The EV Group is:
Jim Standen (TESLA / Team Lead, media, web site, EV registrations, Victoria EVA interface),
Barbara Dempster (CHEVROLET BOLT / Team Lead Backup, Chargers, Vancouver EVA and CRD interface),
Markus Wenzel (TESLA / financial considerations),
John Holmes (NISSAN LEAF, conversions, charger support),
Ky Fox (NISSAN LEAF, entertainment),
Dennis Fortin (BMW-i3 / EV 101 instructor),
Tom Mitchell (NISSAN LEAF / special events, ArtSpring donation box),
David Elderton (NISSAN LEAF / electronics and e-bike),
Ron Watts (KIA SOUL EV / CEG Interface),
John Newton (NISSAN LEAF / Statistics).
Covid and EV’s – What’s Going On ? ~ Sept. 21st 2020
It has been a very unusual summer for many of us. The Pandemic has taken much of our attention, but in the background, the Electric Vehicle story drives on. Our friends at the Victoria EV Association were able to obtain statistics from ICBC and guess what, Salt Spring Island is still the winner in terms of BEV (100% battery electric vehicle) ownership of any region on Vancouver Island (and we assume, across the Province) with 233 units. Other regions are catching up, so we will have to try harder to maintain our lead.
Locally, we have some businesses begin to use EV’s. The cars are in use more than most private owners, so a larger amount of green house gasses is avoided and the operational cost savings occur even more quickly. Our first example is Country Grocer Pharmacy who is now using a FIAT 500e for their deliveries. Two real estate agents, Sandra Smith (in a Nissan Leaf) and Claire Sarginson (in a Tesla Model 3) will be showing their clients properties while demonstrating how committed to the environment they are. Sandra also kindly donated the charging station to the Golf course, which is free for your use while playing a few rounds or a visit to Penny’s Pantry on the Green.
Making Things better
The Transition Salt Spring EV Group has been supporting the efforts of the Victoria EV Association with their initiatives. They have requested changes from the Province in two areas. One is to ensure each new multi-residential building that is constructed provides the infrastructure to support EV charging for each resident. The other is “fair charging legislation” which means that you are charged for your electrical use at a charger rather than the current method of time-based billing. We support these initiatives and several of us attended a drive around the BC Legislature awareness event this summer. Locally, the EV Group has participated in the transportation section of the Climate Action Plan 2.0.
The Return of EV 101 Classes
The questions about EV’s keep coming and the members of the EV Group try to field as many as we can. We lost our spring EV 101 class due to the Pandemic, so we have done some pondering and have worked out how to provide a safe COVID-19 event Here is how it will work.
On Monday, September 21. We will have a ZOOM presentation at 7 pm. Our instructor is Dennis Fortin, who has taught our previous seminars. Dennis is a former fighter pilot and BMW-i3 owner. Folks loved his presentation and after it we fielded many questions. However, many folks like me think of our questions after the event.
On Tuesday, September 22, we will have a live question and answer session with a panelist of local experienced owners in the Library education room. There will be a 7 pm and 8 pm session for 45 minutes each. Each is strictly limited to 9 attendees and will honour strict C-19 safety procedures. We recommend attending the seminar and then one of the Q&A sessions. To register for either one or both, please email me at: jstanden@ucalgary.ca and you will be invited to the ZOOM session and allocated a time-slot on Tuesday evening. There is no charge to attend either event. Everybody on Tuesday will get a free “Why Drive an EV on Salt Spring Island” kids booklet (artwork is by local artist, Sarah Grindler). If you feel like you want to offer something in return, please give an amount of your choice to a local charity, or at one of our free charging station donation boxes (located at ArtSpring, the Library or Fulford Hall).
Also, anyone wanting a copy of the booklet, please send a 5×7 self-addressed envelop to Cool EV Booklet, 206 Monteith Road, V8K 1H4.
Be Kind, Be Calm, Be Safe, Be Electric.
Jim Standen
Update- Sept 3rd 2020
Monday, September 21, 7-8pm we will offer an EV 101 ZOOM session. Learn everything you need to know about EVS. Email jstanden@ucalgary.ca for more info.
Tuesday, Sept 22 we will offer Q&A sessions at the Library Education Room. 2 sessions @ 7pm – 7:45pm and 8pm to 8:45pm. We will pre-register up to 9 students per time slot and have 2-3 long term EV owners at the front of the room to answer questions. We will ensure that the folks enter and leave the library C-19 safely. Every attendee will receive a copy of our 20 page “Why own an EV on Salt Spring Island” booklet. Email jstanden@ucalgary.ca for more info.
We have had some charging station wand failures so we have worked with the local business to resolve the issues. Country Grocer has installed new wands on the 2 non-Tesla chargers and has raised the amount of electricity provided on the 2 Tesla chargers. Cash donations at the ArtSpring charger have diminished to a trickle (C-19 would be a factor).
We have continued to be active and “spread the EV word by” …
- Articles in the Driftwood
- Participating in the transportation working group of the Climate Action Plan Update (CAP 2.0)
- Working with Kent Rathwell (Saskatchewan) on his Carbon Plunk initiative (https://carbonplunk.com)
- Working with the Victoria EV Association on lobbying the BC government for:
- fair charging legislation
- right to charge legislation
- this involved several of the EV Group attending a large EV Drive around the legislature Ralleye in Victoria
Salt Spring Island is still the highest density of EV ownership in BC as verified by the Victoria EV Association (likely Canada – but not verified).
Jim Standen- TSS EV Chair.
EV Update ~ July 2020
Just a quick note to bring our 270+ EV owners of Salt Spring Island and tourists up to date on the four free chargers provided by Country Grocer.
After being in use for years, there has been significant wear and tear. Chargers have been replaced by Country Grocer in the past, as needed. Wands (the part you stick in you car) tend to have the most wear. As of now, as you face the store, the left most standard (ie. non-Tesla) unit is out of order. Replacement cables and wands have been ordered for both standard chargers and will be installed as soon as possible.
Some of the wear and tear is likely due to the wand and cable not being properly stored away after use. Please be kind and leave the equipment neatly when you are leaving. That includes wrapping the cable on the charger to eliminate any possible tripping hazard.
We have reviewed the power that has been made available for charging your car on all chargers.
Both the standard chargers are operating at the maximum power that is available from the existing breaker box.
The output of both the Tesla chargers have been increased by 20%, again to the limit that is available by the existing breaker box.
I have copied this note to the team at Country Grocer as thanks for providing this generous support for their customers who chose to drive emission-free.
Jim, Team Lead, TSS EV Group – Salt Spring Island
……
Update ~ June 2020
The TSS-EV Group is alive and well!
We are taking a bit of a nap as many of our community connections (auto dealers, regional clubs, media, local businesses, CRD) are distracted by Pandemic challenges.
The EV Group volunteers are keeping the EV conversation going (our mission), repairing charging stations, maintaining databases, email lists and current GHG stats, distributing “Why buy on SSI” booklets, etiquette cards, Web Site (SSIEV.CA), participating with the so important CAP 2.0 process and TSS strategic review.
We are hoping for a more recognizable world soon, and plan to attend in full force the Canada Day – Car Show and Shine. We will be holding the Fall session of the EV 101 class and the Chilli Cook-off Christmas decorate your EV parade. We are also exploring ideas for a dealer/community EV event as well. And there is still work in progress to extend the SSI public charging network. So lots happening.
My monthly EVolutions articles are still on-going. If you have a topic you would like me to explore, please send it to me at: jstanden@ucalgary.ca.
Jim Standen,Team lead,Transition Salt Spring – EV Group,SSIEV.CA
EV support and deals! ~ April 2020
Due to the current challenging times, the EV Group has had to cancel our education happenings (EV 101, Probus) and participation at events. However, there is some good news. Some EV dealers including Motorize, Tesla, Harris and others have worked our procedures to deliver a “super-duper clean electric vehicle”, if you need one. And they are not doing a lot of business these days, so if this is the time for you to go EV, there may be some good deals. In addition, the Federal and Provincial incentives are still available and there may be the odd scrap-it out there as well.
If you have question for us islander owners, check out the contact information at ssiev.ca and chase us. We would be pleased to answer your questions.