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Ref Corner
The President of Offsetters, James Tansey, former UBC Business Ethics Chair and ED of the UBC Innovation Centre, talks as he drives during the One Tank Rocky Hockey Challenge.
Andrew Macdonald: Is this your longest road trip?
JT: No, I did a 22 hour once.
AM: We are about half way to Calgary, what are your impressions so far?
JT: If these guys really want to see the game tonight we have to limit the burger stops. So far it’s every two hours!
AM: The starting and stopping will consume more fuel?
JT: Well, yes, but I was thinking about the time remaining to get to Vancouver. You are right, though, the start and stop action will consume more than simply a straight non-stop run.
AM: That will likely increase our fuel consumption.
JT: For the consumer this is important. Not only are we stopping often, we have also loaded the cars with 6 guys and luggage. This is a much more realistic scenario than the standard government testing for fuel efficiency. I think people will appreciate that. Consumers are asking about the “real world” consumption numbers. Not the laboratory calculations.
AM: So, tell me, you flew to Calgary last night to join the One-tank Ride Across the Rockies with a bunch of car guys to catch a hockey game in Vancouver. You’re not even a hockey fan!
JT: Well, look. I get asked all the time: “What should I buy, a hybrid or a clean diesel?,” and I always answer with… “Yes. Both are so much better than the alternative.” So I am really promoting efficient forms of personal transportation. Taking part in the drive today as the referee permits the validation of the data, in this case the fuel consumed. Otherwise, who would believe a group of car dealers? 
AM: But what is the game you are really officiating, ref?
JT: I believe to effect change we have to get out in the real world and demonstrate what is possible today. To really change hearts and minds, that is, to shift from an entrenched system we have lived within for decades, and I am talking about horribly inefficient transportation options. I believe we have to act, do something to get consumers’ attention.
AM: You said, “we have to get out…”
JT: Well, yes, I mean the people working to move the sustainability needle, to introduce new thinking and ideas in the direction of a cleaner low carbon cycle economy as we are demonstrating here today on this drive. The professionals working in this capacity are sometimes referred to as change agents and come in all shapes and sizes. The three VW dealers leading this drive could be considered change agents.
AM: What can a drive across the Rockies possibly change?
JT: In the big scheme of things, not much. But put this effort into the bucket with the hundreds of other actions being taken by people all over the country and the impacts add up.
AM: Impacts?
JT: Carbon. Green House Gases. Climate change concerns. At the moment we are about half-way from Calgary to Vancouver. The onboard computer is displaying 4.9L/100 km consumption. That is about half the consumption of the average car on the road today. If we can move people into vehicles with this range in efficiency we would cut carbon from tailpipes by almost half.
AM: Is the story about carbon reduction really about efficiency?
JT: Yes and no. Yes, a more efficient vehicle burning less fossil fuel will emit less carbon. And no, because we cannot take our eye off of reducing fossil energy consumption. One of the ways to do this is by replacing fossil fuel with a renewable clean alternative. We are driving an example of that today. In Calgary, we filled the tanks with B5 biodiesel. The 5% biodiesel component is displacing 5% fossil fuel which delivers an immediate reduction in the carbon emitted from our trip.
AM: So in a way we have offset some of the carbon?
JT: You want to talk offsets now?
AM: A little later. The guys behind us just sent a text asking if you wanted to stop for a burger.
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