Letters / To be green, Lerwick has to go car-free
A few simple facts for the SIC to ponder. The EV chargers provided by the council in Shetland come at a very considerable cost to us all.
The actual kinetic (movement) power supplied by these chargers is one of the most inefficient and polluting energy sources imaginable. It is also one of the most expensive.
Firstly, the electricity provided by these chargers is practically 100 per cent generated by diesel fuel burn at Gremista, one of the UK’s least efficient power stations. Expensive to run and highly polluting with CO2 emissions second to none.
Secondly, converting electricity to battery storage again is inherently inefficient, resulting in energy loss. The transformation back from battery storage to electric power again loses energy. The electricity produced to run an EV’s engine results in further energy loss.
A further consideration for our council: the production of EVs and their lithium batteries is highly polluting. It is estimated an EV will need to run for four to eight years on only renewable electricity (60 to 80,000 miles) to pay back its carbon footprint.
By comparison a 1000cc petrol engine is less polluting, cheaper and at present a far greener option.
Maybe one day, if Viking Energy lives up to expectations, this situation will change, but at present hundreds of thousands have been thrown on this ’green hogwash’ by the scientifically ignorant.
What is the sense in EVs being encouraged when the charging electricity is not renewable and far from eco-friendly?
If the SIC wishes to go green, central Lerwick has to be car-free. Ideally, no car owner should go EV nor have a greater than 1000cc petrol car.
All the above are simple facts any reasonable standard-grade student studying STEM subjects could confirm and explain.
Ian Tinkler
Clousta
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