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Times Forum online 8 Sep 05 It's time for govt to give more incentives for green vehicles Letter from S. Renganathan I read with interest the story '10 ways to stretch your petrol dollar' (Sunday Times, Sept 4). It did provide some useful tips to motorists. However, what saddens me is the fact that the larger issues seem to be ignored - issues which would make a much bigger difference if even partially addressed. F irstly, from what I have observed over several years, we rarely make adjustments (like practising good driving habits) until we hit a crunch such as soaring petrol prices. Many let the engine idle while waiting to pick up someone, or floor the accelerator and then screech to a stop at the traffic lights. In spite of high car prices and the rising cost of fuel, we throng the car showrooms looking for the latest gas guzzling SUV as a status symbol. Shouldn't we now have a public campaign to promote awareness about saving petrol, similar to the campaigns on saving water and electricity? Conspicuous petrol consumption results in double whammy. It is a not only a scarce resource, its usage contributes to environmental pollution. If ever there was a time to make gas-electric hybrid cars more affordable, the time is now! In a traditionally gas guzzling nation such as the US, hybrids are showing brisk growth. Apparently, hybrid sales rose 81 per cent last year. The Detroit News in April reported: 'Hybrid vehicle sales nearly doubled in the United States last year as gas prices soared and a wider variety of models attracted consumers. New hybrid vehicle registrations totaled 83,153 in 2004, an 81 percent increase over the year before...' www.detnews.com Even more impressive are the government incentives for hybrids. For example, 'if you buy a hybrid new, you may be eligible for a one-time federal income tax deduction of up to $2,000!' www.fueleconomy.gov And in California, 'the Department of Motor Vehicles is to issue special stickers to owners of hybrid vehicles that will allow them to drive without penalty in High Occupancy Vehicle lanes'. www.hybridcars.com In the US, hybrids cost around US$3,000 to US$4,000 more than traditional (equivalent) gas models. In Singapore, that difference is amplified because of the taxes that cars attract. Thus, there is an even more pressing need for government incentives for green vehicles if these are to take off in any significant way. To control the overall vehicle population on the roads, the Land Transport Authority could consider, for example, offering the incentives only for trading in old vehicles. Isn't it time for our progressive, environmentally conscious nation to rise to the challenge and prove that we are at the forefront of legislation toward a greener future? After all, drawing inspiration from a Patek Philippe advertisement, I propose that 'We never actually own a piece of the land (or environment). We merely take care of it for the next generation'. links Related articles on Singapore: green energy renewable energy, energy saving: issues, efforts, discussions |
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