[Peakoil] Reva Electric car

[Antony Barry]

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Antony Barry <tony at tony-barry.emu.id.au>
> Date: 19 October 2006 2:42:10 PM
> To: The Hon Jim Lloyd MP <J.Lloyd.MP at aph.gov.au>, Senator the Hon.  
> Ian Campbell <senator.ian.campbell at aph.gov.au>
> Cc: The Hon Bob McMullan <Bob.McMullan.MP at aph.gov.au>, Senator Kate  
> Lundy <senator.lundy at aph.gov.au>, Senator Gary Humphries  
> <senator.humphries at aph.gov.au>
>
> The Hon Jim Lloyd MP
> Minister for Local Government Territories and Roads
>
> Senator the Hon. Ian Campbell
> Minister for the Environment and Heritage
>
> cc Senators for the ACT
>    Member for Fraser
>
> Dear Ministers
>
> I understand that the Reva electric car [1] is under consideration  
> for introduction into Australia and there is a possibility that it  
> will be blocked[2].
>
> I find this difficult to understand are there are two pressing  
> needs which make a shift to electric vehicles desirable.
>
> Firstly climate change is starting to impact on Australia and there  
> is an increasingly urgent need to cut our carbon emissions[3].  
> Small electric vehicles will assist us to do this.
>
> Secondly we are approaching the period when world oil production  
> will peak. This may be in 30-40 years which the IEA and the USGS  
> suggest or within five years which an increasing number of  
> geologists suggest. Oil production will go into irreversible  
> decline and the price of fuel will increase until the demand drops  
> to match the diminished supply. Worse, Australia's crude oil  
> production has peaked already and is in freefall rapidly increasing  
> our import bill. The Senate has recently held hearings on these  
> matters [4].
>
> I understand that one of the considerations is the safety of the  
> vehicle. It is light and only has a maximum speed of 65kmph. I find  
> such worries absurd as I am an occasional cyclist and live in a  
> developing area, Gungahlin in the ACT, where I frequently  
> encounter, while driving, earth moving and road repair vehicles.  
> These are also slow and the drivers exposed. Then of course there  
> are slow motor scooters. To demand a level of safety in such a  
> vehicle which is not required for bicycles, motor bike and scooters  
> is absurd. For that matter in my three door hatchback I am  
> certainly not overwhelmed with a feeling of safety when a semi- 
> trailer passes.
>
> Australia is going to need low powered electric vehicles and I fear  
> sooner rather than later. This type of vehicle should be allowed on  
> the road.
> _._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._.
>
> 1. http://www.revaindia.com/revastd.htm
>
> 2. http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/road-safety-chiefs-ganged-up- 
> to-stall-electric-cars/2006/10/03/1159641324121.html
>
> 3. John Houghton. "Global warming: the complete briefing". 3rd ed,  
> CUP, 2004
>    James Lovelock. "The revenge of Gaia". Allen Lane 2006
>    George Monbiot "Heat: how to stop the planet burning". Allen  
> Lane 2006
>
> 4. http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/rrat_ctte/oil_supply/ 
> int_report/index.htm
>
>
>
> Antony Barry
> http://tony-barry.emu.id.au
>
> | 21 Aroona Crt |  Phone: 02 6241 7659 Mobile: 04 1242 0397
> |   Ngunnawal   |  Email: me at tony-barry.emu.id.au
> |   ACT 2913    |       : tony.barry at alianet.alia.org.au
>
>