Town of Qualicum Beach
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Mayor and Councillors
FROM:
FOR: Regular Council Meeting
October 6, 2008
MD (Mark) Brown, Chief Administrative Officer
SUBJECT:
Neighbourhood Zero Emission/Low Speed Electric Powered Vehicles
RECOMMENDATION
THAT Council give first reading to “Town of Qualicum Beach Low-Speed Electric
Powered Vehicle Authorization Bylaw No. 635, 2008”.
PURPOSE
To inform Council that on June 6, 2008, the British Columbia Motor Vehicle Act Regulations
were amended to include the definition for a neighbourhood zero emission vehicle (NZEV)
and gives municipalities the authority to create a bylaw which would allow NZEVs on streets
with speed limits no greater than 50 km/hr.
BACKGROUND
Prior to the new statute, the Provincial regulations restricted NZEVs to streets with speed
limits of 40 km/hr or less, and the Federal regulations prohibited them from traveling at
speeds over 40 km/hr. NZEVs are defined class of slow moving electric vehicle and the safety
requirements for these NZEVs are regulated by the same standards as outlined by Transport
Canada for low speed vehicles. These vehicles have 4 wheels, are powered by an electric
power train, do not use fuel as an on-board source of energy and have a GVWR of less than
1,361 kilograms. These low speed electric vehicles are federally regulated to travel at a
maximum speed of 40 km/hr because of crash testing performed by Transport Canada.
On August 18, 2008 the District of Oak Bay was the first municipality to adopt a NZEV bylaw
and on September 30, 2008 the City of Vancouver received a recommendation from their staff
to amend their Street and Traffic Bylaw to allow NZEVs.
Last year the parks and public works staff evaluated an electric utility vehicle for a 30 day trial
period. However the subject vehicle was not suitable for our operations and on January 14,
2008 Council passed the following motion “THAT the Town of Qualicum Beach not purchase
the electric truck (Might-E-truck) used on trial in November 2007; and FURTHER THAT staff
continue the active search for other electric vehicles and/or vehicles that reduce greenhouse
gases and emissions and better suit the needs of the Town” . The Town staff has continued to
search for an electric vehicle that would meet our needs and we have located another vehicle
that was utilized on a trial basis in the Resort Municipality of Whistler. It has now been
returned to the distributor in Vancouver and our Superintendent Allan Cameron has secured a
one week trial of this same vehicle for our municipality at the end of this month. (see photo)
Page 2 of 2
SUMMARY
There have been concerns raised by the Vancouver Police Department that there is a greater
risk of being involved in a collision with a NZEV due to the differing speeds with respect to
regular motor vehicles. A further concern is the crash test data for NZEVs and its ability to
provide adequate protection in the event of a collision, especially with a full size vehicle or
truck. The NZEVs are not built with the safety engineering features such as airbags, impact
absorbing bumper and intrusion protection found in modern motor vehicles.
Notwithstanding the aforementioned concerns it should be noted that motor-assisted bicycles
and scooters are permitted on Town streets and interact with motor vehicles at the present
time. To provide awareness of the Town’s proposed NZEV bylaw staff have referred Bylaw
No. 635 to ICBC and the Oceanside RCMP.
CONCLUSION
NZEVs run on electricity stored in batteries that are recharged by plugging into a standard
electrical outlet. These vehicles are environmentally friendly, with no tail pipe exhaust, no gas
required and lower fuel and maintenance costs than a conventional vehicle. They also provide
a noise free, smooth ride.
As part of the Town’s efforts to take action on climate change, reduce greenhouse gas
emissions and become carbon neutral by 2012, offering alternatives such as Neighbourhood
Zero Emission and Low Speed Electric Vehicles give residents the opportunity to be part of the
solution to become a more sustainable Town. Despite the inability of these vehicles to travel
long distances and carry large loads, they are ideal for shorter more economical trips to work
and shopping facilities within the Village. As well, additional benefits which include zero
emission at source and little to no noise output make them a very attractive choice.
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