Joe Zajac•3 years ago Greetings,These comments are based on my experiences, relevant subject matter background, and decades of hands-on experience implementing complex technology systems, problem-solving, and analyzing technology. I have read and analyzed hundreds of climate research papers, electric vehicle reports, and stories. Relevant background: Technology Expert Reviewer for The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC): Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) & Sixth Assessment Report (AR6). The US Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) Third National Climate Assessment, Fifth National Climate Assessment, 2022–2031 USGCRP Decadal Strategic Plan, Framing the National Nature Assessment. Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (BIOS): Climate Change and Bermuda Part 1. Comments: The Bermuda Government (Government) has jumped on the poor judgment, groupthink, and feel-good bandwagon, waving the “climate change” flag as an excuse - again. No Minister in Government has any professional or even talented amateur qualifications to ask serious questions to RMI - the Government’s consultants, evaluate RMI’s findings, reports, and recommendations, nor discuss “climate change.” In fact, the climate experts with PhDs and decades of subject matter expertise at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and the US Global Change Research Program (USGCRP), cannot agree on one standard accepted definition of “climate change.” The main reason is that climate changes naturally, which goes against the message that governments and Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) worldwide are here to save the planet by going green with our tax dollars. For many years, anthropogenic (human-caused) global warming, or AGW for short, was used in global warming speeches. However, AGW is knowingly being incorrectly marketed and rebranded as “climate change.” Per focus groups, “anthropogenic” is too specific and too big a word for public use. The public is completely unaware that NOAA, NASA, the IPCC, and the USGCRP cannot agree on the specific percentage, IF ANY, of anthropogenic influence in “climate change.”The public is completely unaware that NOAA, NASA, the IPCC, and the USGCRP do not replicate any cherry-picked papers cited in their reports or web pages. No dissenting opinions are allowed in reports or on web pages. “Let’s be clear: the work of science has nothing whatever to do with consensus. Consensus is the business of politics. Science, on the contrary, requires only one investigator who happens to be right, which means that he or she has results that are verifiable by reference to the real world. In science consensus is irrelevant. What is relevant is reproducible results. The greatest scientists in history are great precisely because they broke with the consensus. There is no such thing as consensus science. If it’s consensus, it isn’t science. If it’s science, it isn’t consensus. Period.” – Michael CrichtonThere is no climate emergency or a climate crisis. Garbage In, Garbage out. NOAA’s 2017 5-year sea level prediction report was so bad that the 2022 5-year report LOWERED Florida’s sea level rise estimate by 35.3%. The reason for the difference, as stated by NOAA, is that the data is now “better.” – Miami Herald If working in perfect conditions, Bermuda’s only NOAA tide gauge in St. George’s has a known historical reading error of at least +/- 17%. The gauge is not annually maintained nor certified for placement and accuracy by NOAA. According to NOAA, July 2019 was the last time St. George’s was checked. Since then, Bermuda has experienced several hurricanes and tropical storms. Who knows the accuracy of the data? A March 2009 study titled “Is the US Surface Temperature Record Reliable?” found 89% of NOAA stations had heat-bias issues. The 2022 follow-up study, the “Corrupted Climate Stations: The Official US Surface Temperature Record Remains Fatally Flawed,” found approximately 96% of US temperature stations used to measure climate change fail to meet what the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) considers to be “acceptable” and uncorrupted placement by its own published standards. - HeartlandNASA cannot keep 3,000+ earth-based weather monitoring stations maintained, calibrated, and certified. Still, that equipment is used to proclaim the “hottest years” - with a whopping 38% certainty, 12% less than a coin toss. This is the same NASA that claimed in Jan 2015 that they were only 38% sure 2014 was the hottest year on record because NASA’s 3,000+ monitoring stations do not produce accurate data. - UK Daily MailWould you keep money in a bank whose computer systems cannot accurately record your transactions higher than 38% of the time? Would you purchase a car that only started 38% of the time? Would you pay an employee that only worked 38% of the time?If America’s weather monitoring network is so poor, how inaccurate are the rest of the world’s stations?In 2007, Al Gore and the IPCC, as an organization, won the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for their work on “climate change.” Hundreds of climate scientists immediately proclaimed to have also won, shared, were co-recipients, co-winners, etc., of the Prize. Universities claimed to have Prize winners on staff. a) In Dec 2007, the IPCC issued a memo to the thousands of climate scientists who worked on IPCC reports AR1, AR2, AR3, and AR4, stating such claims were incorrect and to stop making the claims. Today, climate scientists, educational institutions, and research organizations still make the claim. Are these climate scientists, their peers who failed to report the lies, educational institutions, and research organizations trustworthy? Would you hire any of these people or do business with these institutions that have blatantly lied about their qualifications? This is not a little exaggeration by any standard; this is a Quadruple Cheese Whooper with extra-large fries and a super-sized drink of a lie. b) Dr. Michael Mann, the Godfather of Climate Change and the creator of the infamous “Hockey Stick” graph that “proved” humans are causing global warming, was made famous by Al Gore in the 2006 movie, An Inconvenient Truth. In 2012, Mann claimed in a legal defamation Complaint filed in US Federal Court to be a Prize winner and a Nobel Laureate. His attorneys later retracted those claims several months after the IPCC’s Dec 2012 memo. CO2 is not a pollutant; it is required for life on earth to exist. Contrary to predictions of ever-increasing catastrophes and harm to humanity, quite the opposite is occurring. By virtually every metric, the planet’s ecosystems are improving and we are enjoying those benefits. Deserts are shrinking, the bulk of the planet is enjoying re-forestation not de-forestation, vegetation is exploding across all ecological niches, natural disasters have been in a twenty-year decline, hurricanes are not increasing, the strongest tornadoes are in decline, and our air and water are cleaner today than in modern history. The majority of North American heat records were set 90 to 100 years ago. – CO2 Coalition On June 30, 2022, the US Supreme Court ruled 6-3 against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It constrained the EPA’s authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from existing coal and gas-fired power plants under the landmark Clean Air Act anti-pollution law. – ReutersThe Climate Crusaders Are Coming for Electric Cars Too: A new report makes clear the ultimate goal: tiny, uncomfortable apartments and bicycles for all. Replacing all gasoline-powered cars with electric vehicles won’t be enough to prevent the world from overheating. So people will have to give up their cars. Progressives’ dirty little secret is that everyone will have to make do with much less —fewer cars, smaller houses and yards, and a significantly lower standard of living. - Wall Street Journal (WSJ) a) The report concludes that the auto sector’s “current dominant strategy,” which involves replacing gasoline-powered vehicles with EVs without decreasing car ownership and use, “is likely incompatible” with climate activists’ goal to keep the planet from warming by more than 1.5 degrees Celsius compared with preindustrial times. Instead, the report recommends government policies that promote walking, cycling, and mass transit. - Climate Depot Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI)The Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) is a go-green, anti-fossil fuel, biased organization that has direct links to Communist China, including an office in Beijing and a Board member. On November 16, 2018, RMI and Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding for two proposals that launched the Energy Transition Project in Bermuda. RMI previously consulted with Aruba on the failed plan to go 100% renewable by 2020. a) May 24, 2017, is the last RMI press release on their website about Aruba. RMI’s 2021-22 Annual Report makes no mention of Aruba. b) Aruba, 2018 YTD Sept, oil produces 84.8% of the electricity. According to WEB Aruba’s Realtime Renewable Energy Monitor, on March 1, 2023: Wind 22.7 MW (25.45%), Solar 0.1 MW (0.01%), Fossil Fuels 66.5 MW (74.66%), Total power 89.2 MW Daily Carbon Footprint Reduction: 000000 kgc) After several weeks, neither WEB Aruba nor Aruba’s Ministry of Labor, Energy and Integrity responded to my email requests for an update on the project and Energy Monitor statistics. Many homes in Bermuda cook with gas stoves. Health Effects From Gas Stove Pollution, a December 2022 study coauthored by RMI, cites studies that imply a high degree of childhood asthma cases due to gas stove use. According to the Washington Free Beacon, that study was cited by Consumer Product Safety commissioner Richard Trumka Jr.’s call to ban gas stoves.a) “Sen. J.D. Vance (R., Ohio), who last week called on the Consumer Product Safety Commission to renounce any potential gas-stove ban, said he is alarmed by the institute’s ties to the Chinese Communist Party. The natural gas industry, Vance said, “is critical to our national security,” and its demise would be a boost to our adversary.” – Washington Free BeaconIn addition to the Rocky Mountain Institute’s green energy biases, the nonprofit’s lead authors on the study hold no formal advanced scientific training or education. Talor Gruenwald, who works as a researcher at the group, holds a master of international affairs. Brady Seals, who heads the institute’s “Carbon-Free Buildings” program, graduated with an MBA from the University of South Dakota.b) Stove wars: The Energy Department said a forthcoming efficiency regulation on cooking appliances could disqualify half of the natural gas stove models sold in the United States, writes Brian Dabbs. – Politicoc) One December 2022 study, referenced by Trumka in his original interview with Bloomberg, argues that 12.7% of all childhood asthma cases could be traced to gas stove use. The study was partially funded by a pair of advocacy groups (RMI & Rewiring America (RA)) that advocate for the electrification of households and to transition the US away from oil and gas. – The Daily CallerThere is “no evidence of an association between the use of gas as a cooking fuel and either asthma symptoms or asthma diagnosis,” according to a 2013 International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood study that sampled 500,000 children worldwide. A 2012 Energy Department-funded study found that the emissions generated from cooking are considerably greater than what is generated from natural gas stoves themselves; for example, cooking with olive oil generates over 11 times more emissions per hour than what is produced from a gas stove alone. – The Daily CallerMichael Edesess, a former Board member, Board Chairman, and Chair of Investment sub-committee of the Rocky Mountain Institute, writes strong criticism of “100% renewables” proponents for ignoring real political and economic problems. Edesess promotes nuclear energy as an obvious solution we must expand. “We need to get serious about the renewable energy revolution - by including nuclear power” - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. He is a mathematician and economist with expertise in the finance, energy, and sustainable development fields. An adjunct associate professor in the Division of Environment and Sustainability at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and a research associate of the EDHEC-Risk Institute. He is the author or coauthor of two books and numerous articles.d) Heated topic: Major flaws discovered in studies used to bolster efforts to ban gas stoves: - The Washington Times The conclusions were drawn from a widely reported review of study data produced in part by the green energy group Rocky Mountain Institute. But the group’s conclusions are flawed, according to a review of published data funded by the California Restaurant Association and backed by the California Building Industry Association and Catalyst Environmental SolutionsMr. Tormey and Mr. Huntley plan to provide their research to the CPSC. They found flaws in many of the studies claiming health risks are associated with gas stove cooking. In some studies they analyzed, scientists were able to raise indoor air pollution caused by gas stoves only by first eliminating all ventilation. In one study, a room was sealed off with plastic sheeting.e) Bay Area officials voted to adopt landmark rules phasing out gas appliances: The Bay Area Air Quality Management District, the regional air pollution regulator, voted 20-0 to adopt the rules during its monthly board meeting, with one abstention. Starting in 2027, the rules would phase in requirements that only zero-emission water heaters and furnaces be sold and installed in homes and buildings. “This move will put the Bay Area in a leadership position compared to the rest of the nation,” Leah Louis-Prescott, a manager at the electrification group RMI, told The Climate 202. “And this policy can serve as a model for other states and regions to follow.” - The Washington PostIn the posted YouTube webinar, RMI glossed over or simply totally ignored the numbered items listed below that were submitted in the form of questions in advance of the webinar. Government’s and RMI’s comparison of Bermuda’s diesel-powered public transport buses is not a realistic comparison. Government never released any spreadsheets showing the calculations and formulas used to make any claims. a) MAN diesel buses were made in Germany according to Government specifications and are larger than the electric buses made in China. A smaller bus that carries fewer passengers would logically cost less. MAN diesel buses have been used worldwide and have run over 200,000 miles in the harshest environments. But somehow, those same buses have problems in Bermuda. Government has not disclosed any information on the MAN buses, such as odometer readings, maintenance and repair records, utilization percentage, etc. No spreadsheets have been made public on the ROI calculations for the Chinese electric buses. What features were left out of the Chinese buses that were included on the German buses? What is the charging infrastructure cost? What is the cost of new maintenance tools and equipment? Training costs for drivers and mechanics? How many routes covered by electric buses have been canceled? What is the average cost per passenger to Government? b) Government and RMI boast of “fuel savings” of the electric buses vs. diesel buses, but those calculations have never been disclosed for examination. Do the analyses include the 12% to 15% extra energy cost required to charge the battery? That would significantly impact the projected “savings” and projected Return on Investment (ROI). Some energy is converted to heat, some is necessary to keep the battery at the right temperature during charging, and some is written off to what’s known as “transmission loss.”- Car & Driverc) There is no doubt that RMI will propose several Chinese electric cars as affordable for the Bermuda market. RMI has a conflict of interest in promoting Chinese companies.d) From the webinar: “...it would be a first for Bermuda and be a first in the Caribbean to announce a ban on the sale and importation of ice vehicles...” Having “bragging rights,” where Bermuda would be the first to ban the sale and importation of ICE vehicles, is an incredibly weak agreement. ------------------------ELECTRIC VEHICLES IN BERMUDAElectric Vehicles (EVs) in Bermuda present many problems compared to Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) gas and diesel-powered vehicles. As detailed below, you are not saving the planet, fighting “climate change,” nor positively impacting “climate change” by purchasing an EV. The facts:1. RMI incorrectly states in the webinar that EVs have fewer problems vs. ICE vehicles. Electric vehicles are among the least reliable cars and trucks in the automotive industry today. a) On average, EVs have significantly higher problem rates than internal-combustion vehicles. The most common EV problem areas were “in-car electronics, noises and leaks, power equipment, climate system, body hardware, drive system, and paint and trim. – Consumer Reports b) According to the annual JD Power US Initial Quality Study (IQS), the 2022 survey found that EV owners cited 39% more problems with their new vehicles than owners of new combustion-engine vehicles. Industrywide, problems per 100 vehicles rose 11% this year, for an average of 180 problems per 100 vehicles. EV and PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid EVs) owners reported about 240 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100), compared with 175 PP100 for gas-engine models. Tesla, making its JD Power survey debut, outpaced the electrified segment with 226 problems per 100 vehicles. – techcrunch c) Electric Car Manufacturers Remove AM Radios Claiming Safety Concerns: Automakers such as Ford and Tesla have ditched the AM radio from their newer EV models, arguing that the motors on EVs interfere with AM frequencies, creating buzzing and signal fading, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal. But former emergency officials are warning that scrapping the AM radio would mean EV drivers could miss important safety alerts. - Breitbart 2. EVs cost far more than a comparable ICE vehicle. Bermudians struggle daily with paying bills, clothing their children for school, high medical costs, high rents, high mortgages, and putting food on the table. Forcing people to purchase an overpriced EV because of “climate change” or any other reason is absurd and should be outside the power of the Government to even suggest or push upon the public. 3. According to an International Energy Agency (IEA) March 2022 revised report, an electric vehicle requires six times the mineral inputs of a comparable internal combustion engine vehicle (ICE). EV batteries are very heavy and are made with exotic, expensive, toxic, and flammable materials. Prices for these materials keep rising. a) Mineral exploitation may lead to adverse impacts on the local population such as child or forced labour (e.g. children have been found to be present at about 30% of cobalt ASM sites in the DRC). b) Workers face poor working conditions and workplace hazards (e.g. accidents, exposure to toxic chemicals). c) Changes in the community associated with mining may also have an unequal impact on women. d) Corruption and bribery pose major liability risks for companies. 4. EV promoters and EV buyers directly contribute to pursuing “blood minerals” to go green. a) If Bermuda Government officials and the leaders of environmental NGO organizations like Greenrock feel comfortable supporting the well-known and well-documented ecological degradation and human atrocities, including child labor as young as six years old working in toxic environments, please lead by example and immediately purchase a personal EV. b) Or each person promoting EVs must contribute a minimum of $10,000 to a fund set up to protect child laborers in Africa and Latin America, protect the environment, and protect Indigenous people. Ethically and morally, lead the way with your actions and your wallet, not your words at our expense! c) Or just keep on doing what you are hypocritically doing and let the children suffer, let the ecological damage continue, and let lands occupied by Indigenous people worldwide be environmentally abused. 5. There is no such thing as a “Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV).” Fossil fuels are required to produce electricity to charge the batteries. Fossil fuels are necessary to mine, process, transport materials, transform materials into products, and transport those EVs to delivery locations. MORE CO2 emissions are produced per EV than an ICE vehicle. a) France Prohibits Electric Vehicle Greenwashing In 2023: Manufacturers can no longer claim carbon neutrality if production and recharging processes emit greenhouse gases… Instituted on January 1, 2023, the new law prohibits manufacturers from claiming a vehicle is carbon neutral if the same can’t be said of its production or recharging stages. The latest bill, however, takes aim at the advertisement practices adopted by many electric mobility brands. Under Article L229-68, a company cannot claim that a product is carbon neutral unless it provides a greenhouse gas emissions report (direct and indirect) to the public. The entity will also need to state how it avoided, reduced, and offset carbon emissions in addition to the methods of compensating for residual greenhouse gas…Should an OEM maintain greenwashing verbiage in its advertising without the aforementioned proof, authorities have the right to fine the legal entity €100,000 ($105,500 USD) under Article L229-69. If cited for non-compliance, the Government allows the company to prove its carbon footprint claims within a month of the notification. - RideApart 6. Studies have shown that fossil fuel energy to mine and transport metal ingredients and to manufacture batteries (especially in China), combined with the energy necessary to power the electric grid, basically negates EVs purported benefit of lower carbon emissions. A 2015 study by the National Bureau of Economic Research found EVs had a more negative impact on the environment than gasoline vehicles. - Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT) 7. EVs bring enormous environmental harm. Do not net reduce carbon emissions in any appreciable way; are regressive against Bermuda’s poor to the middle class; exploit the masses in the developing world; and empower Communist China, which is the biggest national security threat to the world. 8. The Chinese Government has stated that renewables are unreliable. “Because renewable energy (sources such as) wind and solar power are intermittent and unstable, we must rely on a stable power source,” said Su Wei, Deputy Secretary-General of the National Development and Reform Commission. - wattsupwiththat 9. China continues to build at least one coal-fired plant per week to generate electricity while pushing going green to the rest of the world. China is building more coal plants annually than the entire world combined. - Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT) a) According to a new study from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, China permitted 50 gigawatts of coal-fired electricity in 2022, up 50 percent from the year before. (A gigawatt is a billion watts, enough to power a few hundred thousand homes, depending on the weather.) And Semafor adds “all signs indicate that the surge will continue this year,” such that China will be building new coal plants, every two years, equivalent to existing US capacity.10. The CO2 emissions generated from electric car production are 59% higher than the level in the production of traditional internal combustion engine vehicles. - theecoexperts a) Electric cars run off LITHIUM batteries, which are made up of base metals such as copper, aluminum, and iron – all of which require energy-intensive (fossil fuel-powered) extraction. – theecoexperts b) The MIT Climate Portal reports that for every ton of lithium mined, 15 tonnes of CO2 is released into the atmosphere. This alarming statistic shows just how much this process is contributing to climate change. - makeuseof 11. Building both a Tesla Model 3 and a Toyota RAV4 generates several tons of greenhouse gas emissions to smelt the aluminum, manufacture the components and assemble the vehicle. But building a Tesla actually generates more emissions because of the metals needed for its LITHIUM-ion battery. Before it rolls off the assembly line, the Tesla has generated 65% more emissions than the RAV4. - The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) 12. A typical EV battery weighs one thousand pounds. It contains 25 pounds of LITHIUM, 60 pounds of nickel, 44 pounds of manganese, 30 pounds COBALT, 200 pounds of copper, and 400 pounds of aluminum, steel, and plastic. To manufacture each EV auto battery, you must process 25,000 pounds of brine for the LITHIUM, 30,000 pounds of ore for the COBALT, 5,000 pounds of ore for the Nickel, and 25,000 pounds of ore for copper. All told, you dig up 500,000 pounds of the earth’s crust for just ONE battery. - Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT) 13. The World Economic Forum’s Global Battery Alliance notes two major challenges: “First, raw materials needed for batteries are extracted at a high human and environmental toll. This includes, for example, child labour, health and safety hazards in informal work, poverty and pollution. Second, a recycling challenge looms over the eleven million tonnes of spent lithium-ion batteries forecast to be discarded by 2030, with few systems in place to enable reuse and recycling in a circular economy for batteries.” 14. Amnesty International says human rights abuses, including the use of child labour, in the extraction of minerals, like cobalt, used to make the batteries that power electric vehicles is undermining ethical claims about the cars. 15. Thousands of children as young as six years old are being used to mine raw materials for EV batteries. A recent United Nations report warns that the raw materials used in electric car batteries are highly concentrated in a small number of countries where environmental and labour regulations are weak or non-existent. Thus, battery production for EVs is driving a boom in small-scale or “artisanal” COBALT production in the Democratic Republic of Congo which supplies two thirds of global output of the mineral. These artisanal mines, which account for up to a quarter of the country’s production, have been found to be dangerous and employ child labour. – Forbes 16. According to the US Department of Labor: In Congo, “Thousands of children also work in COBALT and Copper mines in the southern Copperbelt region.” Child Labor and Forced Labor Reports - Congo, Democratic Republic of the (DRC) Children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are subjected to the worst forms of child labor. Industry - Mining, including carrying heavy loads, digging, sifting, sorting, transporting, using explosives, washing, and working underground in the production of diamonds, copper, COBALT ore (heterogenite), gold, tin ore (cassiterite), tantalum ore (coltan), and tungsten ore (wolframite). (Approximately 40,000 children are engaged in COBALT mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.) 17. Thousands of children work in unsafe conditions in the mines of Zambia, the world’s sixth-largest copper producer and the second-largest COBALT producer in Africa. Both minerals are required for EV batteries. 18. Many of these minerals are being imported from developing countries that employ poverty-stricken African, Asian, and Latin American workers – including in some cases child and slave laborers. - Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT) 19. “Researcher admits electric vehicles have hidden ‘concerning’ environmental costs” Providence College political science professor Thea Riofrancos admitted to NPR that the electric vehicle industry’s focus on LITHIUM mining has particularly “concerning effects.” “We see impacts on water systems where there’s water use by LITHIUM mining or contamination of water,” Riofrancos said . “We see impacts on biodiversity. We also see concerning social impacts such as Indigenous peoples in Latin America that haven’t been fully consulted before these large-scale mining projects were built and started to affect their territory as well as culturally sensitive sites.” – National Public Radio (NPR) 20. In countries with poor environmental laws, the toxic pollution caused by mining and processing raw materials for EV batteries is incredible. The toxic pollution caused by “EV-waste” (mainly the battery) is far greater than ICE vehicles. 21. Environmentally speaking, electric vehicle batteries are far from perfect: assembling them depletes the earth of its natural resources, manufacturing them is energy-intensive, charging them requires dirty energy, recycling them is nearly impossible. – American Automobile Association (AAA) 22. Over half of the world’s LITHIUM reserves are found in three South American countries that border the Andes Mountains: Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia. These countries are collectively known as the “LITHIUM Triangle.” According to the Institute for Energy Research, LITHIUM is found in salt flats in very arid areas which complicates the mining process. A multi-mineral mixture containing LITHIUM is removed from beneath the salt flats. The LITHIUM extraction from the mixture is a lengthy, 12 to 18 months, evaporation process that is water intensive. Each ton of LITHIUM produced requires 500,000 gallons of water. Besides the discarded mineral salt mixture, the process can result in water and soil contamination plus a depleted water table. – Foundation for Economic Education (FEE) The area is one of the driest places on the globe and LITHIUM mining consumes as much as 65% of the region’s water, according to the United Nations. – American Automobile Association (AAA) 23. In the United States, environmental groups have sued to stop lithium mining. The Biden White House enthusiastically supports the project, saying the lithium is key in producing lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles (EVs). But some environmental groups, though hot to trot for green energy, oppose the mine, saying it will harm wildlife habitat, degrade groundwater, and pollute the air. Joining this green vs. green clash are tribal members who say the mine and its disposal areas are too close to grounds they hold as sacred. - Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT) 24. The process of mining for COBALT, the majority of which is done in the Democratic Republic of Congo, produces hazardous byproducts that can toxify the environment. COBALT mine sites often contain sulfur, which generate sulfuric acid when exposed to air and water. This process wreaks havoc on rivers, streams, and aquatic life, creating damage that can last for hundreds of years, according to the United Nations. - American Automobile Association (AAA) 25. Chile is the leading producer of the world’s copper. The vast majority of Chile’s copper comes from open-pit/strip mines. This type of mining negatively affects vegetation, topsoil, wildlife habitats, and groundwater. – Foundation for Economic Education (FEE) 26. Are electric cars the new ‘diesel scandal’ waiting to happen?: They generate polluting particles just like petrol vehicles, are not even that cost-effective and, as one expert finds, will not save the planet…. As for climate change, electric cars will do little to arrest it. So for now, at least, they are one of the least effective and most expensive ways to cut carbon and economically they are a bad bet – UK DailyMail 27. The Government has no plan to make up for millions of dollars in lost gasoline and diesel fuel tax revenue. Millions of dollars in lost tax revenue will be passed on to taxpayers and EV owners in the form of a new fee, a new surcharge, a new tax such as a vehicle mileage tax, or by increasing an existing surcharge, fee, or tax. In the webinar, the Ministry of Transport passes the “buck” over to the Ministry of Finance, which is hilarious. Transport is creating the problem; Transport should have a creative answer. What suggestions do the RMI consultants have for making up the lost revenue? 28. To make up for lost gasoline tax revenue, many American states have enacted laws requiring additional registration fees on EVs. a) A 2019 Consumer Reports analysis shows that of the 26 states that currently impose EV fees, 11 charge more than the amount owners of similar gas-powered cars pay in gas taxes, and three charge more than twice the amount. The trend is potentially for more EV fees: Among the 12 states considering proposals, 10 would have fees greater than what a driver on average would pay in gas taxes. Seven of those states would ratchet up the fees over time to twice the amount. 29. The Government has no plan to compensate petrol stations and non-EV dealer auto repair shops for the loss of revenue from ICE vehicles. Many small businesses will go out of business. 30. The Government has stated that it has no plan to “build vehicle and battery recycling, reuse, and disposal infrastructure on the island.” No “feasibility study” (by foreign consultants costing Bermudian taxpayers six or more figures) is required. a) Bermuda cannot build a facility to process and recycle commonly used plastics, let alone EV batteries. Claims in the webinar that recycling could be done in Bermuda is disingenuous. Batteries can be recycled but recycling them is not easy due to the sophisticated chemical procedures involved. If not handled properly, the heavy metal contained in the battery can lead to contamination of the soil and water. - Institute for Energy Reseach (IER) b) Suggesting repurposing EV batteries in Bermuda after being dangerously exposed to salt sea air for years is an equally absurd suggestion given that the myriad number of battery sizes and configurations would drive costly bespoke installations. An EV battery must be assessed, “remanufactured,” and certified for use. - IAEI Magazine c) Optimally, any repurposing for energy storage requires using the same batteries from the same manufacturer and acres of land for solar panels to produce energy. Bermuda does not have the available land. d) EV batteries are simply an environmental hazard for Bermuda. 31. Unlike ICE lead batteries, there’s no standardization when it comes to LITHIUM car batteries. They often vary in size, shape, and component ratios from one manufacturer to another. Each one, therefore, needs to be broken down in a different matter, creating a highly labor and energy-intensive process. Making matters worse, battery packs are not designed to be disassembled. They can contain several thousand individual battery cells plus a complex system of circuitry and sensors. All these components are tight packed together and secured in a plastic or aluminum case. - American Automobile Association (AAA) 32. A far superior approach to the EV battery problem is having EV dealers legally take responsibility for batteries - all recycling, reuse, and disposal. Let the EV dealers work with the EV manufacturers to develop a solution to the problems created by the manufacturers. 33. Putting out EV fires requires enormous amounts of water, and the Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service (BFRS) is not equipped nor trained to handle such costly fires. EVs are not safer, and BFRS personnel must be properly trained and equipped. More costs to taxpayers. a) After several weeks, the Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service (BFRS) has not responded to my email requesting information on its EV firefighting training, equipment, and fire truck water capacity. b) The water runoff from putting out an EV fire contains highly toxic chemicals and elements. This runoff will contaminate Bermuda’s water supply. Any runoff that reaches the ocean will pollute the water, poison fish, kill seagrass, and damage or kill coral. c) In Sacramento, California, a Tesla “spontaneously” caught fire on January 28, 2023, which required fire personnel to drown the car’s battery cells. Firefighters used approximately 6,000 gallons of water to put the fire out because the batteries continued to combust despite so many gallons of water. d) September 15, 2022, a Stamford, Connecticut, fire involving a Tesla took over 25,000 gallons of water and 40 minutes for firefighters to extinguish. - Stamford Fire Department An initial 1-3/4″ hose line was stretched by the crew of Engine 4, who began pouring 200 gallons of water per minute onto and into the vehicle. As soon as Engine 4 was hooked up to a hydrant, two additional 1-3/4 lines were put into action by other fire companies on the scene, delivering a total of 600 gallons per minute to the fire. Firefighters continued pouring water onto the fire for 40 minutes before they were able to declare the fire extinguished. The Stamford Fire Haz Mat Team, Fairfield County Haz Mat Team, Stamford EMS, Stamford Police, and several additional divisions of the Fire Department all responded and assisted with various aspects of the incident. e) According to a file by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a Chevy Bolt caught fire at a home in Vienna, Virginia, on July 4, 2021. Firefighters spent an hour trying to douse the flames but it restarted an hour later. The damaged vehicle reignited for a third time after it was towed to a Chevy dealership. – Forbes f) New York City trying to find a solution to e-scooter and e-bike battery fires – New York Times/Autoblog In New York City, e-bikes and e-scooters were responsible for 216 fires, 147 injuries, and six deaths in 2022, according to the publication, and 2023’s tally stands at 30 fires, 40 injuries, and two deaths as of February 27. Dealing with hoards of e-scooters littering sidewalks and other structures throughout the Big Apple is a minor inconvenience compared to the potentially deadly threat of a battery catching on fire, and lawmakers haven’t quite figured out what do to about this problem. Regulators recently approved a number of bills that aim to lower the risk of a battery fire via “new safety and certification standards, education campaigns on how to prevent fires, and restrictions on the use and sale of used or reassembled batteries,” according to the report. “All it takes is for one small battery cell to be defective, overcharged or damaged, and a tremendous amount of energy is released in the form of heat and toxic flammable gases all at once,” Daniel Murray, the Fire Department’s chief of hazmat operations, told The New York Times. To make matters worse, lithium-ion battery fires are notoriously complicated to put out and can reignite hours or days later. g) Lithium-ion battery fires are happening more often – CNN At least seven people have been injured in a five-alarm fire in the Bronx which required the attention of 200 firefighters. Officials believe the incident stemmed from a lithium-ion battery of a scooter found on the roof of an apartment building. In 2022, the New York City Fire Department responded to more than 200 e-scooter and e-bike fires, which resulted in six fatalities. “In all of these fires, these lithium-ion fires, it is not a slow burn; there’s not a small amount of fire, it literally explodes,” FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh told reporters. “It’s a tremendous volume of fire as soon as it happens, and it’s very difficult to extinguish and so it’s particularly dangerous.” 34. EVs such as the Chevrolet Bolt have been recalled (estimated 142,000 EVs recalled costing $1.8 billion) for battery fires starting when the EV is parked. – CNN & Forbes a) Ford recently stopped production of the Lighting over the battery fire issue and suggested that the car not be parked indoors. – CBS b) Hyundai’s 90,000 Kona EV recall in 2021 cost the company an estimated $900 million – Forbes c) General Motors, Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai, Stellantis and Volkswagen have issued recalls since February of 2020, most due to internal battery failures that can increase the risk of fires. – Forbes d) Tesla Recalls 363,000 Vehicles Over Safety Concerns (Feb 2023) - westernjournal 35. Chevrolet Bolt EVs Should Be Parked Outdoors Due to Fire Risk, Government Agency Warns: In a rare step, the Government’s top vehicle safety watchdog has warned Chevrolet Bolt owners to park their electric vehicles outside and away from homes or other structures because of a fire risk. a) Owners have also been instructed not to charge their cars overnight. (In the webinar, Government and RMI suggest charging an EV overnight) b) A GM spokesman told CR that the company is advising customers, “In an effort to reduce potential damage to structures and nearby vehicles in the rare event of a potential fire, we recommend parking on the top floor or on an open-air deck and park 50 feet or more away from another vehicle. Additionally, we still request you do not leave your vehicle charging unattended, even if you are using a charging station in a parking deck.”– Consumer Reports 36. Salt Water Turns Electric Vehicles Into Severe Fire Hazards: “Water-damaged EV batteries turn Tesla Model X and other electric cars in Florida into fire hazards.” NotebookCheck goes on to report that, “The salt water-triggered corrosion in electric cars such as the Tesla Model X can ultimately lead to dangerous and unexpected fires, which is why officials in Florida are now drawing attention to this important issue. Florida firefighters will further receive special training that teaches them how to put out EV fires quickly and safely. – YourNews a) In Bermuda, several cars a year end up in the water. Cars parked near the ocean would be at additional risk from prolonged exposure to salt sea air and ocean spray. b) NotebookCheck then reports on the dangers of electric vehicles, stating that, “Florida’s Chief Financial Officer and Fire Marshal, Jimmy Patronis, has now pointed out on Twitter that these water-damaged and disabled electric cars, such as the Tesla Model X seen in his video, are a serious fire hazard. He explained that the washed-up saltwater induces rapid corrosion, which may cause an EV battery to malfunction and ultimately catch on fire. – YourNews 37. Fossil fuels will still be used to generate the electricity that charges the EV battery. Imagine the consumer outrage with a 12% to 15% surcharge for heating the battery and transmission loss on every electricity purchase for energy not stored in the battery. 38. Electricity cost per kilowatt-hour in Bermuda is amongst the highest of any country in the world (if not actually the highest), right up there with “green” #1 Germany and “green” #2 Denmark. a) The cost of gasoline and diesel fuel is simply being replaced by the high cost of electricity with no savings for Bermudians. b) The cost of electricity is a key factor in the price of electric mobility. As part of the world energy crisis, Europe’s electricity cost rose by a factor of six in the last 18 months. Running an EV is now more expensive per mile than a petrol car in many locations in Europe. – Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT) 39. EVs cannot charge if Bermuda’s electric grid is shut down for whatever reason, such as a hurricane or by accident. RG February 3, 2023. “Island hit by power cuts” “Bermuda has been hit with an Islandwide power outage, shutting down Hamilton and most of the island.” A gas or diesel-powered generator would be required to charge an EV. The UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow (COP26) used portable fossil fuel generators to charge at least 20 Teslas and other EVs because wind turbines and solar panels were not producing enough energy. a) Imagine a doctor’s or an emergency medical technician’s EV dying on the way to the Emergency Room or the scene of an accident, or not starting because the battery is dead. b) Suppose a hurricane is forecast to hit the island. In that realistic scenario, too many people charging their EVs in advance of an anticipated outage might strain the electric grid, causing island wide problems. c) If the grid goes down, it would be prudent to unplug all EVs charging to avoid any possible power drain issue that might negatively impact the grid. Once power is restored, BELCO should make a public announcement and give the OK to charge. d) To keep the grid balanced, BELCO would likely push for charging EVs in off-peak hours, meaning nights and weekends. Will BELCO charge a lower rate for electricity during off-peak hours? In the webinar, Government and RMI suggest charging at night, but what about the rain? 40. BELCO will have to replace/upgrade older grid sections to support EVs and pass the cost on to consumers. Would BELCO do grid upgrades to the grinds containing wealthier homes first because the wealthy can afford EVs? How will Bermudians in poorer grid areas suffer from BELCO redirecting resources and equipment to the wealthy? 41. Because of the massive battery, EVs are heavier than comparable ICE vehicles, causing more road wear and tear than comparable ICE vehicles. More costs to taxpayers to maintain our already poorly maintained roads and more damage to cars from potholes and accidents. a) Heavier electric cars wear out roads faster: - The Brussels Times Due to the massive battery, electric cars weigh more than ordinary passenger cars. Because of this bigger weight, not only do the tires wear out faster. b) According to experts from the Delft University of Technology, the top layer of the asphalt is also likely to wear out more quickly because electric cars have a higher acceleration capacity. c) “Research has shown that electric vehicles do indeed cause extra wear due to their weight,” said Bruno Van Zeebroeck, researcher at Leuven’s Transport & Mobility research centre. d) “Furthermore, it appears that electric cars produce hardly any less fine dust than modern petrol cars. Exhaust emissions for electric cars are zero, but due to their weight, there is more wear on brakes, tires, and the road surface. The difference with diesel cars is even smaller because modern diesel cars emit less fine dust.” e) “New cars compared to 1970 vehicle models: 99% cleaner for common pollutants. New trucks compared to 1970 vehicle models: 99% cleaner for common pollutants. So why are the climate change fanatics trying to force us to buy EVs?” – Climate Depot 42. Being heavier than comparable ICE vehicles, EVs require longer braking distances, and the Laws of Physics are not friendly for speeding on Bermuda’s curvy roads. Expect more accidents, injuries, and deaths. EVs cannot fix bad drivers. EVs also use low rolling resistance tires to improve efficiency, but those decrease braking efficiency vs. regular tires on ICE vehicles. a) NTSB head warns of risks posed by heavy electric vehicles colliding with lighter cars: America’s National Transportation Safety Board head, Jennifer Homendy, has drawn attention to the safety of EVs by pointing out how the heaviness of electric cars could make them dangerous to other drivers on the road. – National Public Radio (NPR) For example, an EV vehicle hitting an ICE vehicle. Again, the Laws of Physics cannot be ignored. b) “We have to be careful that we aren’t also creating unintended consequences: More death on our roads,” she (Jennifer Homendy) said. “Safety, especially when it comes to new transportation policies and new technologies, cannot be overlooked.” – National Public Radio (NPR) c) America’s new weight problem: Electric cars: The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety makes clear what you may have missed in physics class: A lighter vehicle is at a disadvantage in a collision with a heavier vehicle. The heavier car tends to keep moving while the lighter vehicle -- and its occupants -- are punished by more violent forces and often greater structural collapse. A US Department of Transportation report in 2012 stated that making light cars lighter would significantly increase fatality risk, where making heavier cars lighter would significantly reduce it. - cnet 43. Engineers in Bermuda did not factor in the extra average weight of an EV per parking space when building existing elevated parking garage floors. Because of the increased average weight, EVs have been banned from parking garages in several cities worldwide, and EVs have also been banned from underground parking because of fire issues. a) “Weight of electric vehicles could cause ‘catastrophic’ damage and ‘lead to car parks collapsing”: Engineers warn Britain’s parking facilities were not designed for hulking battery cars - This is Money b) British Parking Association: weight of electric cars causes collapse of parking garages: An electric car sometimes weighs as much as 500 pounds more than a similar model with a traditional powertrain. This can create dangerous situations, according to the British Parking Association. ... Chris Whapples, structural engineer and member of the BPA: “When you see the weight of electric cars coming out of the factory, you begin to wonder if the existing standards are adequate. We haven’t had an incident yet, but I suspect it’s only a matter of time. We encourage owners of older parking garages to check.” 44. The silence of EVs, including electric motorbikes, is a significant drawback and not a benefit as it increases the chances of pedestrian and bicyclist accidents. People are alerted by a vehicle’s noise, and their actions depend on the engine’s sound while out on the roads. Bermuda’s scarcity of sidewalks exacerbates the problem forcing pedestrians to walk on the roads. Bicyclists would have a similar dilemma of not hearing an approaching EV. Expect more accidents, injuries, and deaths. 45. EVs are energy hogs. The amount of energy you add to your EV’s battery is not equal to the amount of energy available to move your vehicle down the road. Generally speaking, your EV may use 12 to 15 percent more energy than what you add to your battery. That number could be lower or higher depending on charging conditions. There are a number of reasons for this. Some energy is converted to heat, some is necessary to keep the battery at the right temperature during charging, and some is written off to what’s known as “transmission loss.”- Car & Driver Imagine the consumer outrage if a gas or diesel pump added a 12% to 15% surcharge on every purchase for fuel not put in the tank. a) Using the 2021 Tesla Model Y as an example, Tesla’s own data—buried deep in 49 pages of certification documents filed with the EPA—shows it took 87.868 kWh to add 77.702 kWh to the battery of the Long Range version. That’s a 13 percent overage. For the Model Y Performance version, adding 81.052 kWh to the battery required 92.213 kWh, or 14 percent more. – Car & Driver 46. Most people charge their electric vehicles at home. Home charging accounts for about 80 percent of charging in the US and Europe. – Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT) Government and RMI also suggested charging at home in the webinar without mentioning the cost to consumers and safety risk. 47. The business case for public charging service is poor. Because most charging is done at home, public charger utilization rates are low. Fast DC chargers needed for public charge points are expensive. Most studies find that charging stations can’t pay for themselves over a 10-year period. Let’s compare a traditional gas pump to a fast DC charger. A gas station fuel pump costs about $20,000 and can serve a customer in less than six minutes. A 50-kilowatt fast DC charger costs about $100,000 and can serve an EV customer in about 30 minutes. The pump can serve five times as many customers for one-fifth of the capital cost of a high-speed charger. – Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT)48. The cost of using a public charging station, including user fees, would be far greater in Bermuda than fueling a comparable ICE vehicle. a) Public charging stations may not support an EV-specific charging interface. Not all EVs use the same charging connection. There is no universal standard connection when it comes to plugs. - carsguide b) It’s unlikely that commercial charging of electric vehicles will become a sustainable free-market business. Look for charging stations to eventually be owned by electric utilities (BELCO), paid for by higher electricity prices and government subsidies. - Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT) c) Public charging stations connected to the Internet are subject to attacks by hackers. Bermuda’s Internet infrastructure offers little protection from foreign and domestic hackers. Who will pay Internet Service Providers to upgrade their systems? d) Like any other Wi-Fi-enabled device, internet-connected EVs and chargers are vulnerable to cyber threats. Bad actors have plenty of potential ways to introduce malicious software, or malware, into electric vehicles and plenty of ways to wreak havoc if they do. – Wall Street Journal (WSJ) 49. A home charging station is an extra expense to EV owners. Government claiming in the webinar that plugging in an EV is like charging your cellphone is totally disingenuous. Government and RMI never mention the cost to Bermudians for the charging stations. a) According to Qmerit, a unit can range from $799 to $1,999 per unit in the USA, PLUS installation costs by a licensed electrician. That unit cost would translate to two to three times that range in Bermuda. A Level 1 110/120 volts (AC) station would be very slow charging, and a Level 2 220/240 volts (AC) station would be faster charging. b) The impact of the 220/240 charging option on Bermuda’s electric grid has not been calculated. Bermuda homes are old, as is the home wiring. Installing a 220/240 station may mean that the homeowner cannot run a clothes dryer and charge the EV simultaneously because the home electrical system cannot handle the increased load. It will require a costly upgrade to the owner’s electrical system. c) Home EV Charging Is Getting Expensive and Confusing - JALOPNIKWe know that public EV charging isn’t anywhere near as simple or reliable as it should be, but what of home charging solutions? J.D. Power recently conducted its third annual survey, asking EV owners to rate their satisfaction with their charging systems at home. And wouldn’t you know it, the score actually dropped this year, due to “high costs of charging, slow charging speed and limited charging education,” per Automotive News. J.D. Power measured home charging satisfaction with Level 1, portable Level 2 and mounted Level 2 chargers across eight factors — cost of charging, charging speed, fairness of retail price, cord length, size of charger, ease of winding/storing cable, ease of use and reliability. The study, in collaboration with PlugShare, measures satisfaction with the home charging experience for battery-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. Nearly 14,000 owners of 2017-23 model year EVs and plug-in hybrids participated in the study, fielded from December 2022 to February 2023. The survey also suggests that more than two thirds of EV owners use a mounted Level 2 home charger providing up to 240 volts, rather than a standard wall outlet. 50. Most houses in Bermuda do not have a garage or a covered parking space. Any proper charging station must be outside, protected from the elements, and installed by a professional electrician - all extra costs. Running an extension cord from the house to an EV is dangerous, and charging an EV in the rain is not prudent. 51. Most apartments and multi-unit dwellings in Bermuda do not have a garage or a covered parking space. Any charging station must be outside next to the owner’s designated parking space, protected from the elements, connected to the owner’s electric meter, secured so that only the owner can use the charger, and installed by a professional electrician - all extra costs. Installing the supporting infrastructure to all the parking spaces would be expensive, and the expense is passed on to the EV’s owner. Running an extension cord from the apartment building to an EV is not an option, and charging an EV in the rain is not prudent. 52. Given Bermuda’s size, one might think EVs would run for a long time before recharging. I have seen several electric rentals being pushed off the road because they ran out of power. If an ICE runs out of gas, one can get a gallon or more sized container with gasoline from a station and add the fuel to the gas tank. An EV must be towed to a charging station or the dealer. Adding a fast-charging battery pack to a service vehicle is cost prohibitive. If an ICE battery dies, it can be quickly and easily replaced with a new one, regardless of the vehicle’s location. Replacing a dead EV battery is neither easy, inexpensive, nor quick. Dealers will not keep an inventory of EV batteries on hand due to the substantial inventory-carrying expense. The EV would be at the dealer for months until a replacement battery arrived. The EV owner would be paying on the vehicle loan while unable to use the EV. 53. The cost of replacing an EV battery is prohibitive. In the USA, a new EV battery ranges in price from $5,500 for a Nissan Leaf battery to $16,000 for a Chevy Bolt battery. – OSVehicle. The replacement cost could be at least two to three times higher in Bermuda. 54. According to GreenCars, an EV owner can easily void the battery warranty, if a full warranty would even be offered for the Bermuda market. Some exclusions might include, but are not limited to:a) Use of non-standard chargingb) Any damage caused by using or installing non-approved partsc) Using the battery as a stationary power sourced) Any damage caused by opening the battery coolant reservoire) Failing to install software or firmware updatesf) Damages or failures caused by repairs performed by non-certified techniciansg) Lifting the vehicle from underneath the battery instead of designated body lift pointsh) Failure to make repairsi) Using the vehicle for towing and exceeding load limitsj) General abuse or neglect (such as parking an EV next to the ocean exposing it to salt sea air and ocean spray) 55. Auto mechanics are not currently trained nor do car dealers, and shops have the equipment to service and repair EVs. When mechanics are trained and have the proper equipment, EV repair costs will be higher than ICE vehicles to recover the cost of training and specialized equipment. To avoid voiding any EV warranty, consumers will be forced to take their EV only to the dealer who has authorized personnel and will charge premium rates on labor. 56. Replacement parts, including low rolling resistance tires designed explicitly for EVs, and the labor to repair EVs, are substantially higher than ICE vehicles. Bermuda’s stop-and-go driving would quickly wear down tires and brake pads on EVs requiring a higher cost to replace than on an ICE. Stop-and-go driving will also wear down the battery faster. 57. Because of the vehicle’s increased torque and weight, EV tires and brakes wear out more quickly than ICE tires and brakes. EVs still contain treads and brake pads that, when worn down, break into tiny particles polluting the air and harming air quality. 58. From the study, Contribution of Tailpipe and Non-tailpipe Traffic Sources to Quasi-Ultrafine, Fine and Coarse Particulate Matter in Southern California; The operation of electric vehicles results in brake dust, airborne road dust, and tire erosion, which contribute to particulate matter in the air. Particulate matter is dangerous for respiratory health. 59. Electric Vehicles Cause More Expensive Collisions, Do More Damage: EVs’ instant torque means that drivers are losing control and crashing their own vehicles more frequently. – CarScoops a) French insurer AXA has been looking into the peculiarities of accidents involving electric vehicles following its 2022 crash tests in Zurich, Switzerland. The company found in its testing that accidents involving the new vehicles are more expensive, more dangerous to occupants of other vehicles, and that EVs have an Achilles’ heel. b) “We insurers and our customers also have to manage new risks: Although e-cars do not cause more accidents in this country, they can often lead to more expensive individual claims,” said Nils Reich, director of property insurance at AXA in Germany. The reasoning behind the claims being more expensive is simple: EVs are filled with expensive technology that, if damaged, can be expensive to fix. Moreover, although EVs, by and large, feature the latest safety technology for the cabin, there is an inevitable weakness in their design. With the majority of automakers placing batteries at the bottom of their vehicles, damage from underneath can lead to surprisingly expensive and sometimes dangerous damage. c) “Most electric cars, especially the powerful ones, have a very high torque, which is immediately noticeable when you tap the power pedal,” said Michael Pfaffli, head of accident research at AXA Switzerland. “This can result in unwanted, jerky acceleration that the driver can no longer control.” What AXA refers to as “overtapping” is leading to 50 percent higher rates of accidents in which drivers damage their own vehicles, as compared to vehicles powered by combustion engines. And that is working in concert with another aspect of EVs to lead to bigger crashes. 60. Given the smallness of the Bermuda market, there would be serious supply chain issues for dealers getting basic EV parts, as Bermuda would be a low priority. The high carrying cost of EV parts means dealers would severely limit replacement parts inventory. 61. EVs have a low resale value. According to iSeeCars, the average depreciation rate of an EV is a staggering 52% in the first three years, compared to 39.4% for ICE cars and 34.3% for trucks. 62. The cost to insure an EV is higher than an ICE vehicle. - BusinessInsider 63. Will Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service be getting electric fire trucks and support vehicles? Where will the money come from? 64. Will the police, fire, and emergency services be driving EVs? (cars, vans, and motorcycles) Where will the money come from? 65. Will the Premier’s car be replaced with an EV? Where will the money come from? 66. Will the MP’s cars be replaced with EVs? Where will the money come from? 67. Will every Government vehicle be replaced with an EV? Where will the money come from? 68. What is the Government’s plan to dispose of thousands of ICE vehicles replaced by EVs? With a one-car per household policy, the ICE vehicle must be disposed of in an environmentally conscious manner for an EV to be registered to the address. What about motorcycles and motorbikes? What is the disposal cost per ICE vehicle and who pays? Summary: CONSUMER CHOICE and not Government fiat! Bermudians and the Government have no money to pay for this costly feel-good insanity. Forcing Bermudians to buy EVs will not save the planet; it will make Bermuda and the planet worse environmentally, promote child labor and abuse, and will not impact “climate change.”
