JPS, USAID and How removing 60% import duty on Electric Vehicle will reduce Jamaica's Oil Bill

“Electric vehicles have a positive contribution to make to our economy. Not only do they have zero emissions, and are therefore good for the environment, but they can also potentially lead to the significant reduction of the fuel import bill which the country now bears”

JPS Senior Vice President of Energy Delivery, Sheree Martin, commenting on the importation of electric vehicles at the Electric Vehicle Seminar

Jamaicans are interested in Electric vehicles. So why are they not more widespread in Jamaica?

Maybe because the import duty of 60% is too high as noted in the article “Stakeholders want Gov't to reduce import duty on electric vehicles”, published Monday, October 02, 2017, The Jamaica Observer.

This was the obvious stumbling block pointed out by those attending the Electric Vehicle Seminar hosted by JPS and the USAID Caribbean Clean Energy Programme held on Wednesday September 27^th 2017 at the Spanish Court Hotel in New Kingston. The event facilitated discussions about issues that need to be tackled before electric vehicles can go mainstream:

1.      Type of infrastructure required

2.      Regulatory frameworks 

3.      Types of Electric Vehicles

Jamaican is clearly behind, as Barbados has 200 electric cars and 20 electric panel vans on their roads. This was pointed out by Joanna Edghill, whose company MegaPower, uses these vehicles.

Jamaican and Electric Vehicles - Reduce Import Duties needed followed by First World Subsidies

Yes, this article may be a bit late, but the interest in Electric vehicles is just revving up globally, as the world is going Renewables according to the IAE (International Energy Agency) as pointed out in my blog article entitled “IEA says Solar PV is fastest growing Energy source while Jamaica is adopting LNG”. 

In addition, most of the early adopters are the First World countries, with the Developing world countries still punch-drunk on cheaper Fossil fuels based internal combustion engine as noted in my blog article entitled “Why IAE goal of 600 million electric vehicles in 2040 needs Developed World Subsidies”. 

Clearly subsidies are needed from the First World Countries for us to buy their electric vehicles and electric charging infrastructure programs. This along with help to go Renewables in order to reduce the dependence on Fossil fuel based Power Plants.

A lot of that love need to start right here in Jamaica with our Government supporting Electric Vehicles with legislative and personal action. But what are the benefits of Electric Vehicles to Jamaica?

Benefits of Electric Vehicles to Jamaica – JPS Co’s SmartGrid and Tesla Charging Station coming

According to Dr. Gary Jackson, Managing Director of Electric Vehicles Ltd. and owner of an electric vehicle, the benefits are as follows:

1.      A 33% reduction in the cost of running his vehicle, compared to a gasoline run car

2.      Reduced maintenance compared to a gasoline fuelled car as the electric vehicle has no internal combustion engine

This sounds a lot like the benefits that former CEO of JPS Co Kelly Tomblin gets from her electric/hybrid Mitsubishi Outlander as noted in my blog article entitled “How JPS Co CEO Kelly Tomblin Mitsubishi Outlander means importation of Range Extender Electric Vehicles Needed”. 

JPS Co can get the ball ruling by installing Tesla Motors Charging Stations across the island as a part of their US$5 million Smart Grid initiative as noted in my blog article entitled “JPSCo US$5 million Smart Grid and Tesla Motors Battery Storage Tech Fixes Low Power Periods”.

Conclusion – GOJ Ministers need to walk the Walk and Talk the Talk

So overall, not only would Jamaican motorists benefit, but so would our country, as electric vehicle would significantly reduce our fuel bill; a reduction in the import duty of 60% is needed.

The Government of Jamaica need to show support, not only by reducing the duty but also ditching their old gas guzzling SUV and modernizing themselves by driving electric vehicles as argue in my blog article entitled “Why the GOJ needs to support All-Electric Vehicle Importation and ditch their Toyota Jamaica SUV's”. 

Whether they can handle the roads is another matter, albeit by the time they get here, toll highways may be the only roads in Jamaica.