We in BC are $66 thousand million (66 billion) in debt, but no problem, we can just tax, spend and subsidize our way to prosperity.
No money for schools but hey let's borrow another $10.6 million tax/debt and give it to our friends ‘in the name of 'environmentalism’.
The ‘Clean Energy Vehicle’ (CEV) are spun as “incentives” rather than ‘subsidies’ to ease your suspicious pain, for new electric/hybrid or hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. $5000 off the list price goes to the new car dealer, $6,000 for a hydrogen CEV.
Then there are the smooth talking “investment” subsidies in the charging stations infrastructure around the province. [url=http://www.fraserbasin.bc.ca/]http://www.fraserbasin.bc.ca/[/url] http://pluginbc.ca/
BC Hydro (in huge debt) can give away free taxpayer electricity at these ‘slow charge’ (approx. 4-8 hrs. depending on battery status) stations. With a 2 hr limit on the parking space (so you don’t park overnight), you could leave your car at a charging parking space, take a taxi to your hotel and go back every 2 hrs. to restart the charge process.
There are only approx. 8 - ‘quick charge’ (approx.20 min. to 2 hr.) stations of 13 proposed in Metro Vancouver area which have a $2.00 min then 35 cents KW hour rate, (compared to 10 cents KW hour residential rate). We in Langley have 1- quick charge at the Events Centre and 6 other slow chargers. That doesn’t include the subsidized, dedicated exclusive parking spaces for the chargers which will hardly ever be used, at approx. $40-50,000 each (depending on location). Plus $ maintenance, vandalism etc.
Don’t forget the wasted tax-dollar grants and subsidies to manage the promotion and spin cevforbc.ca program, like the ‘Fraser Basin Council’, and ‘Plug-in-BC’ etc. Electric cars don’t emit CO2 on the road but the energy used for their manufacture and battery-charges far negate any benefits. (WSJ)
Yet another study confirms what has been long known as a 2012 life-cycle analysis in ‘Journal of Industrial Ecology’ shows that almost 50% 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% 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-powered car.
Consider the limitations for example, long recharging times, the Nissan Leaf has only 73 miles (117 km) per charge however after 5 years as the batteries fade, the charge/range drops to 55 miles, (88km).
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.
Without subsidies electric vehicles would not be selling on their own merits as they are inefficient in cold Canadian winters. Instead of an expensive Electric/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.
Our governments ignore the real science and ‘in the name of environmentalism’ show no respect of our taxdollars.
Roland resides on the West Coast of Canada adjacent to the US border. As a senior taxpayer, he has taken to writing to express his frustrations of government waste, mismanagement, overspending, and other BS extremes. Now a retired grandpa, active with his family and rural lifestyle, he spent his career years as an Architectural Designer, Carpenter and Building Inspector. He promotes good but reasonable environmental practices.
