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Who Wants an Electric Car?

Posted by: Michael Dudley

9 March 2008 - 11:00am

After opting to use an electric car instead of repairing her Volvo, Cori Howard wonders if the electric car has a future.

"There are currently 20 electric cars on public roads in British Columbia and 10 more in private areas. [They are] only allowed to go up to 40 kilometres an hour. The IT can't go on roads, bridges or highways with speed limits above 50 km/h. This is according to federal Department of Transportation legislation that has only been adopted in British Columbia. (Ontario and Quebec have both recently expressed an interest in fast-tracking low-speed vehicle legislation, but no further action has been taken.) The speed restrictions are based on safety concerns; the vehicle has never been crash-tested.

But there are limitations beyond the speed. The electric car only travels 50 kilometres before running out of juice. After that, you have to plug it into an electrical outlet overnight.

For driving around a 10-block radius, this car is great. But it's still not reliable or useful. If it can't make it across town for drinks with friends or to a hockey game, what's the point? And I can't quite envision a near future with electrical outlets stationed all over the city for a quick plug-in.

Until the electric car goes faster and farther, my Volvo doesn't seem like such a bad ride for me and my family."

Full Story: Stalling out on Electric Avenue
Source: The Globe and Mail, March 4, 2008
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