Earlier this month, a man in Singapore was fined for his new high-emission vehicle. He was not expecting this at all, since his new car was a Tesla Model S, considered by most standards to be a zero emission car. The owner, Joe Nyguen, spent a long time trying to import the car from Hong Kong, and was planning on qualifying for a low-emission tax rebate. Singapore’s Land Transit Authority (LTA) has a tier-based rebate and fine system to encourage consumers to buy low emission vehicles. The maximum fine is S$15 000, with the possible rebate being S$30 000. Mr Nyguen thought he would have qualified for the maximum rebate, but was fined the maximum value.
Singapore looks at auto emissions from a well-to-wheel perspective rather than tank-to-wheel. Singapore generates the majority of their electricity by burning oil, so in order for Mr. Nyguen to charge his new Tesla a certain amount of oil is still being burned for his energy. The emissions are just being generated at a different location than before. Even in Canada, where we consider most of our energy to be clean, I feel that this is a standard that we ought adopt. I’m a huge fan of the electric car, but perspective is needed. People need to account for all of the emissions that they create, not just those that they directly generate.
Elon Musk, Tesla’s founder and figurehead, has been alerted of Mr. Nyguen’s situation and has thrown his hat into the ring. Always the champion of his designs, Mr. Musk is engaging in talks with the Singapore LTA to try and resolve the issue.
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