Imperial Irrigation District’s rearview mirror
Arecent article in this newspaper by Michael Maresh reported on the Imperial Irrigation District’s misgivings concerning electric vehicles. At a board of directors meeting, IID General Manager Henry Martinez complained about the shortcomings of electric vehicles and their potential impacts on IID’s mission.
His reasons for downplaying electric vehicles is their unreliability, operational range and cost among other points.
IID’s angst is fueled by Calfornia’s Air Resources Board mandating that by 2045 all new trucks sold in the state will be zero emissions. To reach that goal, IID and other truck users will begin acquiring non-carbon fueled trucks by 2024. IID will finish its transition from carbon fueled to zero emissions vehicles by 2040. As IID General Manager Henry Martinez says, “It’s a game-changer….”
Indeed, the transition to zero emissions cars and trucks is revolutionary. At the same time, it’s absolutely necessary if California, the United States, and the world are to put the brakes on global warming. As President
Biden said in his speech last week at a Zoomed summit on global warming, the worldwide effort is focused on preventing the earth’s average temperature from increasing 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit. This is seen by scientists as the tipping point that would insure more destructive weather events across the globe, change climate patterns affecting agriculture, and increase sea levels as polar ice caps melt even more.
There certainly are obstacles to transitioning to an all-electric fleet. President Biden tied a zero emissions economy to jobs creation including the building of 500,000 electric charging stations across the country. Admittedly, we are far short of that number.
IID’s General Services Manager Jennifer Goodsell argues that electric powered vehicles cannot do what standard gasoline powered trucks can do especially in emergencies. Martinez cited the need of emergency repair trucks to travel to Mecca, Calif., a distance of 73 miles. Then the trucks need to operate booms and bucket lifts. IID’s top administrators assume that electric vehicles just won’t be up to the job. One wonders if they are informed about the emerging technologies they criticize or are just focused on IID’s rearview mirror. Surely, IID’s able staff or professionals could fill them in on the steady advancement of zero emission vehicles.
Volvo introduced the VNR Electric at the end of 2020. It has a 150 mile range with a fairly quick recharge. Volvo is looking to build truck models for intercity transport and urban construction. Daimler Trucks North America in Portland has built 38 medium and heavy-duty Class 8 electric prototype trucks. UPS has ordered 10,000 electric vans from Arrival, a London-based startup now manufacturing in the United States. Arrival hopes to sell these at prices similar to fossil-fueled vehicles.
IID is sure to claim that these trucks don’t fit the bill. Well, what about another utility’s attempts to go electric? Southern California Edison is using Daimler’s battery-electric Class 8 truck to transport heavy equipment. Edison’s goal is to electrify 30 percent of its medium-duty vehicles and 8 percent of its heavy trucks by 2030. There exist models for the IID to learn from.
Yes. Recharging is a challenge. IID has options. Build more fast charging stations in its service area. Create battery depots so depleted batteries can be traded out. The Chinese are doing this to promote the use of electric vehicles. Why not try being a learning organization?
Oh, it’s cost! Yes. Initial purchase of e-vehicles is likely to be greater than gasoline burning trucks.
Yet, costs should actually decrease over the life of the vehicle due to lesser fueling costs. IID would be polluting less when it abandons diesel vehicles. It would receive kudos instead of lawsuits from Imperial County’s Air Pollution Control District.
IID could surprise us all and embrace the future, but it will require it to cease viewing the environment through its rearview mirror.