Co-op launches its first electric vehicle!

Matthew Piggott, Member Services Coordinator, and Berry Vrbanvoic, Kitchener city councillor, check out the co-op’s first electric vehicle, a Mitsubishi i-MiEV.

The co-op officially launched its first electric vehicle, a Mitsubishi i-MiEV, at an event on Oct. 17. The vehicle was purchased in part with a $15,000 grant from the Region of Waterloo’s Community Environmental Fund.

“Through the support of the Community Environmental Fund, Grand River CarShare can continue to bring innovation to sustainable transportation in Waterloo Region,” said Jason Hammond, president. “Many people have been waiting to see how electric vehicles might fit into their lives; now that experience is available through CarShare.”

The Mitsubishi i-MiEV is charged with a level-two charging station (full charge in 7 hours), installed at the Region of Waterloo Administration Building. The vehicle has a range of up to 155 kilometres on a single charge. For CarShare members, this is more than enough to meet most of their needs, as 80 per cent of trips made on the CarShare vehicle previously stationed at the Region of Waterloo were 50kms or less. The i-MiEV excels at in-town trips, with a fuel mileage equivalency of 1.9L/100kms in the city.

Grand River CarShare’s i-MiEV is also bullfrogpowered with 100% green electricity. This means that Bullfrog Power injects carbon-free green power onto the Ontario grid to match the amount of electricity the co-op uses (including at the co-op’s office). All of the electricity injected on the co-op’s behalf is sourced exclusively from wind and low-impact hydro power producers who meet or exceed EcoLogo standards for renewable energy.

“By charging our i-MiEV with renewable electricity, CarShare members can reduce their impact more than ever before,” Mr. Hammond said. “With this vehicle purchase, the co-op continues to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as CarShare members drive less and own fewer cars than the average citizen.”

***

Check out CTV Kitchener’s news coverage of the co-op’s new EV: Community CarShare adds electric vehicle