Electric Car Canada

The REVAi electric car

With so much discussion around climate change you would think the world would be galvanized into action. The unfortunate reality is that often there is quite a time lag between a good idea and the actual implementation of a good idea. Take electric vehicles (EVs) for example – even though this technology has been around since the 1890s – way before the internal combustion engine – EVs are only now starting to drive their way into mainstream consciousness as a viable transportation option.

Believe it or not, Canada just recently had the first community amend their local bylaws to make low speed electric cars permissible on their city streets. EVs are legal in many American states, but the Canadian government has been both reluctant and slow in their efforts to embrace and promote electric car use.

The electric car initiative is one example of Council's efforts to ensure our bylaws do not impede residents who want to reduce their individual carbon footprint.
—Oak Bay Councillor Nils Jensen

Oak Bay, located on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, might seem like an unlikely spot for such a big first step, but this small municipality has been quietly greening their community step by eco-step. It started with a tree protection bylaw; soft plastic recycling, a Climate Crisis Task Force (the first of its kind in British Columbia) and then led to bylaw changes to permit urban farming with chickens and local food markets. In August 2008, Oak Bay Mayor and Council members voted unanimously to make it possible for residents to use ‘low speed’ electric vehicles. These are EVs with a maximum speed of 40 kilometres an hour, which makes them perfect for city driving.

Canada has a bit of a weird system when it comes to EV use and speed limits. There are no restrictions on electric cars capable of traveling at normal speed limits on major roads, however special provincial legislation was required for low speed zero emission vehicles. In June 2008, the legislation was amended to grant individual municipalities the ability to approve EVs for use on streets with speed limits up to, but not exceeding, 50 km/h. So far, Oak Bay is the only municipality in Canada to approve low speed EV use.

Oak Bay Municipal Councillor and Victoria Crown attorney Nils Jensen, a long-time advocate of all things green, explains that the recent approval by council of electric cars on Oak Bay streets is part of the community's mission to reduce green house gases. “Switching from gasoline powered cars to electric cars will be a significant step away from our dependence on fossil fuels,” explains Jensen. “The electric car initiative is one example of Council's efforts to ensure our bylaws do not impede residents who want to reduce their individual carbon footprint.”

EVs do not have gasoline or diesel engines, nor are they hybrids; the cars run strictly on electricity. After considering the greenhouse gases created from the electricity source used to charge the batteries and British Columbia is fortunate to have so much hydro-electric, the cars themselves actually produce zero greenhouse gas and no pollution as they travel. “This move is in keeping with our obligation as a signatory to the 2007 Municipal Climate Action Charter,” Jensen explains. “Municipalities often are in the best position to lead change through incentives and regulation.”