Page 15 - Islands Business October 2022

Energy

when they have surplus, which they should, given the massive F$10,000 cash rebate per electric vehicle purchased by local
solar farm that they’re putting in with help from KOICA. So businesses and individuals.
that’s just a start and basically, these systems can be rolled A prevailing high cost of fossil fuels may also force many to
out anywhere and we look forward to doing it,” Reddaway switch.
said. “I charge EVs all the time and still get F$200 monthly bill.
The EV charger was launched by UNDP’s Deputy Resident Here, you spend $200 a week on fuel alone,” said Reddaway.
Representative, Yemesrach Workie, who described the project EVs come with different battery sizes but a fully charged
as “transformative” and one that could be replicated in any battery, according to Reddaway, is enough to drive for up to
country across the Pacific. 150km.
“We envisage that this project is going to be very catalytic “In reality, these chargers are not actually for daily use.
for a strong e-mobility uptake in Fiji,” she said. They’re for when you’ve done 150km or 120km and you’re
“It is setting the scene for us and has a positive spill over coming in to charge. You get 6km every two minutes, so
effect, we believe, in the maritime transport sector as well, full charge will depend on the battery size. So basically the
not only in land transport. We hope that in the very near takeaway is, in this car, if you drive to Nadi, you stopped in
future, these charging systems we see here will be part of the Sigatoka and charge for 25 minutes, it will get you to Nadi and
makeup of port site charging infrastructure, helping power will cost you $12,” Reddaway said.
electric boats around Fiji. So, we really have huge ambition Switch Network plans to have five chargers installed on Viti
for this project to move forward,” Workie added. Levu by December, and to become an EV import dealer and
EVs are expected to soon become serious contenders to work with tourism companies to help them switch to EV-based
fossil fuel-based vehicles, with the availability now of charg- fleet.
ing facilities complementing relevant government subsidies
such as zero rate VAT and duty free for all EV imports, plus editor@islandsbusiness.com

DECARBONISING TRANSPORT

HYDROGEN FUELLED VEHICLES ARE NEXT
By Samantha Magick

While electric vehicles are only just entering Pacific Island
markets, Tokyo is working towards an ambitious plan that
would see a decarbonised society with net zero CO2 emissions
by 2050. Increasing the number of vehicles powered through
green hydrogen energy is key to its success.
Tokyo’s strategy is a response to climate change and the
need to stablise energy supplies. If it remains on deadline, it
will see the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) halve its
2020 level of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
There are 93 hydrogen fuel cell buses already operating
in the city. They look like conventional buses apart from the
special branding they bear. However, these buses must be
filled at specific fuel stations by trained operators. And while
hydrogen itself is light, sophisticated machinery makes these
buses two tonnes heavier than conventional ones, and many
times more expensive to build.
TMG’s transport bureau, Toei, is leasing the hydrogen fuel
cell buses, which are being built by Toyota. As hydrogen
energy is an emerging industry, Japan’s national government is
heavily subsidising the cost of developing the related technol-
ogy and applications, with TMG also providing top-up subsidies
to companies. It has budgeted ¥17.17 billion (US$115 million)
for the next four years for fuelling stations subsidies alone.
Beyond buses, TMG wants to see hydrogen-powered cars,
trucks, ships and aircraft by 2050, and its use in homes, com-
mercial and industrial settings.

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