Fossill-Fueled Car on the Horizon in Manitoba

Dave Chomiak, Minister of Manitoba Innovation, Energy and Mines shows off the all electric Mitsubishi i-MiEV, on the eve of Earth Day, as he launched Manitoba's Electric Vehicle Road Map to help the province adopt electric and hybrid vehicles, reduce dependence on fossil fuels and take advantage of the economic opportunities of electric transportation.
April 21, 2011

MANITOBA UNVEILS ROADMAP TO FOSSIL-FREE FUTURE: CHOMIAK

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Province Partners with Mitsubishi to Study All-electric Vehicles Under Full Range of Weather Conditions

On the eve of Earth Day, Manitoba is launching an Electric Vehicle Road Map that will help it adopt electric and hybrid vehicles, reduce dependence on fossil fuels and take advantage of the economic opportunities of electric transportation, Innovation, Energy and Mines Minister Dave Chomiak said today.
“Manitoba is ideally positioned to take the first steps toward a fossil-free future,” Chomiak said.  “The road map outlines the opportunity to reduce Manitoba’s dependency on imported fossil fuel and helps showcase the significant economic opportunities available to the province as it pioneers the development, testing and use of all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.”
Much of the infrastructure that will support widespread adoption of electric vehicles in Manitoba is already in place, said Chomiak.  Manitoba has more than 500,000 existing recharging outlets, it has clean, low-cost electricity and Manitobans have already shown their ability to plug in their vehicles.
To take this a step further, Manitoba today signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada, which enables the company to use Manitoba as a proving ground in the further development of its global i-MiEV electric vehicle.  The testing, demonstrating and publicizing of electric vehicles in Manitoba will ensure Manitobans have a better understanding of the technologies and their benefits, Chomiak said.
“Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada is pleased to be part of Manitoba's provincial electric vehicle strategy and is delighted to introduce our two i-MiEVs to the province,” said Koji Soga, president and CEO, Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada.  “Today is symbolic of a cleaner, better future for Manitoba.”
The province also is committed to establishing an advisory committee on electric transportation that will identify roadblocks to the accelerated introduction of electric vehicles in Manitoba.  The committee will look at potential barriers such as insurance considerations, electric grid impacts, electricity consumption and cold-weather performance, as well as business opportunities, regulatory changes and more.
“Manitobans will gain much as early champions of adopting electrically powered  transportation,” said Conservation Minister Bill Blaikie.  “It will not only put gas savings in our pockets and reduce our greenhouse-gas emissions, but will also give us a head start in developing innovative, green, high‑tech industries that produce everything from electric buses to batteries and the products that support them.”

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