To the editor,
The battery electric vehicle (BEV) versus the internal combustion engine (ICE) which one is better for the planet? Let’s look at the facts and data.
To build an ICE, it produces 5.5 tons of CO2 emissions, for an BEV 8.1 tons are produced or 2.6 tons more.
But in B.C., other provinces and Norway, with hydro electric power you only have to drive about 13,500 km to make up for the difference.
Considering that the average car in Canada produces 4.6 tons of CO2 emissions, as well as other pollutants that endanger our health and lives, BEVs have no tail pipe emissions.
With hydro power electricity driving a BEV, CO2 emissions are reduced to less than 1 per cent over driving ICE. Add to that minimal maintenance and much less for ‘fuel’, only about 25 per cent, BEVs are a much better choice for our planet.
Considering that there are over 2 million vehicles registered in B.C., with annual new sales of 150,000 - 200,000, it would take as much as 15 years to replace the whole fleet.
But since road transport accounts for about one quarter of B.C.’s emissions we could go from our current 64.6 million tons of CO2 per year to 48.4 million tons by 2035. At the same time we would reduce healthcare costs and save thousands of people in B.C. from premature deaths due to air pollution.
So back to my question above which one is better for us and our planet?
Martin Holzbauer,
Thornhill, B.C.
Do you have a comment about this story? email:
michael.willcock@terracestandard.com