Greenrock has long advocated the position that electric vehicles are ideal in Bermuda, preferably allied with a charging infrastructure and time-of-day electricity tariffs that encourage charging at night. However, there are currently few electric vehicles available in Bermuda and those that are are not always practical.Most families can’t imagine doing without their car, and unfortunately the Island infrastructure is set up for car transport: until that changes we will continue to want cars. But it is possible to choose a car on the Island today which has a smaller impact on the environment. So what is a good choice?Your best choice in order of environmental impact is:n Electric vehiclesn Hybrid vehiclesn Diesel vehiclesn Small, new model petrol vehiclesn Vehicles with a large engine, or an old engine.A quick note on diesel vs petrol carbon footprint: Diesel cars have fewer emissions, and higher burning efficiency and so are better for the environment. However they tend to come with a higher price tag and are hard to find in Bermuda as a regular family car. Luckily in Bermuda now we have more options for a ‘greener car’, starting with electric cars.So why are electric vehicles more environmentally friendly in Bermuda than internal combustion engine (‘ICE’ use petrol or diesel) when they are still using BELCO’s electricity to charge, and BELCO generates the electricity using diesel fuel oil. The short answer is that BELCO’s big diesel engines are much more efficient at generating power than an internal combustion engine in a car. This means that even when charged by plugging it in at home, an electric car is the most environmentally friendly choice. Electric vehicles are available today in Bermuda from TheGreenHouseBermuda, and Continental Motors will shortly bring in a fully electric car.The problems with electric vehicles are that:1: They have historically been rather small and therefore a tough choice for families. That, however is changing fast and some of the new electric cars are in fact too big for the Bermuda market.2: People tend to worry that they will run out of charge while they are a long way from home a phenomenon known as ‘range anxiety’. This is easily overcome by just getting used to how far you can drive when the battery is low (after all we do this automatically when the tank is low in a regular car), but rather off-putting for new drivers.If you can’t see yourself in an electric car then hybrids, in the shape of a Toyota Prius C, are now available at Bermuda Motors and are undoubtedly a more environmentally friendly choice than any pure ICE car. ‘Hybrid’ cars have both an ICE and an electric motor. The car uses the electric motor preferentially and only switches to the ICE when it needs a little extra acceleration (or if the battery runs out eliminating range anxiety).The battery is charged while the ICE engine is running and also when the car is braking. In low speed conditions and in stop/start driving (ie typical Bermuda conditions) battery charging is optimal, so the hybrid is at its most efficient. The disadvantage of a hybrid car is that is has a much more complicated drive train than a regular car as it essentially has two engines. This means it takes more energy to manufacture and is potentially harder to service. However, in ‘cradle to grave’ assessments of environmentally friendly cars the hybrids still consistently beat out pure ICE cars, and in more than a decade of driving they have proven to be reliable family cars.We do need to bear in mind that the hybrids are basically a transition technology: the cleanest, most efficient energy source for transport is electricity. Electric cars also reduce noise pollution, eliminate oil spills on the roads and the need to dispose of waste oil. The Government needs to support this technology by eliminating duty on electric vehicles, charging stations and parts; while private electric cars are already duty free, commercial electric vehicles attract 12.5% duty which puts them outside most people’s budget. We should also consider reducing the registration costs (why do we emissions test electric vehicles?). They are also perfect candidates for the Government’s fleet.In the meantime we finally have more choices here in Bermuda, we can ‘vote with our wallet’ and choose a greener car.Several countries have already introduced legislation for incentives on electric and hybrid vehicles.Ÿ In the UK, electric car sales accelerated in 2012 following the launch of a £5,000 government grant scheme. UK drivers also benefit from the lowest band of vehicle excise duty (car tax), which is based on carbon dioxide emissions. In central London, these vehicles are also exempt from the £8 daily London congestion charge.Ÿ In the US, state and federal tax credits are available on fuel efficient vehicles. EVs purchased in or after 2010 may be eligible for a federal income tax credit of up to $7,500. In practice, these tax credits mean that a 2013 Nissan LEAF electric car with an MSRP of $28,800, will cost the buyer as little as $19,000.Ÿ In 2010, Ireland launched a scheme to deploy 1,500 electrical recharging stations for use with EVs, plus 30 high voltage fast charging units providing a high speed recharge facility every 60 km on interurban routes. Electricity supplied from these recharging points will be free initially.Ÿ Free parking is also offered to electric vehicles in Copenhagen and other cities, and there is free recharging at some parking spaces.Ÿ Residents in parts of Canada can claim a sales tax rebate of up to C$2,000 on the purchase or lease of a hybrid electric vehicle.For more information see www.greenercars.org or greencarinstitute.org