THE EDITOR, Sir:
GAS PRICES have reached record levels along with the noise and air pollution associated with our continued reliance on the internal combustion engine. Despite Dr. Davies' protestations, our economy continues to be as vulnerable to oil shocks as in 1979 when the curiously named Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica was inaugurated. Yet there is a better way to maintain our nation's mobility and concomitantly curtail OPEC's stranglehold on our economic prospects, as demonstrated by the state of California.
That state requires all car manufacturers to produce electric cars to complement their fossil-fuel fleet offerings with a mandate that 5 per cent of cars on the highways of that smog-ridden state produce zero-emissions. Five per cent may seem modest but when one considers the large number of cars bought in that very mobile state annually, it is not an insignificant consideration.
The government of Jamaica should therefore give serious thought to fostering the use of electric cars in Jamaica through the use of tax incentives as these vehicles offer tremendous benefits to our fragile economy and environment. For example, they are quieter, produce zero emissions, cost 30 per cent less to maintain than gasolene cars and the electricity to supply them can be generated from a variety of sources of which we have a surfeit in Jamaica, such as wind, solar, or wave energy. The still limited range without re-charge of these vehicles (50 miles on average) should prove no deterrent to purchasers of the cars as most persons only drive 20 to 30 miles each day anyway.
Cars manufactured in Jamaica also have export potential within the region as demonstrated by the intrepid and enterprising group in Westmoreland and in some of the CARICOM islands the car's range would be quite adequate for traversing the entire island. A niche market for the manufacture of these cars in Jamaica could therefore be investigated as well.
Admittedly, the high manufacturing cost of these automobiles makes them a bit cost-prohibitive, but remember the birth of the now ubiquitous and almost defunct video recorder? The cost of these items fell precipitously after their initial debut. We needn't wait until electric cars 'catch on' in the international market before we 'follow fashion'. As a financial imperative we should pursue this project to guarantee our economic stability and growth and put an end to the frustrating impact of Middle Eastern events on our economic prospects.
I am, etc.,
MAURICE TOMLINSON
maurice_tomlinson@yahoo.com
