City of Vancouver is Going Electric

The City of Vancouver is supporting the use of electric vehicles as part of its goals to be the greenest city in the world in the following ways:

  • In February 2012, the City launched its $800,000 Charge And Go Vancouver electric vehicle infrastructure trial that will install at least 67 chargers for use at home, work and 'on-the-go' by the end of 2013. The trial, funded by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, the Province of BC, BC Hydro and the City will provide knowledge and understanding of different charge stations, their installation needs and the suitability of different sites, while increasing the opportunity for EV owners to charge their vehicles - which will help inform future work.
  • Through Project Get Ready Vancouver, a collaboration between BCIT, the Rocky Mountain Institute and the City of Vancouver, a ‘menu of actions’ has been developed to guide the City's efforts in removing barriers to wide-scale use of electric vehicles.
  • Supporting electric vehicle (EV) car share opportunities. The local car co-op Modo has included a Nissan Leaf in their car share network to be used by both City staff and Modo members. The City has installed the electric vehicle charger and owns a Mitsubishi iMieV that was used to test out car sharing using EVs with City staff;
  • Requiring all new single-family homes and off-street bicycle storage rooms to have dedicated electric plug-in outlets; Requiring charging infrastructure for 20% of all parking stalls in new condo buildings;
  • Leading an electric vehicle charging infrastructure pilot program for home, work and on the go as part of a broader conservation collaborative with BC Hydro;
  • Encouraging all major automakers to bring their new electric vehicles to Vancouver as soon as possible;
  • Owning the first Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) deployed in a Vancouver Fleet. It is a stock Toyota Prius Hybrid with a Plug-In Conversion Module that increases the car’s electrical capacity by more than ten times;
  • Signing a non exclusive agreement with Mitsubishi, BC Hydro and the BC Government to test what Mitsubishi describes as the world’s first production-ready, highway-capable electric car to be produced this year in Japan. The i MiEV has joined the City’s fleet in Nov 2009 for demonstration and evaluation purposes. Read letter from Vancouver's Mayor to Mitsubishi factory workers; and
  • Working with representatives from Renault-Nissan, the Province of BC, and BC Hydro to identify opportunities to promote the use of zero-emission vehicles in Vancouver and other areas in BC. Discussions will also explore the establishment of charging infrastructure in Vancouver.

Vancouver's Electric Vehicles in the Media

 

Modo adds more electric juice with a fully electric vehicle

car share photoModo The Car Co-op has added its first fully electric vehicle (EV) to its fleet, a first for carsharing in Western Canada.

The not-for-profit carsharing organization was eager to offer an EV to its members once it could confirm that a parking spot with charging infrastructure would be available.The City of Vancouver stepped up and offered Modo a spot with EV charging capacity at a City-owned EasyPark parking lot (453 West 10th Ave., north of City Hall) where an EV public charging pilot is currently underway.

Source: CNW
Released: Nov 1, 2011

 

BCIT joins the City of Vancouver and the Rocky Mountain Institute in Project Get Ready Vancouver

electric vehicleThe British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) is joining forces with the City of Vancouver and the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) to help communities prepare for the use of Electric Vehicles (EV) and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV). Initially founded by the Rocky Mountain Institute and in partnership with the City of Vancouver, Project Get Ready Vancouver will see BCIT champion the development of a five-year plan of action aimed at making the City of Vancouver electric vehicle ready. Read full BCIT press release or City press release.

Source: BCIT
Released: May 19, 2010

First Canadian program will test the all-new Prius Plug-In Hybrid under real-world operating and climate conditions as part of Toyota’s global trials

Toyota EVThe need fors sustainable transportation is greater than ever, and as Toyota continues to prepare for transportation that relies on less fossil fuel, today it announced the first phase of a national Canadian partnership for real-world demonstrations of the all-new Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid vehicle (Prius PHV). Read full Toyota press release.

The City signed an MOU with Toyota and other provincial partners to evaluate the new Toyota Plug-in Hybrid Prius in our fleet. 

Source: Toyota Canada
Released: Mar 25, 2010

Mitsubishi delivers on promise: One i-MiEV to City of Vancouver, two to BC Hydro

mievMitsubishi Motors Sales of Canada Inc. (MMSCAN), British Columbia and the City of Vancouver made history today when three mass-produced, all-electric, zero-emission Mitsubishi i-MiEV passenger cars were presented to the City of Vancouver and BC Hydro. These three vehicles represent the fulfillment of a promise made by MMSCAN to the Government of British Columbia, BC Hydro and the City of Vancouver on April 6, 2009, with respect to providing i-MiEV cars for testing and evaluation. Read full press release.

Source: Mitsubishi
Released: Nov 20, 2009

Watch this media clip aired April 6, 2009 on Global TV: Clean and green electric car!

Renault-Nissan Alliance Signs Zero-Emission Partnership in Vancouver

NissanThe Renault–Nissan Alliance, the Province of British Columbia, the City of Vancouver and BC Hydro announced today a partnership that will see British Columbia become the initial launch point for Nissan’s Canadian zero-emission transportation program.

British Columbia is scheduled to be the first Canadian province to receive the Nissan LEAF, Nissan's first all-electric real-world car,in 2011, in advance of global distribution in 2012. Read full press release.

Source: Renault Nissan
Released: Oct 6, 2009

 

About Electric Vehicles

Electric Vehicles (EVs)

An EV is a car that uses an electric motor for power instead of a traditional internal combustion engine (ICE). There are a several types of electric vehicles. Vehicles that run purely on electrical power from battery packs are called Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV).

Neighborhood Electric Vehicles or Neighbourhood Zero Emission Vehicles are a type of BEV. These slower moving vehicles are considered too slow and light for driving on highways, but are suitable for quiet neighborhoods. More information about the Vancouver City Council motion to allow Neighborhood Zero Emission Vehicles on city streets that have a speed limit of up to 50 Km/hr can be found here.

Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs)

Other types of electric vehicles use a second power source in addition to the electric motor – these are HEVs. The second power source in most HEVs is a small gas-powered motor. The electric motor is generally used when coasting, starting, idling, braking and driving at slow speeds allowing for better fuel economy.

Plug-in Electric Hybrids (PHEVs)

Like Hybrids, PHEV's have both an electric and a gasoline powered motor. However PHEVs also have powerful batteries that can be charged with a plug through a standard wall socket. The City's PHEV takes five hours to get a full charge and the electric motor can power the vehicle for short urban trips. This is one of the benefits of a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle – it can use the battery power for trips at low speeds up to 20 - 65 kilometers in length, and will switch to being a fuel-efficient hybrid for long-distance trips. These vehicles have comparable power and speed capabilities as gasoline-powered cars.

Charging of Electric Vehicles

Charging stationFollowing a 2009 Council adopted report, scaleable public charging infrastructure is being deployed to support the adoption of electric vehicles in Vancouver.  Although most of the charging of EVs takes place at homes and at work, public charging points are often needed. The City will start in the following locations and increase the number of locations as required:

  • Easy Park Parking Lots
    Charging stalls are being introduced at Easy Park downtown parking lots in advance of a wider program as the market demands. This is an important step for a parking authority to help lead the creation of an integrated local charging network for home, work and on the go.   
  • Community Centers
    The City will provide charging at select community centers starting with the Sunset Community Center. This effort is being led by the Park Board.

Safety Issues with Electric Vehicles

So far, Low Speed Electric Vehicles have been produced without going through Transport Canada’s high-speed crash tests. BC and many American states have permitted a Low Speed Classification that enabled the sale and use of these cars without the tests.

However, Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles with the same power and speed capabilities as gas powered cars will be mass produced and fully crash tested by the major car companies.

Batteries

If you are wondering what happens to the batteries from electric vehicles at the end of their lifecycle, read this article by the EDF Electric Transporation Network.

Electric bicycles, scooters and motorcycles

ebicycleElectric bikes provide a sustainable option for people who want to bike commute but maybe don't have the fitness or strength to pedal steep hills or longer distances.

  • In 2009, the City implemented new requirements for electric bike charging in off-street bike parking locations.

There are hundreds of electric bikes on the roads of Vancouver today, they are one of the first modes of fully commercial clean electric transportation along with electric trolley buses and early light duty passenger plug-in electric vehicles.

Photo: Vancouver's City Manager and Deputy City Manager periodically use electric bikes to get between meetings.

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