PLUG-IN VEHICLES SPARK A GREENER FUTURE

DAWSON CREEK – The Province is continuing its commitment to curbing greenhouse gas emissions by converting nine more plug-in vehicles and adding related monitoring equipment around B.C., Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources Minister Blair Lekstrom announced today.

“As communities across the province, like my hometown Dawson Creek, move towards reducing greenhouse gases, plug-in vehicles could be one part of the solution,” said Lekstrom. “Plug-in vehicles will help us to reduce our dependence on imported fuel while utilizing local renewable energy resources to power our transportation.”

These nine Toyota Prius vehicles, including cars in Dawson Creek, Penticton and Kelowna, are in addition to the initial four vehicles announced in November 2008.

The $135,000 investment to convert the nine cars is part of the broader $400,000 Plug-in Vehicle Program announced in November 2008 and led by the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources. The program is managed by a working group, led by the Province that 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, and we already operate the largest fleet of hybrid electric vehicles in North America.”

The program has five key areas of focus, which includes vehicle deployment, charging infrastructure, technical studies, policy development and outreach and marketing. Since the start of the program, the working group has been successful in deploying 15 plug-in vehicles throughout the province and working with stakeholders to develop charging infrastructure guidelines and policies. In addition, it has completed studies on impacts and opportunities for plug-in vehicles in British Columbia, developed strategic partnerships with industry and other jurisdictions and worked with major auto manufacturers.

The City of Dawson Creek has set greenhouse gas reduction targets of 14 per cent below 2006 levels by 2012. Dawson Creek also has a green vehicle policy that commits the city to reduce vehicle emissions in 2016 by 20 per cent below 2006 levels. The introduction of the plug-in Toyota Prius supports these targets and will also test this technology in a northern climate.

“This initiative is in line with our community’s progression to becoming sustainable, energy self sufficient and carbon neutral,” said Mike Bernier, mayor of Dawson Creek.

The conversion of the nine Toyota Prius vehicles to plug-in was done by REV technologies in Vancouver. The plug-in conversion effectively doubles the economy of the Prius to over 100 MPG or 2.35L / 100km with up to 60 km of electric-assisted driving.

The increased use of plug-in 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 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

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