The following is a LIVING document. Our ears are open. Please send your comments to Jim at: [email protected] and we will consider them, and make changes as necessary.
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Background: the door closing of the Transition Salt Spring - EV Working Group.
The EV Group on Salt Spring Island (10 volunteers) met earlier this week and decided to close the operation. There are many factors, but the primary driver, is that we have completed our missions.
In August, 2013, the two free chargers at ArtSpring were opened with car show and ribbon cutting by M.P. Elizabeth May. At the time there were 5 EV’s on the island (2 of which were conversions). Shortly thereafter, Peter Lamb, Andrew Haigh and I met at TJ's for coffee to discuss the future of Electric Passenger Vehicles on Salt Spring We decided that that two actions or “missions” would be make sense. The promotion of EVs and the encouraging of addition charging infrastructure. Over a decade later, we are very pleased with our progress.
MISSION ONE
Promote EV’s on SSI. Over the years, the group has offered on-line and in-person courses, attended and held events (including the 3 day celebration of everything electric (REVolutionSS ===> Good Ideas for the Planet) at the Farmers institute, written articles for the Driftwood/SS Exchange. We are now at and estimated 450 EV Owners, and that represents considerable emission avoidance, increasing with each additional year.
Mission One can be considered complete. The world has shifted aggressively to electric everything you can think of. There is commercial and industry promotion of EV’s and Provincial and Federal Governments are offering incentives for vehicles and chargers. TSSEC is offering charger and vehicle loans and BC Hydro is in your face. On a larger scale, Governments around the world are banning the sales of ICE (internal combustion or gassy/oily/cancerous smelly drive) cars. And other organizations like the Victoria EV Assn. can do everything we did, and way more.
MISSION TWO
Encourage additional charging infrastructure on SSI. From the original 2 ArtSpring chargers, we created an innovative low or zero-cost model to increase the number of free Level 2 public chargers. We now have 18 and we have successfully lobbied BC Hydro to turn their attention to Salt Spring Island as an ideal test bed for smaller community needs.
Mission Two can be considered complete. The CRD is now installing additional chargers at Portlock Park as well as 10 additional in chargers in the Ganges area. BC Hydro is installing DCFC chargers across the province and at the new SS Fire Hall. Government and industry is now “leading the charge” infrastructure wise.
Going forward - The EV Group - Members
Our group will not meet formally from now on. (Informal parties are encouraged as we are all good friends).
Personally, I am looking forward to many "many" deferred projects like addressing some personal health matters, increasing my solar footprint, catching up with my POD Leader responsibilities, creating a Raspberry PI-based home automation system, some recreational kayaking, addressing a house that after over 20 years, is wearing out. Retirement is not for sissies.
Going forward - The EV Group - Loose Ends & Tidbits
Emissions: An on-going activity is the annual reporting of the car count and emission counts. If TSS wishes to continue, our stats team should be able to point you in the right direction when the ICBC stats are released (normally June or July of each year).
Funding: We are working on a plan to distribute our excess funds. The funds were harvested under the provision that they would be used to encourage the transition to electric passenger vehicles. Currently, some of our funds are loaned to TSSEC for Electric Vehicle or home charger loans. We will consider the best strategic use for the EV Group funds.
Web Presence: The EV Group Web Page (www.ssiev.ca) is extensive. Far more than is now necessary. There has been interest in the past to transfer the EV Web information to the TSS Web Site. It makes sense to consider this at this time. Along with a brisk approach to rightsizing the information.
On Going support. I for one, cannot escape being approached for EV advice. There is no reason for me to stop one-on-one interaction or consultation on a topic I have some expertise with. This may be possible with some of the other members of the team, although it is up to them.
Again, your suggestions are encouraged.
Jim Standen,
Former Team Lead,
Former EV Group,
Salt Spring Island
======================================================================================================================
Background: the door closing of the Transition Salt Spring - EV Working Group.
The EV Group on Salt Spring Island (10 volunteers) met earlier this week and decided to close the operation. There are many factors, but the primary driver, is that we have completed our missions.
In August, 2013, the two free chargers at ArtSpring were opened with car show and ribbon cutting by M.P. Elizabeth May. At the time there were 5 EV’s on the island (2 of which were conversions). Shortly thereafter, Peter Lamb, Andrew Haigh and I met at TJ's for coffee to discuss the future of Electric Passenger Vehicles on Salt Spring We decided that that two actions or “missions” would be make sense. The promotion of EVs and the encouraging of addition charging infrastructure. Over a decade later, we are very pleased with our progress.
MISSION ONE
Promote EV’s on SSI. Over the years, the group has offered on-line and in-person courses, attended and held events (including the 3 day celebration of everything electric (REVolutionSS ===> Good Ideas for the Planet) at the Farmers institute, written articles for the Driftwood/SS Exchange. We are now at and estimated 450 EV Owners, and that represents considerable emission avoidance, increasing with each additional year.
Mission One can be considered complete. The world has shifted aggressively to electric everything you can think of. There is commercial and industry promotion of EV’s and Provincial and Federal Governments are offering incentives for vehicles and chargers. TSSEC is offering charger and vehicle loans and BC Hydro is in your face. On a larger scale, Governments around the world are banning the sales of ICE (internal combustion or gassy/oily/cancerous smelly drive) cars. And other organizations like the Victoria EV Assn. can do everything we did, and way more.
MISSION TWO
Encourage additional charging infrastructure on SSI. From the original 2 ArtSpring chargers, we created an innovative low or zero-cost model to increase the number of free Level 2 public chargers. We now have 18 and we have successfully lobbied BC Hydro to turn their attention to Salt Spring Island as an ideal test bed for smaller community needs.
Mission Two can be considered complete. The CRD is now installing additional chargers at Portlock Park as well as 10 additional in chargers in the Ganges area. BC Hydro is installing DCFC chargers across the province and at the new SS Fire Hall. Government and industry is now “leading the charge” infrastructure wise.
Going forward - The EV Group - Members
Our group will not meet formally from now on. (Informal parties are encouraged as we are all good friends).
Personally, I am looking forward to many "many" deferred projects like addressing some personal health matters, increasing my solar footprint, catching up with my POD Leader responsibilities, creating a Raspberry PI-based home automation system, some recreational kayaking, addressing a house that after over 20 years, is wearing out. Retirement is not for sissies.
Going forward - The EV Group - Loose Ends & Tidbits
Emissions: An on-going activity is the annual reporting of the car count and emission counts. If TSS wishes to continue, our stats team should be able to point you in the right direction when the ICBC stats are released (normally June or July of each year).
Funding: We are working on a plan to distribute our excess funds. The funds were harvested under the provision that they would be used to encourage the transition to electric passenger vehicles. Currently, some of our funds are loaned to TSSEC for Electric Vehicle or home charger loans. We will consider the best strategic use for the EV Group funds.
Web Presence: The EV Group Web Page (www.ssiev.ca) is extensive. Far more than is now necessary. There has been interest in the past to transfer the EV Web information to the TSS Web Site. It makes sense to consider this at this time. Along with a brisk approach to rightsizing the information.
On Going support. I for one, cannot escape being approached for EV advice. There is no reason for me to stop one-on-one interaction or consultation on a topic I have some expertise with. This may be possible with some of the other members of the team, although it is up to them.
Again, your suggestions are encouraged.
Jim Standen,
Former Team Lead,
Former EV Group,
Salt Spring Island