The City of New Westminster is buying an electric vehicle as part of its plan to reduce greenhouse gases.
The city's corporate energy and greenhouse gas emission management plan aims to reduce fleet emission by 11 per cent (from 2007 levels) by 2017. In an effort to meet those goals, the city has identified the need to look at the feasibility of using alternatively fueled vehicles, such as electric vehicles, in the city's fleet.
Council has directed staff to buy one electric vehicle as part of the city's vehicle replacement program, and to apply for provincial funding to support the installation of electric vehicle charging stations at city facilities.
"The city is going to be looking to buy an electric vehicle in next year's budget," said Coun. Jonathan Cote. "We have several vehicles that need to be replaced next year."
Cote said a decision hasn't yet been made about what vehicle in the city's fleet will be replaced with an electric vehicle, but one suggestion has been a "pool" vehicle that is shared by various departments and used as needed.
A staff report states that purchasing an electric vehicle could cost $33,000 to $50,000. The city will be applying for provincial funds to help reduce the cost of buying the vehicle.
In addition, it's estimated that the cost of installing charging stations at three potential locations could be about $24,000. Again, the city hopes to get provincial funding to offset some of these cots.
"Incorporating electric vehicles into the city's fleet and providing initial charging stations within the city will help to put New Westminster alongside other leading municipalities in preparing for the B.C.wide deployment of electric vehicles," said a staff report. "These and other initiatives included in the low carbon fleet policy and city plans will advance the realization of the city emission reduction commitments."
The report noted that the goal is that having electric vehicles and charging stations in the city will inspire residents and business to switch to cleaner emission vehicles.
"That would be a good opportunity to test it out and see how it worked in the vehicle fleet," Cote said.
