irwinloy

Attractive photo of mail delivery trucks courtesy of the kind folks at Canada Post.In a climate of surging fuel prices and environmental concern, it’s cost, more than technology, which still presents a major barrier to the adoption of electric cars.

But the mailman could play a role delivering a battery-powered, zero emission future on the roads.

Canada Post represents one of the largest transportation fleets in the country.

Its armada of 7,000 mostly gas guzzlers lurched its way down more than 76 million kilometers of roadway last year, burning up 24 million litres of fuel and pumping out 59,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide in the process.

As part of the flagship fleet of a federal government that’s looking to encourage fuel-efficient vehicles in the consumer market, the typical Canada Post delivery truck isn’t exactly a beacon of progress in the public sector.

With clearly defined, relatively short delivery routes in urban centres, today’s already available electric engine technology could be well suited to Canada Post’s needs.

But despite a long interest in going electric, Canada Post has taken only a few cautious steps to transform its fleet towards alternative fuel technology.

Click to read more ...

Me and my car: Lowell Leifso stands beside his factory made plug-in electric Toyota RAV4.Lowell Leifso hasn't filled up at a gas station once since he bought a sparkling grey Toyota RAV4 earlier this year. It makes his presence at a Chevron on the corner of a Surrey boulevard all the more unlikely.

Leifso's commuter vehicle would look like any of the other popular Toyota crossover SUV models on the road today, if it weren't for the bright "electric vehicle" decals he has stuck to the car.

"It's quite an attention grabber," Leifso admits, as a few onlookers sneak a peak at his ride. "People ask questions like, 'Did you build it? Where can I get one?' Most people are just really interested to know a little bit more about it."

Leifso's 2003 model was among the last of the plug-in electric vehicles Toyota retailed in California before shutting down its line.

It's proven its worth to Leifso already. While acceleration on the vehicle is noticeably sluggish, the car can zip down the highway at a 130 kilometres an hour max. And with a range of about 160 km, it costs about $2 to "fill up" when he charges up the RAV4 at home through a paddle that slips in under the front grill.

That's about one-fifth of the cost of filling up a regular gas-powered RAV4, Leifso says.

And as gas prices head north of $1 per litre and car companies continue their very public struggle to survive, the interest in alternative fuel technologies is only spiking.

Today, most major manufacturers have rushed to promise electric vehicles for the market within years. GM, Dodge, Ford, Nissan, Renault, Mitsubishi, Subaru and Toyota all have models in the works, to varying degrees. Canadian auto-parts magnate Frank Stronach wants to mass-produce electric cars within three years.

But what are the chances of the technology succeeding? Is the idea that electric vehicles will be widespread in just a few years merely a pipe dream?

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From Facebook.comA local environment advocate and frequent political candidate will be barred from running in the next municipal contest.

Ben West failed to file his campaign financing disclosure statement for the 2008 municipal elections, in which he came within 10 votes from becoming director of the anomalous Electoral Area A.

After years in student politics, West has run in virtually every federal, provincial or municipal election in the region since 2005.

He ran for the mayor's seat in Vancouver that year, finishing well back, but in front of anyone not named Sullivan or Green.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Advisory
June 10, 2009

STATEMENT FROM CONSTANCE BARNES

(VANCOUVER) - I have made a serious mistake. On May 23, 2009 I was charged with
driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

I was returning home from an afternoon at Iona Beach in Richmond and was
arrested and charged by the Vancouver Police Department around 11pm. I do not
intend to challenge this charge. The police arrested me outside of a home in
South Vancouver where I had fallen asleep at the wheel and hit a residential
home. No-one was injured in this incident, however there was damage to the
property.

I take full responsibility for my actions and acknowledge my lack of judgment.
This incident follows a time of deep personal struggle, for which I am now
receiving support. I have enrolled in Alcoholics Anonymous and I am seeking
out other professional support to assist me through this time.

I would like to apologize to my family, friends, colleagues and to the citizens
of Vancouver for this serious mistake. I am ashamed by my actions and the
embarrassment it has caused my family and friends.

I will be taking time over the coming months to tackle my personal challenges.
In order to learn from my mistakes and to restore public confidence, I will be
taking a leave from my job and a medical leave from my position as a Vancouver
Park Board Commissioner.

I will make myself available to the media on June 10th at 1:15 PM at the SFU
Harbour Centre in Room 1520, Barrick Gold Lecture Room.

Constance Barnes
Park Board Commissioner

-30-

Bring on the local indignant reax stories...

Drug gangs in Canada British Columbia or Colombia?

May 28th 2009 | VANCOUVER
From The Economist print edition
Organised crime brings fear to Vancouver’s streets

WHILE campaigning for an election on May 12th in which he was easily re-elected, Gordon Campbell, the premier of British Columbia (BC) province, had a personal brush with violent crime. As he was being interviewed by a reporter at a Vancouver hotel, a woman with a gun ran by, having robbed a jeweller. The premier’s bodyguard hustled him to safety; the robber was later arrested. But the incident should have reminded Mr Campbell that crime worries voters almost as much as the recession.

The rest of the story in The Economist.