Renewable Gossip

Vancouver is the first North American city to mandate EV charging infrastructure in new homes. Photo via Mscheltgen.

In recent weeks, the city of Vancouver and the province of Ontario have taken bold steps toward the electrification of Canadian automobiles. Ontario agreed to provide subsidies of up to $10,000 toward the purchase of electric vehicles, while Vancouver passed an ordinance mandating that 10 percent of parking spots in new condominiums be outfitted with electric vehicle charging stations.

Though neither law will ensure the success of plug-in cars in Canada, they show a genuine determination on the part of a coalition of city planners, lawmakers, businesses, and green car activists to lead the world in electric vehicle adoption. So far, at least from a policy standpoint, they’re getting results.

Five Percent By 2020

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty.

When Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty chose a Chevrolet factory as the site for the announcement that his province would be offering subsidies that could reduce the cost of a Chevy Volt by 25 percent, critics cried foul. Ontario owns approximately 3.9 percent of General Motors, and the incentives are timed to roughly coincide with the release of the Volt, so many accused McGuinty of “picking winners and losers” with green car technology.

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