Since the release of the documentary Who Killed the Electric Car? in 2006, North Americans have been speculating about the future of technology as it relates to their beloved automobile.
Director Chris Paine's insightful film, narrated by Martin Sheen, investigates the birth and death of the electric car, as well as the role of renewable energy and sustainable living in the future.
Fast forward to 2012, and thanks to forward-thinking individuals, and fortuitously for the driving population, electricity as a power source for vehicles has been resurrected. But both the vehicles and the commuting requirements of consumers need to be considered, along with the environmental impact and the potential cost savings over using fossil fuels.
But these new battery-laden vehicles must be charged by electricity, and the bigger the batteries are, the more time it takes to charge them, and power to do it. New and traditional sources for electric power include hydroelectric, wind turbine, solar and burning coal.
Fortunately in B.C., hydroelectric power is currently plentiful, so we are able to take care of recharging said batteries without a lot of trouble, aside from erecting the necessary infrastructure (such as charging stations in condos or workplaces) to provide convenience in a fast-paced world.
Locally, the electric avenues are filling up, slowly but surely. At the recent Vancouver International Auto Show, the showcase of fully electric, extended range electrics and hybrid cars and SUV's were plentiful, as were displays of incentive programs and charging solutions.
The major players in the marketplace include the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf. These vehicles have about a 40k price-point, out of reach for many consumers at the moment. In effect, the first wave of buyers ends up paying for the research, design and technology that facilitated the car's launch. It's tough to convince a new car buyer to hand over 'x' when they can pick up a new, fuel-efficient small family car for half the price.
Then there are the high-end electrics, like the Fisker Karma, which hits the triple-digits. A dealership has just opened in Vancouver on West Fifth Avenue (fiskerofvancouver.com), if drivers care to sniff out electric bliss.
But in order to plug in, automobile buyers have to buy in. The Clean Energy Vehicles for B.C. (cevforbc.ca) program is a good start, where consumers can apply for the CEV Incentive Program through local dealerships that sell or lease qualifying new battery electric, fuel cell, plug-in hybrid electric, or compressed natural gas vehicles. Offering $5,000 off the pre-tax price per eligible clean energy vehicle, it's an incentive to contribute to B.C.'s carbon neutral achievements and greener transportation options.
