The Transition Salt Spring - EV Group is:
  
Jim Standen - TESLA Model Y, Team Lead, media, web site, EV registrations, interface with Victoria EV Association, SSI Chamber of Commerce, automotive dealers.
Barbara Dempster - CHEVROLET BOLT, FIAT 500e, Team Lead Backup, Charger expert, Exchange interface. Vancouver EV Association and CRD interface.
Markus Wenzel - TESLA MODEL 3, financial considerations.
John Holmes - NISSAN LEAF, ice conversions, public EV charger support.
Ky Fox - NISSAN LEAF, entertainment coordinator.
Dennis Fortin - BMW-i3, EV 101 instructor, on-line / local and tourism charger maps (ie. Gulf Islander Magazine).
Tom Mitchell - NISSAN LEAF, special events (like parades and Green Drinks).  Anti-plastic group interface.
David Elderton - NISSAN LEAF, electronics and e-bikes.  Islands Pathways interface.
Ron Watts - KIA SOUL EV, Event Photography, Community Energy Group Society Interface.
John Newton - NISSAN LEAF, Emission Statistics
Peter Lamb - NISSAN LEAF, Events, Emission Statistics.

         Our team mantra’s are: "make every hour of effort count", “Keep the EV conversation going” and “have LOTS of fun with our mission”.   All EV Group members drive EV's.  

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                            ACHIEVEMENTS - 2023
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Summary:  A very good start to the year, ......

1.   EDUCATION and PUBLIC AWARENESS:
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           Jan 6.  TSSEC opens their doors to Electric Vehicle loans.  This follows the 2022 decision to provide EV charger loans.

           Not an EV Group project, but first electric bus arrived on SSI.

          Earthquake report distributed to Gary Holman, Mitchell Sherrin, CEG and John Wakefield.  And helped organize an earthquake specialist to come to the Salt Spring Forum March 26.  EV's could play an important role in the post-earthquake recovery.

           Driftwood/SS Exchange Article.  "Will global EV use break the electrical grid" ?  Article well received.

           Driftwood/SS Exchange Article.  "Island Savings EV Charger" ?  Article well received

          Island Maps, tourist center list, Gulf Islander magazine.  Reviewed and updated.

           Monthly.  Supported Green Drinks.  Education on all Transition Salt Spring and Community Energy Society topics


2.   INFRASTRUCTURE:
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           Jan - April.  Worked with the Community Energy Society to provide EV charging at the IWAV project.  Initially, to ensure that adequate conduit is in place for the subsequent EV installation.  And seeking out donors for the chargers (Real Estate Agents: Julian Bruce and Kelly Regan).

           Jan - April.  Lobbied both the board and key project leads on installing conduit at the new fire hall.  The key is to provide resilience as the workers confront the effects of fires and earthquakes.  Based on a recent CRD report, a combination of Solar/Battery/Starlink and EV charging is desirable.  All those components would be separate projects at a later date.

           Jan - April.  Stealth lobbied the new hospital expansion for Solar/battery/Starlink/EV Charging

           Jan.  Lobbied for fee-for service High Speed DCFC charging at a local popular destination.  Details not available at this time.

======================================= October 4th Report ============================

EV Group Report (Barb, Tom, Markus, Peter, David, John N, John H, Dennis, Ron, Ky, Jim)


LEVEL 2 CHARGING

 Welcomed the new 2 free (for now) public chargers at the Swimming Pool.  We now have 20 free Level 2 public chargers on Salt Spring Island.  Thank you to Gary Holman, Dan Ovington and the CRD.

We addressed the issue of free charging station connection J1772 faults, potentially leading to very expensive repairs to the host charger and client EV.  This work was required to try to head off the potential for “problem creep”  For additional information, see the article at: https://saltspringexchange.com/2023/03/29/ev-charging-failure-to-connect/.  The article was well received.  We took the following steps:
       - reported the issue in the Driftwood and Salt Spring Exchange and via the EV Owners email list
       - did a physical examination of our 20 free public chargers 
       - assisted with the Moby’s and Island Savings charger repairs
       - assisted with the issue resolution with the two owners
       - held a clinic at the Golf Course to view as many EV charging sockets as possible


DCFC CHARGING

We turned our attention to DCFC (ie. Pay-for-use Fast charging).  Our free public chargers run at 5 kw/hour.  DCFC could provide 50, 75, 100, 150, 250 or 350 Kw/h, depending on installation.  DCFC would allow charging an EV to full in a few minutes (depending on speed, model of car and DCFC charging station charging rate).  The fee could be in the order of 1/3 that of gas-oh-leene. 

We took the following steps:
     - documented the need for DCFC (taxi, delivery, charging for truck-job site use, emergency charging, loss of vehicle level 1 (trickle charger) or Level 2 charging capability)
     - made repeated connections with many levels of BC Hydro to elevate the priority for a DCFC charger onto the BC Hydro 5 year list (we were absent). Our lobbying was very successful.
     - have been engaged with select local business and organizations, Gary Holman, the crew at BC Hydro in investigating possible locations and business models.
      - Made connections between the BC Hydro Crew and potential Business Owners

EV LOANS

We worked with TSSEC to do the first low interest EV Car Loan.  We provided the funding for the loan ($5,000).  The first loan was completed in December, 2023.  It was covered by articles in the Driftwood and SS Exchange: (https://saltspringexchange.com/2024/02/07/low-interest-community-loans-available-for-new-or-used-fully-electric-vehicles/​) .  The program was expanded to loans up to $7,000.


NACS (North American Charging Standard - also known as Tesla Chargers)
We took the following steps:
     - made awareness to existing charging station owners that at replacement time, it may be prudent to migrate  to a NACS charger.  It is safer for the owner and customer and the new charging standard.  
      - Met with the CRD (Dan Ovington) and the CRD - Victoria to explain the needs for NACS, and a strategy for the transition to pay-for-service Level 2 charging (ie, the charging speed is faster if you pay).
      - Described the new standard in a Driftwood/SS Exchange article: https://saltspringexchange.com/2023/07/12/ev-charging-the-nacs-standard-and-what-it-means-for-ev-owners-on-salt-spring-island/


EDUCATION

     - Several of the EV Group attended Fully Charged - Vancouver.  This is the world largest “electrify everything” event, held for 3 days at the Pan Pacific.  The show originated in England and is held in only 5 global locations (Vancouver, London, San Diego, Sydney and Amsterdam)
     - continued to host monthly GreenDrinks (Tom Mitchell)
     - attended several Victoria EV Association events
     - additions to the Web Site (ssiev.ca)
     - provided information to the community that Tesla FSD Beta testing is occuring on Salt Spring Island with articles in the Driftwood and SS Exchange (https://saltspringexchange.com/2023/11/24/local-experiences-beta-testing-electric-vehicle-full-self-driving-mode/) 


SOME FINAL THOUGHTS
Overall the story on Salt Spring continues to be a positive one.  Since the last report:
      - we have more charging infrastructure
      - according to ICBC statistics, there are an increasing percentage of EV’s replacing ICE units
      - the electric trucks now coming quite quickly (Ford F150 Lightning, Rivian and CYBERTRUCK).  The trucks appeal to a different market segment and trucking is a core SSI transportation segment.  Driftwood covered the news with the CRD arrival: at: https://www.gulfislandsdriftwood.com/electric-truck-joins-salt-springs-parc-fleet/