Electric vehicles in Canada

Europeans have understood the environmental benefits of smaller cars for years. In Canada, though, progress is slow.

It's an economical, eco-friendly small car that runs totally on electricity. But don't get too excited. Even though this Canadian-made electric vehicle can operate legally in 44 American states and is sold in 20, you can't buy it in Canada right now. The ZENN, which stands for Zero Emission, No Noise electric vehicle, is an innovative three-door hatchback that's 100 percent electric and runs only on its battery - no gas is required. It can travel between 50 to 80 kilometres on a single charge at a top speed of 40 km/h. (The top speed could actually be higher, but the car has a governor that limits the speed, as regulated for this class of vehicle by the federal governments in both the U.S. and Canada.) It takes about eight hours to recharge the battery - or only four hours to charge to 80 percent capacity. Just plug the ZENN into a standard 120-volt outlet. If you can plug in a cell phone, you can plug in the ZENN.

The ZENN, manufactured in Saint-Jerome, Quebec, is classified as a Low-Speed Vehicle (LSV) designed to travel in areas with speed limits less than 50 km/h. It's the perfect ride in congested downtown city streets. Mother Nature loves it, too, since the ZENN contributes to a reduction of more than six tonnes of CO2 emissions per year compared to a small gas-powered vehicle. There's no need for oil changes, oil filters or emission tests, either. And your electricity bill won't feel the sting of recharging the ZENN; it only costs a few cents per kilometre to operate. The ZENN is also priced right, just shy of $16,000.

So what's the road block? The government. Transport Canada is concerned about safety. It doesn't want LSVs like the ZENN mingling on public roads with heavier, larger and faster-moving vehicles. This is clearly illogical. After all, if bikes, mopeds, scooters and, in some places, horse-and-buggies can drive on public roads, why can't the ZENN join in? The ZENN has met all safety regulations in the U.S. and Canada - although in this country, it took 18 months for it to get safety clearance.

But there are more obstacles to overcome. Ottawa has shifted the onus onto the provinces and territories to license and regulate LSVs on public roads. B.C. allows them, but only on streets designated for 40 km/h. In Quebec, LSVs were recently approved for 50 km/h roads as part of a three-year pilot project. The vehicles will have to have a special orange symbol on the back (as tractors do, for example), notifying other drivers that they max out at 40 km/h, and they will have to drive in the right lane unless they are passing or turning left. However, it's a Catch-22 for ZENN and other LSV manufacturers, because who's going to buy one if they may have to take it off the road in three years? And municipalities could allow LSVs on streets marked at 50 km/h or less, but this hasn't happened yet. Elsewhere, LSVs are restricted to parks, conservation areas, gated communities and university campuses.

The ZENN isn't alone in its battle. Electrovaya in Mississauga, Ontario, just launched its Maya-300, another zero-emission little electric car. It's powered by a Lithium-Ion SuperPolymer battery and has a range of up to 193 kilometres on one charge. Like the ZENN, it's governed to run at 40 km/h, but could reach 56 km/h or perhaps a bit more. Unfortunately, also like the ZENN, it's banned from public streets. For now, Canadians will have to stick to small cars - vehicles like the Smart fortwo. Its tiny size makes it easy to park and simple to drive in urban areas. Your pocketbook will also appreciate the savings at the pump. It gets 5.9 L/100 km in the city and 4.8 L/100 km on the highway, which translates into an annual fuel bill of $1,080 and CO2 emissions a year of 2,592 kg. No wonder it received the 2008 ecoENERGY for Vehicles Award as the most fuel-efficient two-seater in Canada. The Mini Cooper/Cooper Clubman also received the 2008 ecoENERGY for Vehicles Award in the subcompact category. Its fuel economy is 7.1L/100 km in the city and 5.3L/100 km on the highway with an estimated annual fuel bill of $1,260 and CO2 emissions/year of 3,024 kg.

But small cars aren't enough. We need to reduce our carbon footprint and decrease our dependency on oil. Canada needs to get with the program and remove roadblocks for alternative vehicles like the ZENN and Maya-300. It's time to give innovative electric cars the green light to hit the open road - just like our American counterparts.

Did you know?
The Mini Cooper Clubman received the 2008 ecoENERGY Award in the subcompact category.
The Smart fortwo's tiny size makes it easy to park and simple to drive in urban areas.
Electrovaya's Maya-300 has a range of up to 193 kilometres on a single charge.