Clearing the air on subsidies for electric vehicles

Kenneth Green’s opinion piece is incorrect. Based on news articles, including those published in the Star, Tesla did not sue the Ontario government because it cancelled the subsidies for electrical vehicles. Tesla sued because the Ontario government cancelled rebates for Tesla customers effective July 11, while rebates for other electric vehicles were available for vehicles delivered up to Sept. 10. Anthony Martins, Elora, Ont. Information from the Fraser Institute is always partisan and should not be shared with the public as news. This particular article, not surprisingly (considering the Fraser Institute’s motivations and funding) contains misleading information about electric vehicles to create confusion and doubt in the public eye about their environmental benefits. Drs. Jeremy Theal and Joyce Lee, Toronto Given the enormous risks posed by global warming, it is important to promote efforts to reduce greenhouse gases. Perhaps a $14,000 EV subsidy is too high, but in this early adoption phase of the product life cycle, a zero Ontario subsidy seems too low. As a bonus, EVs are far superior products compared to the gasoline alternatives. Patrick Chan, Toronto Climate change is the gravest threat to the planet. Failing to address the future cost of inaction in order to placate oil company investors with short-term gains is reprehensible and might even be classed as immoral. Tom McElroy, Toronto Tesla owners are your family, friends, neighbours and run-of-the mill Ontarians who want to reduce their carbon footprint while enjoying real choice in the availability of private transportation.

The base model Tesla Model 3 will start at $49,000, not $56,000.

Tesla owners are not all millionaires. As a Tesla Model 3 owner, I’m confident that Tesla will continue to outsell all other luxury internal combustion engine sedans, subsidy or not. Electric vehicles are just a better proposition. Maureen Huggins, Mississauga Green says: “There remains little or no environmental benefit if the power generation for electric cars isn’t greenhouse gas emission-free (and in most places, it’s not).”

I disagree. Driving an EV produces significantly fewer greenhouse gas emissions than cars powered only by gasoline, regardless of the local power mix. Furthermore, Ontario’s electricity mix is fairly clean. Even nuclear power is cleaner than all fossil fuels. Steve Hurschler, Ottawa Tesla is a divisive company and receives much attention from its supporters and detractors. I urge Star readers to not forget how the EV subsidy helped regular people greatly reduce their greenhouse gas emissions one household at a time. Joshua Majonis, Burlington The switch from horse and buggy to horseless carriage did not happen overnight, but was certainly aided by massive investment in infrastructure by governments and business. I guess if Kenneth Green had his way, we’d have stuck with the horse and buggy.

I suppose that’s one way to deal with climate change. Catherine Scott, Ottawa Re Ontario was right to eliminate electric car subsidies, Sept. 16