Living Green
by Stephanie Ho Lem, promoting Living
Green ǀ [email protected]
Is It Time?
Many of us did not predict that the US, led
by President Trump, would bomb Iran on February 28. Since then, the world is
experiencing significant higher prices for gasoline at the pumps. Where we live
in Calgary, we as vehicles owners are almost paying more than 50 cents per
litre on gasoline to fill our tanks. As long as the Strait of Hormuz remains
closed, prices will continue to rise. The last increase was in 2022 when Russia
invaded Ukraine.
Iran’s geographic position gives it
significant leverage over the Strait of Hormuz, it’s narrow and is the only sea
passage for oil and gas exports from Saudi Arabia, Iran, the UAE, Kuwait, Iraq
and Qatar. Roughly 13 million barrels of oil per day pass through this Strait.
In the November 2024 View article, “Are you
considering an electric vehicle as your next car?”, I wrote about the concern
for climate change and the need to increase EV’s and reduce internal combustion
engine (ICE) vehicles on our roads. At the time, average regular gas prices
remained below $1.30 so there’s no immediate incentive to go and buy an EV. In
fact, everywhere you look there are pickup trucks. Light-duty trucks, including
pickup trucks, SUVs, and minivans, are the largest source of US transportation
greenhouse gas emissions, responsible for 37% of the sector’s total in 2022.
These vehicles are less fuel-efficient than passenger cars. It’s a sad fact
that Albertans choose to buy the world’s most climate polluting new cars.
What other reasons, besides gasoline
prices, hold us back on purchasing EVs? What about affordability, EV batteries
and charging stations? It was noted that Canada has been the only country in
the world last year with declining EV sales.
Recently I was listening to a radio
interview where an individual commented he drove from Vancouver to Kamloops in
his EV. As there are a lot of hills, his EV battery was easily drained so he
had to stop a number of times to charge the vehicle’s battery. A trip that
should have taken 3 and 1/2 hours took additional hours to stop and charge the
battery.
For most consumers, timing couldn’t be
better, with Canada allowing more EVs to be imported from China; however,
Chinese-built EVs are not eligible for Canada’s $5,000 electric vehicle
affordability program (EVAP) incentive. According to Transport Canada, the
program was designed to accelerate EV adoption by focusing specifically on
lower-cost vehicles, offering incentives of up to $5,000 for battery-electric
and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, and up to $2,500 for plug-in hybrid electric
vehicles.
Canada appears to have found a solution
that works for both it and China, allowing the sale of a limited number of
Chinese EVs into Canada at a lower tariff rate—and in one fell swoop, creating
the affordable EV segment Canada has so desperately needed.
Regarding EV batteries? China has improved
EV battery technology, from liquid-based lithium-ion to solid-state batteries.
Solid state batteries in EV’s provide longer range, are less prone to fire
hazards, charge faster, and last longer.
The most anticipated advancement in EV
battery technology is the move towards automatic charging – imagine pulling
into your garage and your EV starts charging without plugging it in. Wireless
charging is already being tested in cities and private driveways.
Is it time to purchase an EV, a HEV, or a
PHEV? Do your homework, ask what’s best for you.
Please note that the content provided is
for informational purposes.
Sources: EPA-Transportation Sector for
Emissions; Charge Hub; Green Cars; Government of Canada-Electric Vehicle
Affordability Program
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