Vancouver to embrace electric cars

Canada is currently not the friendliest place for electric car owners. Currently, due to crash test ratings, EV’s are restricted to a top speed of 40 km/h (25 mph) — placing the cars in league with farm tractors. This low top speed has made them illegal to drive on public roads, which makes owning one a little pointless.

Vancouver is now thinking differently. As part of the cities green campaign, Vancouver became the first major Canadian city to pass a bylaw to allow city electric cars. The car are allowed on all streets with a posted speed limit of 50 km/h or lower. This allows the owners of electric vehicles to utilize any street in Vancouver. The major glitch is that all major bridges are posted at 60 km/h, meaning no one can get into, or out of, downtown Vancouver. Don Chandler, president of the Vancouver Electric Vehicle Association, has proposed an idea of allowing electric cars in the right lane of multi-lane bridges. Even the idea of building a special lane on highways is being kicked around.

Vancouver has also passed another bylaw that requires provision for EV plugs in all new single family homes. They are also looking to retrofit old buildings to accommodate current home owners, as well as place charging stations in parking garages around the city.

Hopefully Vancouver has created a path that other cities will soon follow.