Chevrolet and BC Hydro are placing 15 of the automaker’s newest electric vehicles into B.C. business fleets next summer in what are the latest efforts to make B.C. a leader in Canada in electric vehicle adoption.
News that 15 Chevrolet Volts will be placed into B.C. fleets follows other milestones this year in the adoption of electric vehicles in the province.
Richmond’s Novex Couriers is adding more electric vehicles to its fleet next year when Vancouver’s first order of Nissan Leafs arrives. (See “Charging infrastructure needed in B.C. to power expanding electric vehicle fleets” – BIV Business Today, June 17.)
And Vancouver’s Rapid Electric Vehicles (REV), which refits gas-powered vehicles with electric drivetrains, and Vancouver-based electrical contractor, Viridian Power, announced in August plans to wire every major Canadian city with a network of charging stations for refueling electric cars by 2012. (See “Vancouver firms partnering to deploy electric vehicles and charging stations” – BIV Business Today, August 4.)
Chevy’s Volt has a driving range of about 580 kilometres.
For the first 40 to 80 km, the vehicle drives gas-free and produces zero tailpipe-emissions by using electricity stored in the battery.
When the battery runs low, an engine-generator engages to provide electricity, extending the Volt’s driving range by about 500 kilometres.
BC Hydro said it will add two of the 15 vehicles to its own fleet. BC Hydro also said B.C.’s hybrid adoption rate is 2.5 times higher than other provinces.
Chevrolet said last week the Volt would come to Canada in the third quarter of 2011.
Its launch markets in Canada are Vancouver, Victoria, Montreal, Quebec City, Oshawa, Toronto and Ottawa-Gatineau.
Canadian pricing for the Volt has not yet been announced.