The Transition Salt Spring - EV Group - Background
It has been ten years since myself and 2 visionary volunteers went to coffee and had a discussion on moving the Electric Car (EV) movement on SSI forward in Salt Spring Island.
At that time were an EV backwater, mostly conversions by EV pioneers, Al Kirk and Jon Healey. Our MP, Elizabeth May, had just opened our first public level 2 charging station at our ArtSpring arts theatre and a few vendors had attended. Not a lot of action and not much momentum.
Where are we today ? We have an island-wide network of 12 free charging stations, a very EV-aware population and 230 EV’s (over a resident population of 10,500) in our database, believed to be the highest density (by population) of any region in Canada.
There are notable implications for that ownership. On an annual basis, we estimate we have reduced the need for fuel to come to our island by BC Ferries by 260,000 litres , and reduced our GHG emissions by over 1,100 tonnes. Our air is cleaner and the streets, quieter.
The bigger picture. Those 260,000 litres of fuel we don’t use no longer require exploration, mining, transportation, refining in locations perhaps as far away as China and then transported back to our pumps on devoted “dangerous goods” BC Ferries (“X” delivery trucks). Those GHG producing (and in same cases, water intensive) activities are no longer required for us EV drivers.
Instead, we use inexpensive hydro which is transferred over an existing grid that is over 95% produced by clean and renewable in BC. Literally, our EV fleet runs on rain drops. (If you had a solar array, your EV could run on sunlight - you could be your own fuel station).
How did this All Happen ?
We focussed on metrics. As the numbers began to grow, we initially wanted to answer the question ‘How many are there now ? We started a database to track the owners. This allowed us to answer that question, and eventually address many others. How many red Nissan Leafs are there - 135. What is the most popular EV - Nissan Leaf (57% of the total). Can we calculate our total GHG emission reductions? Can we calculate how many oil changes are no longer required? In other words, we could use our gathered metrics to reliably and accurately measure our progress.
We did a two year statistical survey of our owners to determine, among other things, their average annual driving distance - 9,600 km. We consulted industry statistics to determine the average litres of fuel/kilometres driven. We knew the number of cars, so presto, we could estimate how much fuel no longer required to be shipped to our island. As additional EV’s enter our island fleet database we can calculate the effect.
We made personal connections. Every owner of an EV is given a ‘Charging Station Etiquette Card’, a “SSI EV Owner” car sticker and is encouraged to join Transition Salt Spring (see Transition Town below). We have monthly Green Drinks discussions and talking over coffee is what we islanders specialize at. We also pass out free copies of our kid-tested “Why Drive an EV on SSI” booklet, intended to encourage conversations between kids (who get it) and adults (with the purse strings). These connections inspired a community of similar minded folks. And they helped to spread the word. It kept the conversation going. We also made a celebration movie (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5fpLWBldzg). And recently I began writing a monthly column in our local newspaper, the Driftwood (http://www.ssiev.ca/driftwood-articles.html). Again, keep that conversation going.
We became a Transition town. Salt Spring Island has been a Transition Town (http://transitionsaltspring.com) for many years and that has given us an umbrella organization to work on transportation solutions, increased local food production, community gardens, a local abattoir and many other successful initiatives. All of which support mission of the global transition town movement which is to support efforts leading towards a low carbon economy.
We focussed on celebration. We get involved with Canada Day, Earth Day, the Salt Spring Fall Fair, the arrival of EV #50, #100 (with cash prizes and gifts) and recently #200 (see photo) and our annual winter Chilli cook off and EV decorated parade. We hold free EV 101 classes. We held a major 3 day “Good ideas for the planet” event. The Chamber of Commerce has recognized that our activities have injected a significant amount of off-island revenue into the local economy.
We focussed on partnering, collaboration and infrastructure. We built relationships with our nearby automotive and equipment friends. Especially, Motorize Electric Vehicles which has come to Salt Spring on countless occasions to provide educational seminars and has sponsored many of our events and charging stations. Together with our numerous other generous sponsors, we installed an additional 9 free public charging stations across the island (totalling 18 charging wands). The electricity for the free charging is provided by our kind local business owners to support both islanders and our friendly visiting tourists.
Yes, all of those helped, but they were not the key. And so I backed up and replayed the mental tape and looked for the core ingredients. There were two.
It came down to an island with caring people. As an island we are effectively an earth in miniature. We see the immediate and long term results of our actions, and thus, we recycle and compost like crazy. Our visible limits give us an awareness of the fragility of the planet and make us ultra-sensitive to how our actions effect the environment. We had a climate action plan in 2011 that determined cars produce 13% of our GHG emissions and we realized that EV’s can make a huge difference and we were motivated to do something about it.
We are also aware that a few kind-hearted and well-meaning folks can make a big difference. The original 3 volunteers believed in the mission, took the first steps to buy (or build) an EV, and then began the journey of provided ongoing information and gentle encouragement.
Oh, and did it hurt that we are the Greenest political region in Canada ? Our M.P. is Elizabeth May and our MLA, Adam Olsen. I’ll let the reader decide.
Jim Standen,
Salt Spring Island
www.ssiev.ca
Below - Photo credit: Ron Watts and Robert Julei.
It has been ten years since myself and 2 visionary volunteers went to coffee and had a discussion on moving the Electric Car (EV) movement on SSI forward in Salt Spring Island.
At that time were an EV backwater, mostly conversions by EV pioneers, Al Kirk and Jon Healey. Our MP, Elizabeth May, had just opened our first public level 2 charging station at our ArtSpring arts theatre and a few vendors had attended. Not a lot of action and not much momentum.
Where are we today ? We have an island-wide network of 12 free charging stations, a very EV-aware population and 230 EV’s (over a resident population of 10,500) in our database, believed to be the highest density (by population) of any region in Canada.
There are notable implications for that ownership. On an annual basis, we estimate we have reduced the need for fuel to come to our island by BC Ferries by 260,000 litres , and reduced our GHG emissions by over 1,100 tonnes. Our air is cleaner and the streets, quieter.
The bigger picture. Those 260,000 litres of fuel we don’t use no longer require exploration, mining, transportation, refining in locations perhaps as far away as China and then transported back to our pumps on devoted “dangerous goods” BC Ferries (“X” delivery trucks). Those GHG producing (and in same cases, water intensive) activities are no longer required for us EV drivers.
Instead, we use inexpensive hydro which is transferred over an existing grid that is over 95% produced by clean and renewable in BC. Literally, our EV fleet runs on rain drops. (If you had a solar array, your EV could run on sunlight - you could be your own fuel station).
How did this All Happen ?
We focussed on metrics. As the numbers began to grow, we initially wanted to answer the question ‘How many are there now ? We started a database to track the owners. This allowed us to answer that question, and eventually address many others. How many red Nissan Leafs are there - 135. What is the most popular EV - Nissan Leaf (57% of the total). Can we calculate our total GHG emission reductions? Can we calculate how many oil changes are no longer required? In other words, we could use our gathered metrics to reliably and accurately measure our progress.
We did a two year statistical survey of our owners to determine, among other things, their average annual driving distance - 9,600 km. We consulted industry statistics to determine the average litres of fuel/kilometres driven. We knew the number of cars, so presto, we could estimate how much fuel no longer required to be shipped to our island. As additional EV’s enter our island fleet database we can calculate the effect.
We made personal connections. Every owner of an EV is given a ‘Charging Station Etiquette Card’, a “SSI EV Owner” car sticker and is encouraged to join Transition Salt Spring (see Transition Town below). We have monthly Green Drinks discussions and talking over coffee is what we islanders specialize at. We also pass out free copies of our kid-tested “Why Drive an EV on SSI” booklet, intended to encourage conversations between kids (who get it) and adults (with the purse strings). These connections inspired a community of similar minded folks. And they helped to spread the word. It kept the conversation going. We also made a celebration movie (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5fpLWBldzg). And recently I began writing a monthly column in our local newspaper, the Driftwood (http://www.ssiev.ca/driftwood-articles.html). Again, keep that conversation going.
We became a Transition town. Salt Spring Island has been a Transition Town (http://transitionsaltspring.com) for many years and that has given us an umbrella organization to work on transportation solutions, increased local food production, community gardens, a local abattoir and many other successful initiatives. All of which support mission of the global transition town movement which is to support efforts leading towards a low carbon economy.
We focussed on celebration. We get involved with Canada Day, Earth Day, the Salt Spring Fall Fair, the arrival of EV #50, #100 (with cash prizes and gifts) and recently #200 (see photo) and our annual winter Chilli cook off and EV decorated parade. We hold free EV 101 classes. We held a major 3 day “Good ideas for the planet” event. The Chamber of Commerce has recognized that our activities have injected a significant amount of off-island revenue into the local economy.
We focussed on partnering, collaboration and infrastructure. We built relationships with our nearby automotive and equipment friends. Especially, Motorize Electric Vehicles which has come to Salt Spring on countless occasions to provide educational seminars and has sponsored many of our events and charging stations. Together with our numerous other generous sponsors, we installed an additional 9 free public charging stations across the island (totalling 18 charging wands). The electricity for the free charging is provided by our kind local business owners to support both islanders and our friendly visiting tourists.
Yes, all of those helped, but they were not the key. And so I backed up and replayed the mental tape and looked for the core ingredients. There were two.
It came down to an island with caring people. As an island we are effectively an earth in miniature. We see the immediate and long term results of our actions, and thus, we recycle and compost like crazy. Our visible limits give us an awareness of the fragility of the planet and make us ultra-sensitive to how our actions effect the environment. We had a climate action plan in 2011 that determined cars produce 13% of our GHG emissions and we realized that EV’s can make a huge difference and we were motivated to do something about it.
We are also aware that a few kind-hearted and well-meaning folks can make a big difference. The original 3 volunteers believed in the mission, took the first steps to buy (or build) an EV, and then began the journey of provided ongoing information and gentle encouragement.
Oh, and did it hurt that we are the Greenest political region in Canada ? Our M.P. is Elizabeth May and our MLA, Adam Olsen. I’ll let the reader decide.
Jim Standen,
Salt Spring Island
www.ssiev.ca
Below - Photo credit: Ron Watts and Robert Julei.
