Vanessa Williams advocates the use of Electric Vehicles

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This month we feature the Battery Charge or Electric Vehicle which is viewed as important to meeting the global goals of climate change as they present an alternative  to fossil fuels and allow for cleaner air as there are no carbon emissions.

The Nissan LEAF is a compact, five-door hatchback battery electric vehicle (BEV), introduced in Japan and the United States in December 2010 and now in its second generation. Its range on a full charge is 243 km (151 miles).

While battery charged vehicles (BCV) are becoming fairly common in other sister CARICOM states particularly, Barbados, its usage in Guyana is still novel.

Our team reached out to the owner of a BCV and here are the candid responses we got from Ms. Williams on some questions posed. It should be noted that while she encourages others to onboard with this vehicle, she has equally touched on some of the challenges one will encounter.

Principal/Owner

My name is Vanessa Williams and I am the proud owner of a Nissan Leaf Electric Vehicle. I purchased this vehicle in October, 2019 from a car dealership in Japan, Fiju Automotives.

What drove you to buy a green vehicle?

Several factors led to me to purchasing my green car- the Nissan Leaf.

• Aesthetics: The vehicle in my opinion is a very sleek small car, but don’t be fooled by its size. Its spacious interior makes this car very functional. Additionally, its modern features, such as heated seat controls, touchscreen navigation, surround sound speakers and Bluetooth system, reverse mirror and intricate sensor system to detect if there is an object too close to the vehicle while it is in motion, helps to make driving safe and comfortable.
• No more visits to Gas stations: The thought of never having to stop at the gas station was a definite pull factor.
• Reduction in expenses: The massive reduction in petroleum expenditure that I anticipated.
• No pollution, Cleaner Air: As an environmentally conscious person, the “Zero Emission” tagline made this car the one for me.
• Being Different: I like the idea of simply being different, hence my choice.

Was getting it registered with Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) straightforward?

The registration process was very straightforward. The GRA followed the normal procedures – inspecting the engine and recording its chassis number as per requirements for issuing the vehicle certificate of registration. There was nothing intrinsically special about the overall process.

What do you like about the features?

• Small but spacious, making it easy to maneuver
• Its modern design is pleasing to the eyes but still has all the primary functionalities a vehicle needs to have
• Acceleration pick-up time is another good feature, it allows the driver to go from 0-80 km in an instant

How does it contribute to reducing carbon emissions?

The Nissan Leaf contributes to reducing carbon emission because it does not have a combustion engine like normal conventional petrol or diesel vehicles. This means the car emits no greenhouse gases, contributing to a reduction in atmospheric air pollution which is especially good in urban areas. Because of the nature of the engine, it is also very silent when in motion, hence there is also a reduction in noise pollution.

State advantages, if any:

• The vehicle has less moving parts which means it requires little to no maintenance
• It saves you time, not having to visit the gas station
• It saves on gas expenditure
• The vehicle Isn’t too expensive, electricity wise

State challenges if any

• Due to the range the vehicle can do on a charge, it calls for advanced journey planning.
• Ease of access to charging points can be difficult. The vehicle charges optimally on a 220v Voltage distribution system and most houses in Guyana operate on a 110v voltage distribution system so having a vehicle like this calls for structural changes to be made to accommodate the car and if you are renting, this can be a challenge.
• Finding the right adapter to connect the car charger to the domestic outlet is also a challenge since inferior chargers often can’t withstand the load.
• The lack of trained electric vehicle technicians is also a constraint at this time.
• Not aware if there are duty free waivers for replacement parts or maintenance equipment used by Auto Technicians.

Would you encourage others to purchase an electrical vehicle, and if so, why?

I would definitely encourage others to buy an electric vehicle. It reeks modernity and sophistication, it is environmentally friendly, and will save you tons of money in the long run. The car charges an average of four (4) hours on a 220 voltage distribution and eight (8) hours on a 110 voltage distribution system. From observation, on average, this equates to $800 in electricity cost per day and depending upon your driving pattern, one charge can last two to three days. So, you do the math as to how much you can save.

Is Guyana ready for these types of vehicles

Yes and No. The government has made importing these vehicles very accessible since they are 100% duty free. The average consumer just needs to pen a letter to GRA asking for this concession to be granted under the Green State Development Strategy and voila, the duty free concession is granted. So, from a policy perspective, I would definitely say, yes.

On the other hand, infrastructure is lacking. There are no charging ports within the city environs that are accessible to electric vehicle owners.  The Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) had mentioned that they would be installing a charging port at their office in Quamina Street for government use (since the Government of Guyana also purchased a Nissan Leaf as part of its government fleet). I am not sure if this charging port has already been constructed or installed, and if it would be made accessible to the general public in the near future. However, the lack of this critical infrastructure places a limit on how far one can go. Additionally, while these vehicles require limited maintenance, the lack of trained electric vehicle technicians is also a constraint at this time.

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The Green Economy Committee of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce sincerely thanks Ms. Williams for taking time out to speak with us.