Maui  Electric  Vehicle  Alliance  Don  McLeish:  The  path  that  took  me  to  EVs   1  

 

The  Path  that  Took  Me  to  EVs  Don  McLeish  

November  2012  

Growing  up  in  the  50’s  and  60’s  was  an  exciting  time.  It  was  commonly   felt   and   expressed   that   the   sky   was   the   limit.   In  other  words  there  really  were  no  limits.    

The   country   embraced   the   race   to   space   resulting   in   a   man  walking  on  the  moon.  Technology  was  advancing,  and   I   recall  one   supporting   argument   for   advancements   in   technology  being   that   it   would   shift   the   burden   of   production   from   the  shoulders   of   man   to   machine   and   allow   man   to   be   more  productive  in  less  time,  gaining  leisure  time.    

But   in   the   70’s   and   80’s   there  were   signs   of   limits   and   finite  resources   creeping   in.   The   dream   of   a   single   income  household  where  the  breadwinner  only  need  work  four  out  of  seven   days   wasn’t   coming   to   be.   There   were   problems   with  pollution  and  a  hole  in  the  ozone  but  these  were  just  bumps  in  the  road  and  issues  we  could  fix.    

Living   in   southern  California   I  embraced   the   freedom  and   joy  of   having   an   auto   at  my   disposal   and   driving   at   will,   up   and  down  the  coast  in  search  of  waves  at  no  significant  cost.  While  in  college   in   the  early  70’s  we  suffered  a  gas  shortage  and   in  California   this   was   dealt   with   having   a   rationing   program  where  one  could  purchase  a   limit  of  gas  on  odd  or  even  days  as  based  on  the  license  plate  of  the  car.    

Clearly  one  way  to  minimize  the  impact  of  this  rationing  was  to  own  a  fuel  efficient  vehicle  and  the  door  to  smaller  and  lighter  import  cars  was  opened,  never  to  be  shut  again.  I  think  at  this  point   we   experienced   a   real   shift   in   market   supply   and  demand   where   Detroit   and   other   domestic   established  producers  opted  to  tell  us  what  we  wanted  as  opposed  to  us  perceiving   what   we   needed.   Perhaps   this   was   going   on   all  along  and  I  was  just  slow  in  recognizing  it.  

In  the  mid  ‘70’s  my  brother  and  I  opened  a  Vespa  and  Moped  store  in  Orange  County.  We  were  convinced  that  there  would  be   demand   for   fuel   efficient   and   fun   alternatives   to   autos.  What   we   discovered   was   there   was   demand   for   fun   at   the  time  but  only  a  few  people  purchased  our  offerings  based  on  the  economy  they  provided.    

By  the  80’s  I  realized  that  the  quality  of  life  was  not  what  I  had  been   led  to  expect  and  there  were  more  people  around  with  growth  and  development  starting   to  encroach  and  crowd  the  landscape.   Roads   and   highways   were   congested   and   speed  limits  were  often  no  limit  at  all;  the  car’s  brake  light  in  front  of  

you   kept   you   well   below   any   speed   limit.   Although   the   sky  might   still   be   a   limit,   other   limits  were   starting   to   surface.   It  seemed  technology  was  advancing  well  but   the  quality  of   life  was  not  really  in  step.  

By  1980  I  had  moved  from  a  house  in  Southern  California  onto  a  small  sailboat  and  was  residing  in  the  SF  Bay  Area,  Berkeley  Marina.   I   spent   the   next   25   years   involved   in   the   marine  industry,   focusing   on   boat   repair   and   maintenance.   Most   of  the   customers   I   dealt   with   had   fair   amounts   of   disposable  income,   prerequisite   to   owning   a   yacht.   Many   were   quite  intelligent   and   successful   and   in   a   position   of   being   able   to  pursue  their  dreams  as  well  as  “do  the  right   thing”  even  at  a  premium.    

The  focus  of  my  work  in  the  marine  industry  was  primarily  on  sailboats.  Now  sailing  is  a  form  of  transportation  that  has  been  around  well  before   the   industrial   revolution  or   the  advent  of  the   internal   combustion  engine.  The  energy  used   to  propel  a  sailboat  under  sail  is  obviously  free  energy  in  the  form  of  wind  but  the  cost  of  the  vehicle  was  hardly  trivial  and  the   limits  of  where   you   could   go,   when   you   could   go   and   how   fast   you  could  get  there  were  significant.    

Before  I  get  too  far  off  track,  let  me  just  say  that  for  years  my  focus  was   on   pleasure   craft   but   ultimately   these   boats  were  vehicles  on   the  water,   a  mode  of   transportation  and  a  mode  that   used   alternative   energy,   not   petroleum.   Granted   they  were   not   viable   for   the   majority   of   people   as   a   means   of  commuting   to   work   or   stopping   by   the   store.   There   are   all  kinds   of   parameters   regarding   performance   and   power   in   a  sailboat   but  miles   per   gallon   (MPG)   and   horsepower   are   not  among  them.    

I   aided   any   number   of   folks   who   sold   their   homes,   quit   or  retired   from  work  and  planned   to  sail   the  oceans.  They  were  faced   with   limited   income   and   the   reason   they   opted   for  sailboats  over,  say,  an  ocean  going  powerboat  was  simple.  The  cost   for   fuel   and   availability   of   fuel   on   the   high   seas   simply  ruled   them  out.  The  simple  underlying  concept  was  once   the  boat   and   sails   were   purchased,   the   energy   needed   for  propulsion  was  free  and  not  a  budget  consideration.    

I  had  a   few   friends   in   the   industry  who  embraced  alternative  lifestyles  and  alternative  solutions  and  when  the  first  round  of  electric   vehicles   (EVs)   became   available,   a   couple   of   them  leased  the  General  Motors  (GMC)  EV1s.  I  had  the  opportunity  to   experience   these   cars   and   appreciate   what   they  

 

Maui  Electric  Vehicle  Alliance  Don  McLeish:  The  path  that  took  me  to  EVs   2  

represented  in  the  potential  of  an  alternative  to  gas  powered  vehicles.    

I   was   also   involved   in   the   sales   of   early   photovoltaic   (PV)  panels  which  were   very  expensive  and   low  on  efficiency.  But  for   a   sailboat   in   the  middle   of   the   Pacific   that   needed   some  electricity   for   running   lights,   radio   and  what   have   you,   there  were  really  few  options.    

 

In   my   opinion,   technology   has   allowed   us   to   increase   and  multiply   in   staggering   numbers   and   exploit   and   consume  limited   resources   on   the   planet   at   levels   well   beyond   any  notion  of  sustainability.  Arguably  technology  has  allowed  us  to  become   an   unrestrained   cancer   feeding   relentlessly   on   food  stocks,   land   and  materials   available   (and   the  means   to  make  them  available).  Realistically  we  can’t  or  won’t  go  back  to  pre-­‐technology  times  but  we  can’t  continue  into  the  future  on  the  same   paths   we   presently   follow.   I   believe   technology   is   not  only   the   bane   on   our   existence   but   also   the   only   hope   for  viable   change.   But   change   must   be   embraced   and   brought  about.    

Energy   is   really   the   currency   of   all   living   things   and   our  mechanical   machines   that   work   for   us.   Energy   can   be  measured   in   calories,   watts,   horsepower   and   lumens   and   to  lesser  and  greater  degrees  energy  can  be  converted  from  one  form  to  another.    

There   is  energy   stored   in   the  planet   in  various   forms  and  we  have  tapped  these  resources  through  the  ages,  Europe  burned  wood   for   heat   and   cooking   until   it   became   scarce   but  fortunately   coal  was  available  when   the  wood   ran  out.  More  recently   we   found  we   could   use   oil   for   energy   and  we   have  passed   peak   oil   by   most   estimates   and   yet   our   demand   for  energy  is  another  hockey  stick  poised  to  kick  our  collective  ass.    

Technology  has  provided  us  a  means  of  using  the  energy  from  the   sun   in  more   recent   times   and   clearly  we   need   to   exploit  this   source.   I   find   it   ironic   that   for   the   most   part   all   life   on  earth  uses  the  energy  from  the  sun  either  directly  or  indirectly  as   its   source   of   energy   and   prior   to   the   industrial   revolution  mankind  essentially  did  as  well.    

When  we  entered  the  machine  age  we  used  horses  and  steam  and  wood  for  energy.  We  use  coal  and  petroleum  which  are  in  finite   supply   and  once   consumed,   gone.   The   future  will   have  use   for   these   resources   beyond   burning   them   up   for   energy  but  will  we  leave  any  for  the  future?    

When   I   moved   to   Maui   in   2006,   I   was   fortunate   enough   to  have  the  financial  ability  to  put  a  significant  down  payment  on  a  home.  I  was  also  in  a  position  to  plan  ahead  with  regards  to  monthly   expenses   not   limited   to   the   mortgage   but   also  utilities,  food  and  transportation  expenses.  I  opted  to  put  a  bit  less  down  on  the  home  and  buy  a  home  that  cost   less   than   I  ultimately  could  have  afforded.    

I  also  placed  a  priority  on  new  home  improvements  that  were  not  typical  in  nature.  I  wanted  to  be  comfortable  in  the  house  and   keep   the  windows   closed   to   keep  out   the   red  dust   from  the   pineapple   fields   so   an   air-­‐conditioning   system  was   called  for.   I  contracted  for  a  system  that  cost  about  30%  more  than  “standard”  but   this  premium  bought  me  greater  efficiency   in  terms  of  energy  requirements  as  well  as  a  longer  useful  life.    

My  next  priority  was  a  PV  system  on  the  roof  that  would  use  the  ever  present  sunlight  as  a  source  for  my  household  energy  needs.   I  also  purchased  a  solar  water  heater  which   is   really  a  no  brainer!  When  I  had  the  solar   installers  quote  and  size  my  system   I   had   them   increase   its   capacity   in   anticipation   of  owning  and  charging  an  EV.    

There  were  no  EVs  available  on   the  market   at   the   time  but   I  was   confident   that   they  were   coming.   I  was  on   a  waiting   list  for  a  couple  cars  that  never  panned  out  and  got  on  the  waiting  list   for  a  Nissan  LEAF  as  soon  as   I   found  out  they  were   in  the  works.    

In  the  mean  time  I  had  purchased  an  electric  scooter  on  island  as  an  alternative  to  my  GMC  van  and  for  trips  to  the  grocery  or  beach.  Unfortunately  the  electric  scooter  developed  problems  and   the   manufacturer   in   Germany   went   out   of   business.   I  reluctantly  traded  it  in  on  a  Vespa  scooter  which  I  knew  would  provide  dependable  service  and  at  a  fuel  cost  below  that  of  my  van.    

After   waiting   a   bit   over   a   year   for   my   LEAF   the   time   finally  came  that  it  was  destined  to  arrive.  I  realized  that  as  much  as  I  enjoyed  riding  the  Vespa  and  the  ease  of  finding  parking  for  it,  once  I  got  the  LEAF  I  would  be  hard  pressed  to  use  the  Vespa  as  it  required  stops  at  the  gas  station  and  money  out  of  pocket  whereas   the   LEAF  would   be   fueled   at   home   at   no   additional  cost  to  me.    

I  sold  the  Vespa  to  a  friend  at  a  good  price  for  him,  and  I  knew  he  could  make  good  use  of  it.  I  then  purchased  a  Zero  electric  motorcycle   from  the   factory   in  Santa  Cruz,  Ca.  and  had   them  ship  it  to  me.    

Ironically  I  ended  up  taking  delivery  of  both  the  bike  and  car  in  the  same  month  and  for  the  first  couple  months  I  hardly  drove  the  LEAF  because  the  Zero  provided  all  I  needed.    

 

Maui  Electric  Vehicle  Alliance  Don  McLeish:  The  path  that  took  me  to  EVs   3  

When   winter   and   the   surf   came   I   finally   started   driving   the  LEAF  in  earnest.  I  haven’t  been  to  a  gas  station  now  for  over  a  year  and   take  pride   in   the   fact.   I   still   have   the  GMC  van  as  a  backup  and  make  it  available  to  friends  and  visiting  family  and  they  get  to  take  it  to  the  gas  station  as  needed.  

I  didn’t  need  to  purchase  the  PV  system  on  the  roof,  the  LEAF  or  the  Zero  motorcycle.  I  could  have  gotten  by  without  any  of  these   purchases.   They   were   not   trivial   upfront   expenses   by  any  means.  I  bought  them  because  I  was  fortunate  enough  to  be  able   to  do  so  and  ultimately   I  will  be   financially  better  off  due   to   not   paying   for   the   gas   and   electricity   I   would   have  purchased  otherwise.  I  would  have  purchased  them  regardless  of   federal   and   state   incentives   in   place   but   I   did   enjoy   a  reduction   in   actual   cost   because   of   state   and   federal  incentives.   My   decisions   can   be   supported   on   financial  grounds  but  that  is  just  benefit  to  me  and  ultimately,  who  but  me  cares?    

But  my  decisions  to  purchase  as  I  did  had  impact  on  others  as  well  as  the  planet  we  all  share.  The  excess  energy  that  my  PV  system  generates  goes  out  into  the  grid  and  gets  used  by  other  households  or  businesses.  That  is  energy  that  doesn’t  have  to  be  generated  by  burning  fossil  fuels.  The  companies  who  sold  and  made  my  vehicles  and  PV  system  can  use  that   income  to  further   their   business   and   provide   similar   vehicles   and   PV  systems   to   others.   I   am   convinced   that  where  we   spend   our  dollars  has  a  real  and  significant  impact  on  shaping  the  future;  dollars  are  votes  that  do  count  and  get  counted.  

I   believe   climate   change,   or   global   warming   if   you   prefer,   is  real  and  a  threat  to  life  as  we  have  come  to  know  it.  Reducing  one’s  CO2  footprint   is  something  we  all  need  to  attempt.  For  some   of   us   who   can   afford   the   luxury   of   doing   it   now,  shouldn’t  we?   It  helps  pave  the  way  for  others   less   fortunate  to  do  so  in  the  future.  And  it’s  not  without  real  benefit  for  us!    

There   are   so   many   aspects   that   can   be   viewed   as   win-­‐win  when   it   comes   to   some  of   these  alternative  energy   solutions  that  it  just  doesn’t  make  sense  not  to  pursue  them  if  they  are  

within   reach.   The   PV   system   on   my   roof   takes   energy   that  would   otherwise   have   bounced   back   in   to   the   atmosphere  warming  it  as  well  as  baking  the  roof  and  heating  the  house  up  and   instead,   converts   it   to   electricity.   As   a   result   my   air  conditioner  has  an  easier  job  of  cooling  my  house  and  requires  less  energy  to  do  so.  My  fuel  station  is  now  at  my  home  and  it  doesn’t  run  out  of  fuel.    

Technology  has  allowed  our   species   to   get   into   some   serious  trouble,   and   we   are   presently   stealing   from   the   future   in   a  bubble   that   will   ultimately   burst   causing   damage   we   can’t  begin   to   fathom.   But   technology   can   provide   us   with  alternatives  that  might  well  minimize  that  future  bubble  burst.  I   would   like   to   think   we   can   avoid   an   ultimate   failure   as   a  species   but   I   see   no   indication   we   are   changing   quickly   and  sufficiently  enough  for  that.      

I   may   not   have   been   clear   in   expressing   my   thoughts   and  ideas.   I   could   be   in   error.   The   train   of   thought   may   have  derailed   along   the  way.   But   that   doesn’t   alter   the   fact   that   I  own  and  drive  an  electric  car  and  electric  motorcycle  and  they  get  the  job  done.  I  have  no  idea  what  the  cost  of  gas  is  these  days.   I  wish   I   could   say   I   don’t   care  what   fuel   costs   but   that  isn’t  the  case  because  so  much  of  what  we  buy  and  consume  has   to   be   transported   here,   and   we   do   pay   for   those  transportation  costs.      

When  I  was  in  college  and  prior  to  the  first  gas  shortage  in  the  ‘70’s  I  had  a  used  Porsche  and  would  take  an  occasional  drive  just   for   the   pure   joy   and   freedom   it   allowed.   It  was   fun   and  carefree.  Times  have  changed.  Now  with  my  Nissan  LEAF  I  can  once   again   take   the   occasional   pleasure   drive,   carefree   and  simply  fun.  Anyone  who  hasn’t  driven  an  EV  can’t  relate  to  its  perky  response  and  the  smile  that  invariably  follows.    

Not  many  have  followed  the  path  that  brought  me  to  EVs  but  in  time  and  with  commitment  in  proper  infrastructure,  others  will  be  able  to  embrace  EVs  as  viable  alternatives  and  perhaps  we  can  move  forward  on  a  new  course  and  away  from  future  bankruptcy  of  our  finite  resources.  

 

Advice  to  would-­‐be  EV  owners:  The  main  difference  between  an  EV  and  a  typical  car  is  the  relatively  short  driving  range  and  added  time  required  for  refueling.  The  EV  has  numerous  advantages  but  it  needs  to  be  viable  for  the  owner/  user,  which  may  or  may  not  be  the  case  depending  on  anticipated  as  well   as   unanticipated   travel   distances.   The   availability   of   charging   stations   as   well   as   time   required   for   a   charge   are   realities   best  factored   in   and   anticipated   in   advance.  As   the   infrastructure   improves   and  quick   charge   stations   are   strategically   placed   as  well   as  increases  in  the  range  of  the  EV  batteries,  this  will  be  less  of  an  issue.  Once  a  person  experiences  an  EV  it  is  difficult  to  go  back  to  the  internal  combustion  engine  (ICE).  Holding  off  on  this  experience  until  the  anticipated  needs  can  be  met  can  help  one  avoid  frustration  and  disappointment.  

About  the  author  

Don  McLeish  lives  in  Honokowai  on  the  West  Side  of  Maui.  He  got  on  the  waiting  list  for  a  Nissan  Leaf  in  April  2010  and  received  delivery  of  it  a  year  later  in  April  2011.    He  was  the  first  owner  on  Maui  to  register  a  Zero  motorcycle.  On  a  sunny  day,  you  can  catch  him  taking  underwater  photography.  

 

For  more  first-­‐hand  testimonies  like  this,  visit  Maui  Electric  Vehicle  Alliance  website  at  http://www.mauieva.org