E-vehicle backers call for incentives
A published story I did on an electric vehicle conference I attended yesterday (7 March 2012).
The government must catch up with electric vehicle developments by lifting the tax burden on investments in the green transport sector, industry leaders yesterday said.
Government policies and programs, said speakers at a conference organized by the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC), are also key to spurring consumers and public transport operators to convert from fossil fuel-powered vehicles, which in turn will cut down carbon emissions.
“The government is two steps behind in helping the electric vehicles sector … What we need from the government is a serious partnership,” said Yuri P. Sarmiento, E-Jeepney Transport Corp. CEO.
He cited the lack of support infrastructure, inadequate policies, manufacturing constraints, and low social acceptance as barriers to the growth of the alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) sector.
The government, Mr. Sarmiento said, can help by supporting a bill designed to give incentives to both electric vehicle makers and owners.
“We are not asking for the government to subsidize the cost of the electric vehicles,” he said.
Senate Bill 2856 is seen to bring down the cost of electric jeepneys, for example, by at least 20% by offering nine-year excise tax and duty exemptions to AFV assemblers and parts producers as well as importers of completely built AFVs.
The proposed bill will also exempt them from paying value-added tax on raw materials, spare parts, components and capital equipment used in the production of AFVs for nine years.
“An electric jeepney costs around P700-800,000 after all the taxes, but without taxes, it can be brought down to P400-500,000, which is the cost of a new fuel-engine jeepney,” Mr. Sarmiento claimed.
Owners of electric vehicles, meanwhile, under the bill will enjoy priority registration and franchise applications, exemption from the number-coding scheme and free parking spaces in select establishments.
“It’s a question of policies and incentives for developing the technology for electric vehicles. In the UK, we have free charging zones, so that’s a 100% discount for consumers right there,” said Garett Emmerson, chief operating officer of Streets and Traffic for London, in detailing the experience in Britain.
E-jeepneys, while requiring a hefty initial investment, will help drivers and operators of the public transport save money in the long term.
Fully charging the batteries for a 100-kilometer run will only cost P160-220, yielding a P12-P16,000 savings per month by eliminating fuel consumption, Mr. Sarmiento said.
“If you think about it, the savings from one month can send one child to school. That will help a lot of jeepney drivers with families,” he claimed.
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