With the availability of electric and hybrid vehicles in the market today, why does it not seem to feel that we are about to transition from fossil fueled cars to electric vehicles?
Most recent EV product launches show an impressive range of battery capacity that should erase any hint of “range anxiety” among prospective and current EV owners. It is not surprising to see battery ranges of over 400 km and up, in new EV product introductions. This should be more than enough to bring oneself from home to office and back, with plenty to spare.
Having addressed the fear of range anxiety, what more do we need to fast-track the electrification of our transport system?
Here is my wish list: 1. Government should lead the way in pushing for the electrification of our transport system. All new purchases of government vehicles should either be electric or hybrid. That is putting your money where your mouth is.
2. Government should widen the base for tax exemptions to cover not only 4-wheel EVs, but also 2and 3-wheel EVs, and the replacement batteries, as well. The battery is the most expensive part of an EV. 30 to 40 percent of the cost of an EV is attributed to the battery.
3. Government should offer tax incentives to investors who will provide charging stations. An income tax holiday for at least 10 years will hopefully attract more companies to go into the charging station business. While range anxiety has been fully addressed, available charging stations provide peace of mind to EV owners.
4. Require all EV car dealers to provide adequate charging facilities within their dealership as a mandatory requirement before they are allowed to sell any EV.
5. Allow the tax-free importation of charging equipment and its spare parts.
6. Reduce toll fees of EVs by 50 percent.
7. Government should stop renewing transport franchises to buses 15 years and above, powered by fossil fuel. New franchises should only be given to EVs.
8. Government should ban the importation of used transportation equipment.
9. Mandate all gasoline stations to install at least 1 EV charger to accommodate EV owners that will need emergency charging. Our journey towards the total electrification of our transport system is just beginning. Ten years ago, the presence of EVs in our country was just a dream. It is indeed a happy reality that today we have a lot of EV brands to choose from. With the cost of batteries forecast to go down due to economies of scale, and battery operating ranges expected to go higher, EV adoption will surely increase geometrically. Furthermore, as costs go down with the increased production volumes of EVs, there is a bright future ahead for the EV market.
With solid government and private sector support, someday all cars will be electric!
