The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

Bahamian companies were yesterday urged to consider changing their vehicle fleet to electric cars, a move hailed as “good for the pocket and the environment”.

Pia Farmer, the Customs Computer director and honorary Danish consul, addressing a press conference to announce the Bahamas Business Outlook next Thursday at the Melia Nassau Beach Resort, said electric vehicles were much cleaner and efficient.

Mrs Farmer, who for the past 18 months has been driving a Nisssan Leaf sold through the eco-car division of her husband’s Gladstone Road based Easy Car Sales business, said: “A way that I compare it is if you have a car and you are paying $50 worth of gas a week, you will only spend $10 in electricity with an electric car.

“Also, the effect on the environment, noise pollution and soot on the walls is huge.  Hundreds of thousands of electric cars were sold last year, and on an island that is 21 miles by 7 miles,  I consider it a no brainer. The car can go 100 miles on one charge.”

  Mrs Farmer urged businesses to consider using electric cars in their fleet. “From a business perspective it’s very useful to consider electric vehicles as delivery or service vehicles,” she said.

“You can use them all day very efficiently, plug them in at night and they are ready to go in the morning. You don’t lose time having to send your vehicle to get serviced or for an oil change.

“We are hoping that the business community will see the benefit of having an electric fleet. That will make a big difference to the way that everyone thinks about electric vehicles and to give them  try.”