Not prisoners of climate fate

Here’s something sexy, fun and healthy you can do for climate change. It will also make you extremely appealing to the gender of your choice. OK, I exaggerate, but there’s nothing painful about what I’m about to suggest and it tackles the number one source of carbon pollution on P.E.I. — transportation. According to our government website, nearly 50 per cent of P.E.I.’s carbon emissions come from driving.

Here’s the idea: buy a plug-in hybrid car. A plug-in runs on electricity until its battery is used up and then switches to gasoline. Most of our driving is done commuting to work. With a plug-in hybrid, commuting might not use any gas at all. Zero emissions. But the gas engine is there when you want to run to Moncton.

A used 2017 Chevy Volt goes 80 kilometres and then makes the switch to gas. I see 2017 Volts available on Kijiji for a bit over $20,000 with low mileage. There are others.

I have never spent more than $7,000 for a vehicle. I am not wealthy, but I find this very tempting. I live in the country and drive a lot. I would probably save $2,000/ year on gas. If I could swing the financing, I would also have a nicer car which would likely run for several years longer than the older cars I usually buy.

I realize that lots of people don’t have the money. Many people on P.E.I. could afford this. We are not prisoners of our climate fate.

Rob MacLean,

Lewes