Vancouver, BC December 31,
2011. The Vancouver Electric Vehicle
Association has declared 2012 the "Year of the Electric Car" for
British Columbians.
It's been five years since commercial automakers
announced their plans for mass production of all-electric vehicles;
essential charging infrastructure and first commercial deliveries
have now followed.
"Leading automakers now have exceptional quality electric
vehicles in BC showrooms, readily available to the driving public"
said John Stonier, VEVA spokesperson.
"Recent government initiatives have put subsidies and support in
place to make the vehicles more affordable than ever.". VEVA
predicts prices will drop as competition for this fastest growing
market segment picks up. Exciting developments in battery
technology will offer significant range increases at lower
cost.
"In 2012 British Columbia will see more electric cars used by
consumers, businesses and governments," Stonier added. "Public
charge stations will become more common at the workplace, tourist
destinations, restaurants, hotels, but most importantly people will
charge from home. We expect the adoption of electric vehicles
to far exceed pundits' predictions, just as the adoption of hybrid
vehicles surpassed expectations during the last decade."
2012 is also the 100th anniversary of VEVA's historic 1912
Detroit Electric car. The elegant centenarian is VEVA's
electric car ambassador, its original condition road-worthiness
demonstrating the durability and robustness of electric drive
technology. In October, the association will mark 100 years that
this classic example of historical craftsmanship and electric
mobility rolled off the assembly line.
The 1912 Detroit Electric car
has been in BC continuously since 1913 when Vancouver was filled
with electric cars and trucks. VEVA now predicts that 2012 will see
the return to that clean, low-pollution means of transportation as
the norm here on Canada's west coast.
Already, Vancouver is one of the world's leading jurisdictions
for adoption of building codes that mandate electric charging
outlets in all new single family homes, and in 20% of all parking
stalls in new condominiums. And provincial government
initiatives are paying off, with policies and subsidies supporting
adoption of all-electric automobiles.
"Vancouver is truly a pace-setter, and many other jurisdictions
are using our building by-laws as a standard for their own
initiatives" said Don Chandler, VEVA's government relations
chair.
"More recently, the Province of BC has supported EV's with a
$17M set of initiatives enabling the delivery of more than 35
plug-in vehicles in the first three weeks of the program that began
December 1st, 2011" continued Chandler.
The BC initiative provides $5,000 consumer rebates for
all-electric cars and also $500 to offset the installation of
charge station equipment for garages and parkades, as well as
incentives for retiring cars 1995 and older.
According to VEVA over the last decade BC has
led the country in the adoption of hybrid vehicles at a rate twice
the national average, and drivers have learned the benefits and
durability of electric drive systems. Now with all electric
cars, even greater operating benefits are possible with BC's world
low prices for electricity and cleanest GHG footprint.
In time, every consumer will enjoy and afford to be part of the
revolutionary experience what VEVA has dubbed "the '4E's of
electric cars". "BC drivers are concerned about environment,
energy, economics, and driver experience. Electric cars
deliver on all four," explained Stonier.
Environmentally, the reduction of GHGs, especially utilizing
BC's clean hydro generated grid is significant, and the improvement
in urban air quality will help reduce rising health issues
associated with engine emissions and particulates from conventional
vehicles.
A little know fact about
electric cars and Energy is that their adoption will
actually reduce overall electricity consumption. The amount
of electricity required to refine and distribute gasoline actually
exceeds the amount of electricity used directly to drive electric
cars an equivalent distance. Oil refineries are massive
electric energy consumers, and our reliance on heavy bitumen oil
sands for fuel makes these numbers even worse.
Economically, prices for the initial
runs of electric cars are higher at the moment, but they still
offer substantially reduced operating costs, and one particular,
significant difference to conventional cars. Total lifetime costs
of ownership are projected to be significantly lower than
conventional cars.
As electric technology is much more durable, electric cars will
last three to five times longer than internal combustion
cars. Depreciation, one of the greatest costs of car
ownership, is dramatically reduced as there is no appreciable
increase in repair liabilities as the car goes into its second and
subsequent decades of service.
VEVA foresees increased production,
competition and pending improvements to battery technology will
bring electric car prices down within the next decade, while at the
same time driving range will be increased.
The driver Experience of electric cars is probably the
most attractive to discerning drivers. The clatter and
vibration of engines is replaced by a smooth, silent and vibration
free motor that provides unmatchable acceleration performance in
everyday driving.
Most new electric car drivers see this as one of the most
compelling reasons to keep buying electric cars in the
future. "It's one of those things that you can never go back
once you've driven electric" Chandler stated.
Vancouver Premiere of "REVENGE" and Expert Panel
Discussion
On January 12, 2012, VEVA along with partners from Powertech
Labs and The Pembina Institute is sponsoring the Vancouver premiere
of "REVENGE OF THE ELECTRIC CAR", Chris Paine's sequel to the
popular "Who Killed the Electric Car?" of 2006. The event
will include an expert panel discussion and will be held at
Vancouver's International Village Cineplex starting at
6:30pm. For tickets go to www.veva.ca