B.C.'s popular Clean Energy Vehicle (CEV) Program is getting an extra jolt from the implementation of the $2.74-million Community Charging Infrastructure Fund that will see 570 public charging stations across municipalities, regional governments, First Nations, and B.C. businesses and institutions by March 31, 2013, Minister of Environment Terry Lake announced today.

The Community Charging Infrastructure Fund will be managed, promoted and administered by the non-profit Fraser Basin Council.

"The growing need for compatible infrastructure is clear," said Lake. "Since its launch in December last year, B.C.'s incentive program has resulted in one CEV being sold every 30 hours in this province. That's 104 British Columbians who are embracing new, green technology that not only reduces GHG emissions, but helps our clean-tech sector."

The Province will also continue to grow the green highway from B.C. to California with three Level 3 DC Fast Charging Stations deployed in the coming months, and another 27 Level 3 DC Fast Charging Stations installed throughout the province in the future. These fast chargers will allow electric vehicle owners to recharge in approximately 15 to 20 minutes, and will extend the mobility options for these drivers. These new investments come on the heels of a $261, 000-partnership contribution earlier this year by the Province to the City of Vancouver to help install over 67 electric vehicle charging stations throughout the city.

"The Fraser Basin Council is proud to partner with the government of B.C. and our regional and business partners to help build the infrastructure of our future," said David Marshall, executive director of the council. "This program is a good example of innovation and leadership in advancing sustainability."

"The new car dealers are looking forward to the next CEV milestone as our partners continue to move clean cars into people's driveways," said Blair Qualey of the New Car Dealers Association of B.C. "The charging stations will help ensure the new electric vehicle is even more appealing."

On Nov. 5, 2011, Lake announced $17 million in funding for clean-energy vehicles, infrastructure, home charging stations and the BC SCRAP-IT Society. The Clean Energy Vehicle point-of-sale incentive program provides up to $5,000 off the pre-tax sticker price for qualifying new battery electric, fuel-cell electric, plug-in hybrid electric and compressed-natural-gas vehicles.

Quick Facts:

• The Clean Energy Vehicle Program is a comprehensive program designed to provide British Columbians with a variety of clean and green choices for the transportation needs.

• To date, B.C. represents over 22 per cent of the national electric vehicle sales for the Nissan Leaf, reaffirming British Columbia as a market leader in the clean energy vehicle market.

• Hydrogen-fuel-cell electric vehicles and pure battery-powered electric vehicles have zero tailpipe emissions.

• Battery-powered electric vehicles should cost as little as $300 per year in electricity bills compared to upwards of $1,500 per year to fuel a gasoline-powered car.

• In March 2011, Mercedes-Benz Canada announced plans to build a new facility in Burnaby to manufacture fuel-cell stacks for hydrogen-fuel-cell electric vehicles.

• The Fraser Basin Council Society is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization established in 1997 to promote action-oriented, sustainable projects throughout the Fraser River Basin.

Learn More:

BC Newsroom - Ministry of Environment: http://www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/ministries/environment-1

CEVforBC website: http://www.cevforbc.ca/

LiveSmart BC: http://www.livesmartbc.ca

New Car Dealers Association of B.C.: www.newcardealers.ca

Fraser Basin Council Society: http://www.fraserbasin.bc.ca/index.html

BC Hydro Electric Vehicles website: http://www.bchydro.com/about/our_commitment/sustainability/plugin_vehicles.html

BC Green Economy: http://www.bcge.ca/BCs_Green_Economy.pdf

A backgrounder follows.

Contact:

Suntanu Dalal
Communications
Ministry of Environment
250 387-9745

BACKGROUNDER

B.C. green programs for clean energy transportation

The CEV for BC and the infrastructure funding is all part of the Province's Clean Energy Vehicle Program announced last November. This program is part of B.C.'s green economy and the Province's commitment to maintain leadership in climate-action policy.

The CEV programs include:

• Point-of-sale incentives of between $2,500 and $5,000 on eligible clean-energy vehicles including the Nissan Leaf, Mitsubishi iMiEV, Tesla Roadster, Toyota Prius, Chevrolet Volt, light-duty natural gas vehicles, light-duty hydrogen-fuel-cell electric vehicles and other qualifying vehicles bought or leased on or after Dec. 1, 2011.

• Rebates of up to $500 per unit for residential electric charging stations that meet identified eligibility requirements for any charging equipment purchased on or after Dec. 1, 2011

• $6.28 million in infrastructure funding for electric vehicle charging points and upgrading existing hydrogen fuelling stations.

The funding provided is expected to:

• Provide B.C. consumers with more affordable clean-energy transportation options.

• As part of the BC Jobs Plan, continue to champion B.C.'s leadership in advancing emerging clean-energy vehicle technology, including made-in-B.C. hydrogen fuelling and grid-integrated efficient-charging infrastructure.

• Increase investment and employment in B.C.-based businesses that sell new cars, develop clean-vehicle technologies, build the infrastructure and provide more transportation options for consumers.

• Encourage car manufacturers to choose British Columbia when developing and deploying new clean-energy technology.

B.C.'s Clean-Tech Sector

• B.C. is a global leader in the hydrogen and fuel-cell transportation sector, which includes:
• BC Transit's 20 hydrogen-fuel-cell buses.
• The Automotive Fuel Cell Cooperation that employs 200 people.
• Mercedes-Benz's planned fuel-cell manufacturing facility and the HTEC North Vancouver Hydrogen Liquefaction project that will supply made-in-B.C. clean hydrogen throughout the Pacific Northwest.
• B.C.'s strong research, testing and development expertise in clean transportation, with organizations such as Powertech Labs, British Columbia Institute of Technology, University of Victoria and University of British Columbia globally recognized in this sector.
• $5.5 million from the federal government for research on Low Platinum PEM Fuel Cells (Hydrogen Cells) research at Simon Fraser University in partnerships with Automotive Fuel Cell Corp., Ballard Power Systems, Hyteon Inc., BIC Inc., GM Canada and Hydrogenics.

• With burgeoning technology in electric-vehicle components and integration, including Delta Q Technologies and Rapid Electric Vehicles, the future is bright for green technology in the province.

• The green, clean economy is estimated to be worth almost $2.5 trillion dollars globally. Growth suggests the sector will grow to between $20.1 and $27.4 billion in 2020.

Currently, there are about 166,000 full-time clean-tech jobs in B.C. and the green labour force growth is projected to be 1.5 per cent, which indicates that B.C. could face a worker shortage of 60,000 by 2020.

These programs are designed to accelerate the adoption of clean-energy vehicles. These qualifying vehicles can be powered by natural gas, hydrogen or electricity as their primary source of fuel.

Contact:

Suntanu Dalal
Communications
Ministry of Environment
250 387-9745