Climate Change, Salt Spring and Electric Vehicles (Show Me the Numbers)
I am pleased to announce that the EV Group is able to report the results of our efforts in the fight against Climate Change. In other words, what are all those electric cars achieving in terms of the GHG targets for our island.
Where are we ?
We are now at 215 units registered in our database. Our stats team has performed a multi-year study of our estimated average annual usage (about 9,600 km/year). By applying standard accepted emission conversions, we can estimate that as of today, we have avoided producing over 800 Tonnes of GHG emissions and the need for about 255,000 litres of dangerous fuel (about 10 average sized delivery trucks) to be delivered to us on dedicated dangerous goods ferries, And our island air is cleaner and the streets are quieter.
How did we get here ?
The EV Group is an energetic collection of 12 results-oriented volunteers. We love our mission and accept it with a positive and fun-loving energy. For years, we have promoted and helped maintain an EV charging infrastructure which includes 10 free public charging stations providing 16 wands. We have provided educational support including our precious children/adult “Why Drive an EV on Salt Spring Island” booklet, EV 101 classes, the 2018 Revolutions event and other fun events like chill cook-off parades and car shows. All with the objective of encouraging islanders to adopt EV’s to meet their transportation needs. We have achieved the highest density (by population)of any region in Canada and have promoted media attention (Driftwood, SS Exchange, CTV, CBC, Corus Radio Network) and continue to support this public outreach to encourage other areas across Canada to do the same.
So, How are we Doing ?
The 2011 Climate Change report documented our overall island GHG emissions reduction goal of 70,000 Tonnes/year and set targets for reducing our emissions. It reported that of the total, island cars contribute 13% (or 9,100 tonnes). At the time electric cars were not considered in the report - they were just beginning to become an option.
The report set emission reduction goals of 15% in 2015, 40% on 2020 and 85% in 2050. Personally I am very uneasy about goals set in the future as I suspect it promotes confusion and deferral. I would prefer goals of we can aim for “today”, “this week”, “this month” or “this year”. Immediate goals encourage immediate action. With an emergency, immediate action is required. I therefore tasked my stats team members to determine how many cars in a given time frame, for example, per week, do we need to gain to achieve our goals. These figures are more difficult to calculate - stay tuned for updates.
Show me the numbers.
By 2014 (the first goal of the Climate Action Report - 15% reduction), we had an estimated 40 EV’s and had avoided our emissions by 150 Tonnes. Our spreadsheets calculated that we missed the goal of 1,365 Tonnes by 1,215 Tonnes. Or, we achieved 11% of the desired goal. We made progress.
As of today, we have at least 215 EV’s. There is not a goal for June, 2019 in the report, but we have estimated that we have achieved about close to 25% of the target (3,175 Tonnes). The gap is closing.
We forecast that by 2020, the next documented goal, we will have 270 EV’s on SSI and we will have achieved 28% of the target.
True, we have not achieved the targets, BUT, with each additional year we are getting closer. The EV group will continue to crunch the numbers in order to establish precise and immediate EV adoption targets. We are confident we can catch up and meet targets of the 2011 Climate Action Report.
Want to join a great volunteers organization or is your EV not in our database ? Please approach me - Jim Standen, Team Lead, totally fun EV Group, Salt Spring Island.
Jim Standen,
Team Lead,
EV Group,
Salt Spring Island
I am pleased to announce that the EV Group is able to report the results of our efforts in the fight against Climate Change. In other words, what are all those electric cars achieving in terms of the GHG targets for our island.
Where are we ?
We are now at 215 units registered in our database. Our stats team has performed a multi-year study of our estimated average annual usage (about 9,600 km/year). By applying standard accepted emission conversions, we can estimate that as of today, we have avoided producing over 800 Tonnes of GHG emissions and the need for about 255,000 litres of dangerous fuel (about 10 average sized delivery trucks) to be delivered to us on dedicated dangerous goods ferries, And our island air is cleaner and the streets are quieter.
How did we get here ?
The EV Group is an energetic collection of 12 results-oriented volunteers. We love our mission and accept it with a positive and fun-loving energy. For years, we have promoted and helped maintain an EV charging infrastructure which includes 10 free public charging stations providing 16 wands. We have provided educational support including our precious children/adult “Why Drive an EV on Salt Spring Island” booklet, EV 101 classes, the 2018 Revolutions event and other fun events like chill cook-off parades and car shows. All with the objective of encouraging islanders to adopt EV’s to meet their transportation needs. We have achieved the highest density (by population)of any region in Canada and have promoted media attention (Driftwood, SS Exchange, CTV, CBC, Corus Radio Network) and continue to support this public outreach to encourage other areas across Canada to do the same.
So, How are we Doing ?
The 2011 Climate Change report documented our overall island GHG emissions reduction goal of 70,000 Tonnes/year and set targets for reducing our emissions. It reported that of the total, island cars contribute 13% (or 9,100 tonnes). At the time electric cars were not considered in the report - they were just beginning to become an option.
The report set emission reduction goals of 15% in 2015, 40% on 2020 and 85% in 2050. Personally I am very uneasy about goals set in the future as I suspect it promotes confusion and deferral. I would prefer goals of we can aim for “today”, “this week”, “this month” or “this year”. Immediate goals encourage immediate action. With an emergency, immediate action is required. I therefore tasked my stats team members to determine how many cars in a given time frame, for example, per week, do we need to gain to achieve our goals. These figures are more difficult to calculate - stay tuned for updates.
Show me the numbers.
By 2014 (the first goal of the Climate Action Report - 15% reduction), we had an estimated 40 EV’s and had avoided our emissions by 150 Tonnes. Our spreadsheets calculated that we missed the goal of 1,365 Tonnes by 1,215 Tonnes. Or, we achieved 11% of the desired goal. We made progress.
As of today, we have at least 215 EV’s. There is not a goal for June, 2019 in the report, but we have estimated that we have achieved about close to 25% of the target (3,175 Tonnes). The gap is closing.
We forecast that by 2020, the next documented goal, we will have 270 EV’s on SSI and we will have achieved 28% of the target.
True, we have not achieved the targets, BUT, with each additional year we are getting closer. The EV group will continue to crunch the numbers in order to establish precise and immediate EV adoption targets. We are confident we can catch up and meet targets of the 2011 Climate Action Report.
Want to join a great volunteers organization or is your EV not in our database ? Please approach me - Jim Standen, Team Lead, totally fun EV Group, Salt Spring Island.
Jim Standen,
Team Lead,
EV Group,
Salt Spring Island