Going Electric is a noble idea and endeavors followed by People's Democratic Party (Current Ruling party) in Bhutan. Bhutan has been applauded for the green vision not only this time but several years before, for being very particular about preferring to conserve natural resources to economic gains.
However, recent decision by government to go purely electric in automobile department came out little surprise, at-least to me. While, I acknowledge that going electric would mean lots of benefits to the environment and help preserve the serenity of our country as electric run cars are known for little to no sound at-all to zero emission of poisonous gases. However, the fact we should understand is; we are a small nation with unforgiving, of-course beautiful, topography and under developed.
Going electric would demand building charging stations within the 100 kilometers distance each to ease passerby and to avoid traffic clogging at charging stations. We should know that, Bhutan don't have the luxury to build proper rest rooms within the highways, let alone charging stations. The problem doesn't end here; government allowed the import of used electric cars meaning longevity of lithium batteries will not be guaranteed, of-course companies claim that it would last for five years. Okey, lets believe that batteries would last for five years and what after five years? Where are we going to dump drained batteries? I remember reading in one of the news papers, a month ago that there is provision in place to re-export batteries to origin of the electric car countries once it is non-functional. But, who guarantees it? will the manufacturing country allow useless batteries to come back to their country? will they act as our dumping ground? NO WAY.
So, can Bhutan afford to take risk, when developed countries and who pollute the environment 100 probably 1000 times more than Bhutan aren't willing to go purely electric. We can't have the luxury to spend without undertaking proper research and test. We can't afford to spend in other areas when there are other priorities. IMPROVE the roads, IMPROVE the health systems, INVEST in better education, IMPROVE the quality of construction and many more areas demanding attention and priority than being ELECTRIC.
However, I am not arguing here that going electric is not our future. Going electric should definitely be our motto and vision but definitely this is not the correct time. Lets go hi-brid for now, lets improve the roads for now and reduce the import of petroleum product by consuming less, as consumption of petroleum products will have direct relation to bad road conditions we have in our country.
Government has been infamous for the exorbitant tax they levied on the import of vehicles. People were taken aback when Government announced the tax system for vehicles, rightly so, even I was surprised. How can government levy such tax when we don't have automobile manufacturing industry in our country. I am not saying tax should not be levied. Tax should be levied but in a sensible manner. They should have levied maximum of 40% tax for now (figure does not have any calculations, it is just an example).
Whatever said and done, I am just another civil servants required to face the policies framed by our so called policy makers.
LONG LIVE HIS MAJESTY THE KING AND THEIR MAJESTIES to guide our policy makers and LET PELDHAN DRUKPA GROW.
However, recent decision by government to go purely electric in automobile department came out little surprise, at-least to me. While, I acknowledge that going electric would mean lots of benefits to the environment and help preserve the serenity of our country as electric run cars are known for little to no sound at-all to zero emission of poisonous gases. However, the fact we should understand is; we are a small nation with unforgiving, of-course beautiful, topography and under developed.
Going electric would demand building charging stations within the 100 kilometers distance each to ease passerby and to avoid traffic clogging at charging stations. We should know that, Bhutan don't have the luxury to build proper rest rooms within the highways, let alone charging stations. The problem doesn't end here; government allowed the import of used electric cars meaning longevity of lithium batteries will not be guaranteed, of-course companies claim that it would last for five years. Okey, lets believe that batteries would last for five years and what after five years? Where are we going to dump drained batteries? I remember reading in one of the news papers, a month ago that there is provision in place to re-export batteries to origin of the electric car countries once it is non-functional. But, who guarantees it? will the manufacturing country allow useless batteries to come back to their country? will they act as our dumping ground? NO WAY.
So, can Bhutan afford to take risk, when developed countries and who pollute the environment 100 probably 1000 times more than Bhutan aren't willing to go purely electric. We can't have the luxury to spend without undertaking proper research and test. We can't afford to spend in other areas when there are other priorities. IMPROVE the roads, IMPROVE the health systems, INVEST in better education, IMPROVE the quality of construction and many more areas demanding attention and priority than being ELECTRIC.
However, I am not arguing here that going electric is not our future. Going electric should definitely be our motto and vision but definitely this is not the correct time. Lets go hi-brid for now, lets improve the roads for now and reduce the import of petroleum product by consuming less, as consumption of petroleum products will have direct relation to bad road conditions we have in our country.
Government has been infamous for the exorbitant tax they levied on the import of vehicles. People were taken aback when Government announced the tax system for vehicles, rightly so, even I was surprised. How can government levy such tax when we don't have automobile manufacturing industry in our country. I am not saying tax should not be levied. Tax should be levied but in a sensible manner. They should have levied maximum of 40% tax for now (figure does not have any calculations, it is just an example).
Whatever said and done, I am just another civil servants required to face the policies framed by our so called policy makers.
LONG LIVE HIS MAJESTY THE KING AND THEIR MAJESTIES to guide our policy makers and LET PELDHAN DRUKPA GROW.
Comments
Thank you so much for visiting my blog and taking time to comment. It is unfortunate that such policies are drawn without any in-depth study.
Thanks.