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Did you know?
I have been making enquiries about EVs for several months
now. I read with great interest all letters and articles published on
our newspapers on the subject and I find the topic quiet intriguing. It
is not just the novelty of such technology that allures me but the
mystery that shrouds them - the astonishing complacency of governments
anywhere to do anything that might encourage drivers to purchase these
cars. Perhaps California is the only place in the world that has
committed itself to reduce emissions from cars by promoting the use of
EVs.
We are all too conscious of the harmful pollutants generated by petrol
and diesel engines, the damage being sustained by our atmosphere, the
progressive warming of our climate, the increase in the incidence of
asthma and lung cancer (even in non-smokers... and passive smoking is
not all to blame!!), noise pollution and last but by no means least the
roaring power of these engines that lures many youngsters to their
untimely death or to permanent physical disabilities.
Our government has taken one tiny step to ease the burden of cost of EVs.
The registration duty (I think it was around Lm200) was removed and the
Lm20 Valletta licence fee waived. A good start but most definitely not
enough! How many have taken advantage of these so-called initiatives?
Practically no one! One such EV being sold in Malta comes at a starting
price of Lm4600. Did you know that the actual cost is about Lm3540? So
why does one have to pay over Lm1060 more? That's 30% over the price!
For a start, there is 12% duty (i.e. Lm425). Then there is 18% VAT (i.e.
Lm640). Hefty, on a car that looks more like a toy for an overgrown
child than a transportation means for the discerning driver! This money
is a tax imposed by our elected representatives in parliament. So where
is the real incentive? If you are a staunch environmentalist, then you
would go the whole way and purchase the car irrespective of price. If
you are not, and price is an issue, a petrol car works out bigger,
cheaper, can carry heavier loads (certainly more passenger capacity)...
and you don't have to worry about power cuts! Companies and VAT
registered individuals can claim VAT back if the car is to be used for
the business.... but ironic as it may be, doctors and the lay public
have no way of recovering this tax!
Some (usually the agent who wants to sell you the car) would argue that
the running costs are extremely low. Not really. You still have to
charge the car and for this you don't just need electricity but you need
good batteries. These batteries will only last 5 years at best and are
mighty expensive to replace. Before you know it, you will be forking out
another Lm1000 or more (including more VAT...). If you don't, you will
be left with a useless, large expensive toy occupying a significant
space in your garage and you will be back to your old banger within less
than 5 years or your exciting (crippling) purchase! If you remain
determined to run the EV, before you can consider to have redeemed the
initial cost of the vehicle with the saving on petrol, you would have
had to replace the batteries at least twice. So the running cost are
indeed dearer than for petrol-powered cars! Maintenance would be another
issue. Availability of parts may be a problem even though there are
fewer part that would need to be replaced; however, the limited number
of mechanics or electricians who will be able to effect the repairs will
mean that one would have to take the car to the agent's garage and I'm
sure everyone is aware of what that would signify in monetary terms...!
Use of electricity does not cut down on pollution, either. Coal or oil
has to be burnt at our power stations with the consequence that fumes
are emitted from their chimneys instead of through the car exhaust pipe!
The effect on our environment might actually be worse... as those of us
who have studied physics will surely know. There is loss of energy when
converting one form to another. This would translate into more fuel
needing to be burnt for the same output of work. Solar panels, which
would truly make EVs environmentally friendly, relying on energy from
the sun and nothing else, are still not considered to be good enough to
charge the batteries of EVs, although the American company Solaicx claims
to have developed a much more efficient and cheaper solar panel system
that should be revolutionary, dramatically changing the way we look at
solar energy today. When that revolution will be felt is anybody's
guess.
In the meantime, we will just have to put up with more fumes, warmer
weather, asthma and cancer until high efficiency solar panels become
available. By that time one hopes that VAT and all forms of duty on EVs (and
solar panels) will be waived and that EV and car battery prices come
down to more realistic levels. I also hope to see nicer looking
models... like the Honda EV Plus was!
Mark Bugeja MD (23/05/04) |
