INNOVATORS AROUND B.C. PLUG INTO ELECTRIC VEHICLES

VICTORIA – The Province is investing nearly $400,000 to support plug-in electric vehicles and related monitoring equipment around B.C., Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources Minister Richard Neufeld and Labour and Citizens’ Services Minister Iain Black announced today.

“By expanding the range of clean energy vehicle technologies available to consumers, we can help achieve our goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 33 per cent by 2020,” said Neufeld. “Schools, communities, and businesses around the province are leading a grassroots effort to innovate to reduce emissions and tackle climate change.”

There will be up to 34 plug-in electric vehicles in operation and being monitored in British Columbia. The initial vehicles are four Toyota Prius converted to plug-in hybrid electric and two pick-up trucks converted to plug-in battery electric.

“By converting government’s vehicle fleet to plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, we are showing commitment to sustainable transportation and infrastructure,” said Black. “Through the use of new technologies, I am confident government will achieve its goal of being carbon neutral by 2010.”

The investment is part of a broader plug-in electric vehicle program led by the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources. The program has the plug-in electric transportation working group, led by the Province, and includes the ministries of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, Transportation and Infrastructure, Environment, and Labour and Citizens’ Services, as well as the Climate Action Secretariat, City of Vancouver, Green Fleets BC, BC Hydro, the British Columbia Transmission Corporation and the University of Victoria’s Institute for Integrated Energy Systems.

“Plug-in electric vehicles represent an important step towards cleaner transportation,” said Environment Minister Barry Penner. “The B.C. government is paving the way for this transition by promoting other electric and low-emission vehicle technologies.”

The working group will:

Complete technical studies on impacts and opportunities for plug-in vehicles in the electricity system, using models and data collected from the program vehicles.
Deliver a government-developed policy paper with public input that includes policy recommendations related to plug-in electric transportation.
Work with industry, educational institutions and other stakeholders to support the deployment of additional plug-in vehicles and related charging infrastructure throughout the province.
Work with local educational institutions and industry to support local capacity in the plug-in electric transportation sector.

“This is a great chance to look at the opportunities for plug-in vehicles in B.C.’s transportation system while reducing our fleet’s emissions in the short term,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Kevin Falcon. “This puts our province in the vanguard when it comes to alternative transportation technology.”

The increased use of plug-in electric vehicle technology is part of a broader sustainable energy strategy that will help the Province reach its goal of curbing greenhouse gas emissions by 33 per cent by 2020. In addition, plug-in electric vehicles support the Province’s goal as outlined in the speech from the throne to reduce the carbon intensity of all passenger vehicles by 10 per cent by 2020.

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1 backgrounder(s) attached.
Media contact:	Jake Jacobs Public Affairs Officer Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources 250 952-0628 250 213-6934 (cell)	Rob Duffus Communications Director Ministry of Labour and Citizens' Services 250 387-3134 250 812-2433

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