BC Hydro looks to electric-car future with development of guidelines
VANCOUVER – BC Hydro is developing guidelines for the infrastructure required for charging electric vehicles at homes, businesses and on public streets to ensure the province is prepared for the commercialization of plug-in electric vehicles.
Major auto manufacturers have announced plans to introduce electric models in thecoming year, and early forecasts suggest anywhere from 10 to 60% of new vehicles purchased by 2025 will be electric vehicles.
"As British Columbia moves towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions by one third by 2020, electric vehicles will be a part of the solution," said Blair Lekstrom, Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources. "Clean electric vehicles will help us to reduce our dependence on imported fuel while utilizing local renewable energy resources to power our transportation."
The potential of electric cars to reduce provincial greenhouse gas emissions is significant because transportation accounts for 38% of provincial emissions.
After a competitive call for proposals, BC Hydro has contracted Electric Transportation Engineering Corporation (eTec), a subsidiary of ECOtality, to detail the necessary actions for deploying electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
"This will allow BC Hydro to anticipate the potential introduction of clean electric vehicles throughout B.C.," said Bob Elton, BC Hydro President and CEO. "By proactively determining the appropriate guidelines for electric vehicles charging infrastructure, BC Hydro is streamlining the process for consumer adoption of clean electric vehicles."
The guidelines developed by eTec will result in an industry blueprint for implementing infrastructure and installing the appropriate equipment for electric vehicles. BC Hydro anticipates the report on the guidelines to be completed by the end of April.
The project is part of the Plug-In Vehicle Program led by the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources that will test vehicles that rely primarily on electricity rather than fossil fuels as an energy source. The program includes BC Hydro, the B.C. Transmission Corporation, the City of Vancouver and others.
Source: BC Hydro News
Contact:
Simi Heer
BC Hydro Media Relations
Phone: 604 623 3963