EVs a powerful argument for change

This story first appeared in the October issue of EVtalk – CLICK HERE to download the magazine FREE

Risk reduction and supply security significantly favour EVs over ICE vehicles in a climate change sense, Ecotricity director Mark Yates says.

Ecotricity provides 100% “carboNZero” certified renewable electricity, mainly from hydro and wind and a growing solar generated base.

“Climate change is bringing more and more severe weather events,” he says.

“With this comes energy supply disruption, whether it be a tree across a power line, flooding as we have seen recently in Florida and parts of New Zealand which can disrupt fuel tankers or earthquakes disrupting pipelines and electricity lines.

“These events are becoming more common.”

Yates says a petrol station, for instance, requires underground tanks to be sound, regular tanker deliveries and electricity supply to pump the fuel. Electricity
is also required for fuel payment.

“In contrast, EVs only need the electricity supply.  So, in a dramatic climate change event, ICE vehicles need all three attributes
to be operational, whereas EVs only need
the electricity.

“Of all the services that might be disrupted in a climate event, typically electricity is the first to be reinstated.”

Yates also reckons its likely more frequent and dramatic climatic change events would not happen if everyone drove EVs.

“EVs are also significantly more economic to run from a consumer’s perspective so it would appear everyone, apart from oil companies, benefits by moving to EVs.”
Yates bought the first Nissan Leaf in New Zealand in 2012.

“It has more than 90,000km on it and each year I save over $2000 in fuel so over the last five years I have saved about $10,000 of fuel.”