Representatives from CEVsforBC were at Saturday’s Giant Indoor Garage Sale at the community centre.
Clean Energy Vehicle’s for BC is a program by the provincial government intending to make clean energy vehicles more affordable for British Columbians.
“Electric vehicles get you around without adding greenhouse gases to the environment and other pollutants and they are kind of fun to drive,” said Blair Qualey, president and CEO of the New Car Dealers Association who are the administrators of the CEVsforBC program.
Qualey said that the average person overestimates how much they drive and that for most people an electric vehicle would be the perfect option to save money on gas and car maintenance as well as reducing their carbon footprint.
“I think the big key to the adoption of electric vehicles will be getting the charging infrastructure piece right,” Qualey said.
There have been government incentives for businesses and municipal governments to install charging stations, but in many cases the infrastructure was built in smart, accessible locations.
“We have a pretty good charging network for what’s out there now on the roads of electric vehicles, but if government is encouraging all of us to explore new technology including electric vehicles and try them out and take them on then they are going to have to take significant steps in terms of investing in charging infrastructure and particularly in the places where people live work and play,” Qualey said.
As for electric vehicle options, Qualey said that car manufacturers are racing to provide more options and soon he anticipates seeing electric SUVs and trucks.
“There’s an incredible number of options that people can buy but we just have to make sure that they have the comfort to know that they can charge the vehicle where they want to charge it and when,” he said.