Hybrid vehicles

IT gives you a lovely fuzzy ‘cool’ feeling knowing Fiji has a Low Emission Development Strategy 2018-2050 which includes the importation of low emission hybrid vehicles.

There are more hybrid vehicles on Fiji’s roads than any other vehicle.

The popularity of the hybrid vehicle was brought about by the price; buyers could enjoy an attractive tax incentive.

Most of the vehicles are second-hand. Their batteries are not new at the time of purchase.

While the Low Emission Development Strategy 2018-2050 takes into consideration the low emission qualities of the hybrid vehicle, from what I could find there was no consideration given to disposing of hybrid vehicle batteries in a manner which is environmentally acceptable, safe or sustainable.

In a number of countries where hybrid vehicles have been imported, the policy is a package which supports low-fuel emission vehicles along with environmentally responsible solutions to disposing of or recycling used hybrid vehicle batteries. I believe Fiji is not one of those countries.

In Fiji, some battery companies may recycle batteries but not those from hybrid vehicles; only batteries from non-hybrid vehicles.

I asked an auto-electrician if he knew of a policy where hybrid vehicle batteries had to be responsibly disposed of and he jokingly said: “Yes. Naboro!”, then laughed out loud at his own joke while behind me in a corner of his garage was a pile of endof-life hybrid vehicle batteries.

I checked with a local battery company who also confirmed there are no regulations in place to recycle or responsibly dispose of batteries which come out of hybrid vehicles.

I was told they are usually dumped in wasteland sites and in streams.

This ‘method’ is far from satisfactory and can cause toxicity by poisoning waterways and contaminating soil; all in all a grave risk to animals, marine life and humans.

Post facto, I believe the policy is a halfbaked one. I believe Fiji raced ahead and enabled cheap second-hand hybrid vehicles to be imported into Fiji without full environmental consideration in terms of battery disposal or recycling.

Consequently, what we are finding is careless and unregulated dumping of used hybrid vehicle batteries.

This is a serious concern for communities living in areas where these batteries are being dumped.

I believe this matter must be addressed by the Ministry for Agriculture, Waterways and the Environment and investigated by Environment stakeholders including NGOs.

JULIE SUTHERLAND

Tamavua, Suva