As we roll into 2024, I find myself curious about our electric vehicle (EV) initiative. In March 2021, a so-called Electric Vehicle Pilot Project was launched, which promised to look into policies and programmes for achieving our nation’s climate goal of having 60 per cent of newly-registered vehicles being electric by 2035. On the surface, it feels like an achievable goal, but I am somewhat reminded of our self-sufficiency targets for rice production.
Those familiar with the subject can understandably look at “60 per cent” with some degree of scepticism. There is a lot to do, from making more options affordable – the latest EV brand comes in at a whooping BND60,000 – to the general market and creating the infrastructure and raising consumer confidence in the product, which also involves making sure that there is enough skilled labour and reliable source of spare parts for repairs.
For a start, where are we at now? The last known figure of EVs registered in the country was under 20, according to an article released in March 2022. Assuming a yearly sales figure of 11,000 cars, which honestly feels like a lot for our tiny country, it would be a miniscule percentage of overall sales. To reach 60 per cent of all sales would require some steep climbing, one which doesn’t feel to have even begun.
As a nation, we stand heavily to benefit from having a huge chunk of the population switch over to EVs. Beyond the accepted premise that it reduces carbon dioxide emissions, it also means a significant reduction in annual fuel subsidies.
It is no secret that fuel subsidies, incidentally, are not sustainable in any way, shape or form. So it is also in the best interest of the government to make serious efforts to shift the population to EVs.
There’s no doubt the authorities have thought of many ways to encourage EV uptake. Most likely, things like subsidies are discussed in meetings, or perhaps even offering longer term loans to purchase the first EV, which isn’t a bad deal, as EV is said to last longer on the road compared to the gasoline-run variety. But it has been two years since the launch of the study. Much has changed since then, yet the need for a widespread EV adoption remains.
Electric Dreams
