Issues in the Electrification of Trinidad and Tobago (TT)
Introduction:
I am sure that some of us Trinbagonians read the history of electricity in TT
as reported by T&TEC on their website. The following is a part of the history
quoted from that website for your convenience.
"The early history of electricity in Trinidad and Tobago is closely connected with
public transport which commenced in 1882 ...
In December 1886, a group of local businessmen was granted a
20-year franchise to run an electric Power Station and
tramway system in Port of Spain ...
A Canadian businessman bought the Electric and Transport System
from local businessmen in 1901 and obtained at the same time
a 30-year monopoly... When that franchise came to an end
in 1933, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago decided
it would take over the Company and
by 1945 proceeded with an island-wide electricity scheme...
The Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC)
came into being by virtue of the Trinidad and Tobago
Electricity Commission Ordinance No. 42 of 1945..."
So, anybody could see from the above quotation that
electricity was used for transport in TT.
For a more detailed description of early public transportation with
horse-drawn trams, streetcars, steam locomotives, and railways
in Trinidad please visit "The Trams and Trolley Buses of Trinidad
and Tobago" by Allen Morrison.
The focus in the present article is on current issues in the
electrification of transportation in Trinidad and Tobago
at this time in the 21st century.
Electric Vehicles (EV) for transportation:
Electrification of transportation increased with the
hybrid electric vehicles built with traditional engines using fossil fuels
(gasoline, diesel, natural gas, etc). They have become popular because
of consumer desire and the need to improve the fuel efficiency of these
vehicles for economic reasons. But, the current issue is the impact of
greenhouse gases emitted by these newer vehicles and the
limited nature of the total supply of fossil fuels for consumers
as well as the governments around the world.
What are the issues with EVs for private and public transportation in
Trinidad and Tobago? What is happening in TT to electrify transportation?
Immediate issues already known in TT for EV acquisition :
1. Purchasing Cost of an EV is more than other types of vehicles.
This is only true if purchasing a new vehicle from the manufacturer.
This should not be an issue in purchasing an EV
because preowned vehicles are already available at
comparable or less cost than traditional gasoline and diesel types.
2. Even though EVs can be charged at home, the electrical supply
capacity of a typical residence in TT may be insufficient to
accommodate EV charging at home.
Moreover, 50 Amp electrical circuits are not common in the
residential electrical wiring of TT housing even with
electrical cooking ranges and other appliances.
This should not be an issue for consumers because the cost of
installling a 50 Amp electrical circuit is a very small
fraction of the capital cost of electrification of transportation.
This cost can be recovered in a very short time from the savings
realized in operating the EV for transportation.
3. Public charging stations are not set up at this time to make
EVs popular in TT.
Instead of treating this situation at the present time as an issue,
the consumers should view it as an economic opportunity for
anybody in TT just like selling doubles on the street. isn't it?
4. T&TEC may not have the ability to cope with the demand for
Electricity on the public Utility.
This perception is not realistic in the short-term, and even in the
long-term it is only an investment and policy issue for the
government which owns T&TEC.
5. The electrical generating capacity of the existing generating
stations is not enough to electrify transportation.
The implications of this mindset need to be examined in detail
from different perspectives. For example, what will happen if
the opportunity is examined as an economic opportunity for
the average person in TT to participate in the Electrification of
Transportation with Solar and Wind Electricity?
We at Couva Wind and Solar ask several questions and keep thinking
about the electrification of transportation and the benefits to all the
Citizens of Trinidad and Tobago, not just the benefits to the big business:
1. What is stopping the Trinbagonians to embrace the electrification
of transportation in TT, especially when Petrotrin is closed down
and when the world is searching for alternatives to fossil fuels
because of environmental concerns?
2. If the Sun is the source of all energy on Earth, why are we not using
more of Solar energy especially for transportation?
3. If industrialization is to generate prosperity for the citizens of TT,
why not develop cottage industries accessible to many more people
than a few large scale industries?
4. Isn't it funny that electricity is generated and used for lighting
and airconditioning in consumer transportation vehicles, but not
for transportation?
5. if it is true that transportation created employment and lead to
worldwide economic expansion with the steam locomotives and
railways, then what does electrification of transportation do?
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