s as second car. Hybrids are not electric vehicles, using internal combustion engine and electric motor….hybrid.
Two types of hybrids, the HEV and the PHEV. HEV’s reduce fuel consumption by about half, five liters/100km, have a small battery, running electric from when it starts plus a short distance. HEV’s do not use/need charge stations. PHEV fuel consumption is one to four liters/100km, have a larger battery, eight to 20kw allowing a range near or covering the average commute, the engine for longer distances, 500 to 1,000km. PHEV’s and EV’s use no fuel in cities, towns, stops and starts; no fuel, no carbon or noise.
Buyer of new vehicles, buy a PHEV that has battery capacity to do all or most of your daily commute. Vehicle rebates average $6,500 each, max 13,000, will cover part of the EV extra cost and more than PHEV’s extra cost.
Fund rebates with surcharge on fuels, electricity. Example is BC Carbon Tax revenue at $50/tonne CO2, returns $2 billion/year, sufficient for average $11,400 rebate on each of the 175,000 vehicles purchased in B.C. yearly. However, B.C. vehicle rebates for EV’s is currently $3,000 each, PHEV’s $1,500, a carbon tax not applicable to meaningful carbon reduction but in fact, little effect. Canada new vehicle sales are 1.9 million/yr. Double the funding with surcharge applied to exported hydrocarbon.
It is not oil companies at fault, they supply refined product to meet demand from each of us and pipelines carry hydrocarbon, not use it either. World crude oil supply of 90 million barrels/day reduced to 18 will preserve oil reserves for hundreds of years. Also a consolidation of the industry. High cost production will shut-in. Many countries will near self sufficiency. Alberta could benefit, with a large resource at low cost…if we plan, think, act.
Robert A. Conibear
Duncan