The City of Vancouver will get to test drive the world's first production-ready electric car, Mistubishi's i MiEV, when it makes its Canadian debut.
Mayor Gregor Robertson arrived at a press conference this morning driving a red i MiEV four-seater. The city, the provincial government and BC Hydro announced a memorandum of understanding with Mitsubishi to add one demonstration car to BC Hydro’s fleet and one to the city's fleet.
Officials aren't sure when this could happen, but Robertson said he was hopeful that Vancouver would have an i MiEV in use in time for the Olympics.
Robertson said the car was "sporty and peppy, but felt safe," and said the vehicles will bring the city one step closer to becoming the greenest city in the world. Vancouver was the first municipality in Canada to change local building and parking bylaws to allow for plug-in vehicles.
The i MiEV is powered with lithium-ion batteries and can travel 120 kilometers on a full charge. They will go on sale in Japan this summer, retailing for approximately CND $35,000, but still have to pass federal safety testing here.
Koji Soga, CEO of Mitsubishi Motor Sales Canada, said Vancouver is a good Canadian pilot city for the vehicle because it is compact and has a mild climate.
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G West
3 years ago
Two cars???
My they are going all out aren't they?
How many actual hybrid vehicles did the government's forgotten promise actually involve?
You can check the stats here:
http://www.hybridexperience.ca/Toyota_Prius_Fuel_Performance.htm#2004Prius
I think you'll find there are 6 2004 Prius's in the program.
The commitment, you'll remember, was that every vehicle purchased for the fleet after the budget announcement in 2005/06 was going to be a hybrid.
I've seen an awful lot of shiny new govt' vehicles on the road - not many new hybrids though...
Must have offended somebody in the New CAR DEALERS OF BC ginger group I guess.
Dan the socialist
3 years ago
I hope Mistubishi pursues
I hope Mistubishi pursues this and it does not go the way like the one from Ford did..Even now there is a market for these cars, it may be small but eventually it will increase as more vehicles are produced and prices come down.
snert
3 years ago
Uh Oh!
"Koji Soga, CEO of Mitsubishi Motor Sales Canada, said Vancouver is a good Canadian pilot city for the vehicle because it is compact and has a mild climate."
Wilfred Laurier
3 years ago
Garth....
"I've seen an awful lot of shiny new govt' vehicles on the road - not many new hybrids though..."
Garth, hybrids make people feel good but with the extra cost and CO2 emissions to build them they really aren't very green.
Finally, Garth, I believe the article was pointing to the city of Vancouver, not the province.
G West
3 years ago
That's not the point Wilfrid
The budget made a promise to do something the government failed subsequently to do - this should come as no surprise to anyone - the CEO doesn't care and lying has become second nature to the man.
I could care less how you feel - the promise covered all new vehicle purchase and leases - not just in Vancouver - the prospect of the government buying all those Toyotas obviously put a burr under the saddle of the CEO's friends in the New Car Dealers Association - and the initiative has dropped like a rock into deep water.
As will, no doubt, every single pander payment promise the CEO has handed out to much PAB bumpf over the past 6 weeks.
Perhaps you should have a look at this:
http://www.news.gov.bc.ca/?organisation_obj_id=govwide
I think you'll find it interesting - just exactly what YOUR government is doing with your money to buy votes.