I’m curious to know what others think of this.
I’m personally for keeping it as I see the benefit coming in a few years having many more EV’s available in the second hand market. Currently it’s pretty much dominated by mainly Nissan Leaf’s at the lower end of the secondhand market.
I know of a few people as well who have bought EV/Hybrids recently that would not have even considered going for EV’s or even hybrids without the rebate.
I think the focus on cars is a bigger problem than what energy source they use. EVs are taking over anyway, there is no standing in the way of that.
If we want to reduce emissions (pollution isn’t much of a problem in windswept NZ) then we need to focus on more efficient modes of transport and lifestyles. Not more cars.
We will still be able to import used EVs from Japan, if converting our domestic fleet is a goal.
I think the focus on cars is a bigger problem than what energy source they use. EVs are taking over anyway, there is no standing in the way of that.
If there was an alternative that isn’t likely to take multiple generations to implement, I would agree, but that is not the case?
If we want to reduce emissions (pollution isn’t much of a problem in windswept NZ) then we need to focus on more efficient modes of transport and lifestyles. Not more cars.
I suspect your definition of pollution doesn’t match what most consider it to be. NZ is a terrible polluter of the environment, which includes green house gases (transport and agriculture) and the effects that has on climate change? I don’t think the idea is to have more cars, but to replace existing polluting cars with more environmentally friendly EV’s?
Sure, pollution in that narrow sense is about direct health effects, and is kind of a side issue. What I’ve noticed is that some critics of this move to EVs see things in a different light. Take car designers Gordon Murray and Adrian Newey, both scathing about the way this is playing out. What we are getting to replace our ICE vehicles is not a new wave of efficient EVs. Everyone is gravitating to SUV EVs which are hideoisly inefficient. It’s like the McMansion-isation of personal transport.
IF the goal is to reduce total emissions we are going about it the wrong way. We should be tax-encouraging K-cars (EV) and other micro-transport options. Instead it has turned into another consumerism feeding frenzy. We are ending up with more, not less.
Everyone is gravitating to SUV EVs which are hideoisly inefficient. It’s like the McMansion-isation of personal transport.
I’ve heard this more than once recently - what a lot of rot. A medium size electric SUV is no more inefficient than a medium size electric car. It may carry a little more weight around and have a little more wind resistance, so may require/use a little more stored electricity, but not much. If the owner actually needs the extra space or clearance of an SUV (I do, but diesel at the moment not yet electric, mostly due to range issues), then I don’t see anything wrong with that.
However, I do agree when it comes to those who buy and drive SUV/Utes etc., just for the Wank factor - I always suspect it is something to do with small penis syndrome ;)
Everyone is gravitating to SUV EVs which are hideoisly inefficient. It’s like the McMansion-isation of personal transport.
That’s because everyone prefers SUVs period. Ask any car dealer how the sedans and the wagons are selling. Hell some manufacturers have even stopped selling them. For example Honda no longer sells Accords in NZ and they don’t even make a wagon anymore. Go look at the toyota web site and you’ll see no mention of prius.
I agree that our cities and towns are too car centric, it seems very unlikely that we will get sweeping changes to our public transportation or redesigning of cities to be more pedestrian/bike friendly any time soon. The general public seems to be against any large changes to the current way of life and neither major party seems brave enough to do it.
While personal zero emission vehicles contribute a tiny fraction to lowering our emissions, I think incentivizing their uptake is still a good idea. I’m a fan of the Japanese Kaizen concept of incremental continuous improvement that involves everyone. Working on lowering emissions on all fronts is ideal, but as always with politics they can only do so much at a time without upsetting voters.
