Dear Premier,
As noted from the Toronto Star July 28th “Province studying electric cars”, the Transportation Minister Jim Bradley was quoted that “””….The main concern is safety features, said Bradley: Low-speed electric vehicles meet only a handful of the 40 safety standards required by Transport Canada, and Ontario wants to determine exactly what safety features may be required on the nearly silent vehicles…”””
I don’t understand. Transport Canada in November of 2007 gave approval to ZENN cars and we’ve just been waiting (and waiting) for MTO to give it’s approval.
I ride a bicycle and I don’t go 50 km/h and am perfectly legal to ride, so the “regulations” have to be suitable to the vehicle.
It’s clear that Ontario is engaging in foot dragging and will not just open the doors to electric vehicles. What’s the big deal? So a lesser speed car is limited to a lower limit. That was complicated was it?
It remains that Canadians are not allowed to drive Canadian cars. Please rectify this as soon as possible so that we may yet have clean air and reduced death due to smog based on technology that WE MAKE.
Here’s a clip from youtube about a nano battery for SUV’s in the USA. Ontario needs to move QUICKLY to make sure we DON”T miss our opportunity to make Ontario a location for green technology. Thus providing a glimmer of opportunity to the people of Oshawa as well.
Please start moving forward before it’s the one year anniversary of the Transport Canada approval. Please allow Ontario to succeed, for it’s not industry we need to wait for, it’s the gov’t of Ontario.
Thank you
Walter
Toronto Star article :: http://www.thestar.com/News/Ontario/article/468367
Premier Website Form :: https://www.premier.gov.on.ca/feedback/feedback.asp
By: energyblog on August 3, 2008
at 6:46 pm
sent a follow-up email requesting the 40 regulations in question by the Transportation Minister Jim Bradley.
By: energyblog on August 3, 2008
at 6:59 pm
canada has a large supply of sand oil, which costs them under 20.00 a barrel to produce. I think the us gets 40 to 80% of it’s oil from canada. why would canada want electric car?
By: bill bucek on August 3, 2008
at 9:36 pm
a majority of the country does not receive tar sands oil. It’s made in the West and sold to the USA. There’s not even a pipeline linking the country together. For example, Quebec although rich in hydro-electricity still imports 90% of it’s oil needs.
Electric cars on the usage end at least don’t pollute, thus reducing the amount of smog days in a city and reduce stress for those with breathing problems. I’m one of these.
Also the electricity can be generated locally, thus removing or reducing the need for imports. A lot of these cars are made here in Ontario or Quebec so it would also support local jobs.
The American nano battery (link in post above) is pretty cool in that it can be charged in 10 minutes, thus making it a very practical and useful product over Canadian made electric cars.
It’s a new industry and we should be open to it rather than stifle new green tech.
oh, and it would be cheap to fuel.
the list goes on 😉
By: energyblog on August 4, 2008
at 8:23 am
Link to nano battery :: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-Zv5RFgmWY
By: energyblog on August 4, 2008
at 8:24 am
.:{Reply from Premier’s Office received Monday August 18th, 2008}:.
Thank you for your online message about the use of electric vehicles on
Ontario’s roads. I appreciate the time you took to share your comments
with me.
I commend you for your support of green technology. Our government
supports green initiatives. In fact, electric vehicles that meet federal
passenger vehicle standards can already travel on Ontario roads.
While we support fuel efficient and environmentally friendly vehicles,
we also want vehicles that are safe on our roads. Low-speed vehicles
(LSVs) have a top speed of 40 kilometres per hour, however, they meet
only three of the 40 vehicle safety standards required by cars.
Before we would consider LSVs on our roads, we need to be sure that
these vehicles can safely interact with other types of vehicles. That is
why, starting in September 2006, we began a five-year pilot test of LSVs
in provincial and municipal parks and conservation areas to see how
safely these vehicles can operate in a controlled environment. This
pilot will help us get a better sense of where these vehicles should be
allowed to operate and who should be allowed to operate them.
As you may know, the Zenn Motor Company recently received the National
Safety Mark from Transport Canada under the LSV class, meaning it can be
imported into Canada or sold between provinces as an LSV. It also means
that the Zenn is now approved to participate in the provincial pilot
program.
Thanks again for contacting me about this important issue. Ontario’s
roads are among the safest in North America, and we remain committed to
making them even safer.
Dalton McGuinty
Premier of Ontario
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By: energyblog on August 18, 2008
at 1:12 pm
.:{Reply back to Premier’s Office webforum via http://www.premier.gov.on.ca/feedback/default.asp}:.
Thank you for the email, however it did not really answer my questions. I’ll note these questions based on your reply for reference:
“””…Low-speed vehicles
(LSVs) have a top speed of 40 kilometres per hour, however, they meet
only three of the 40 vehicle safety standards required by cars….”””
Ok. What are the 3 points that were met? What are the 40 points that were not met? Please be specific.
“””…Before we would consider LSVs on our roads, we need to be sure that
these vehicles can safely interact with other types of vehicles. That is
why, starting in September 2006, we began a five-year pilot test of LSVs
in provincial and municipal parks and conservation areas to see how
safely these vehicles can operate in a controlled environment. …”””
If the aim is to test the car with other vehicles then why are you testing them in a park??? I’m sure you can find plenty of cities or smaller towns (ie: Toronto who would love to be the test city since it would reduce pollution immediately, or Guelph; which has been used for lots of testing before.) Parks are too remote to generate any public interest and questions the credibility of the test. You could then decide to what extent any speed limitation would limit the vehicle in real life.
As a followup question; have you or any of your ministers toured the ZENN auto plant or taken a ride in a ZENN car? Surely you have done so for an American car plant, why not a Canadian one?
“””…As you may know, the Zenn Motor Company recently received the National
Safety Mark from Transport Canada under the LSV class, meaning it can be
imported into Canada or sold between provinces as an LSV. It also means
that the Zenn is now approved to participate in the provincial pilot
program….”””
This was in November of 2007. We’re coming up to the one year anniversary. This is unprecedented for a province to hold up so long on accepting a National Safety Mark. Can you cite other examples where after receiving a National Safety Mark the Province of Ontario took a further 5 years to put the vehicle on hold before allowing it on the roads? Please be specific.
Thank you
Walter
By: energyblog on August 18, 2008
at 1:14 pm
forwarded my questions to gsmitherman.mpp@liberal.ola.org (George Smitherman) who also happens to be the MPP for Toronto Centre where I live. He’s the minister of Energy and Infrastructure.
By: energyblog on August 18, 2008
at 1:29 pm
awesome links on Barry Taylor’s blog at TheEdge 102 here
http://www.edge.ca/Blogs/BTsBlog/BlogEntry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10004322
This is turning into a movement. Call/Email your MPP today.
By: energyblog on August 18, 2008
at 2:03 pm
.:{Reply back from Premier’s Office August 28th 2008}:.
dmcguinty@premier.gov.on.ca
Thu, Aug 28, 2008 at 11:00 AM
Thanks for your further online message regarding electric vehicles. I’m always interested in hearing about the things that matter most to Ontarians.
I appreciate the issue you raised. As it would best be addressed by the Honourable Jim Bradley, Minister of Transportation, I have forwarded a copy of your correspondence to him. Either the minister or a member of his staff will provide you with a response.
Thanks again for contacting me. My colleagues and I will continue our work to make Ontario the best it can be for present and future generations.
Dalton McGuinty
Premier of Ontario
c: The Honourable Jim Bradley
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Please note that this e-mail account is not monitored. For further inquiries, please direct your online message through
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Confidentiality Warning: This e-mail contains information intended only for the use of the individual named above. If you have received this e-mail in error,
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By: energyblog on August 28, 2008
at 8:34 pm
Wow, 10 days to get forwarded to MTO. I anticipate more amazing form emails.
By: energyblog on August 28, 2008
at 8:35 pm