A four-wheel water heater!
The Hydro-Quebec Senior Director compares the annual power consumption of an electric car such as the Mitsubishi i-MiEV to that of a 60-gallon water heater (based on an average of 18,000 kilometres a year). Costs would amount to about $250, which is way less than your annual $1,500 gas bill, Mr. Honda Civic!
A few important questions arise, though. Is the Hydro-Quebec power network ready and capable to sustain the demand from all these EVs? "Right now, the grid could handle the power needs of one million of these vehicles," Desgagné claims. That number represents approximately one quarter of the total vehicle fleet in Quebec. A single power plant like Eastmain would prove enough to charge their batteries.
Of course, Hydro-Quebec must first figure out the driving habits of potential EV users. "Studies show that 80 percent of current EV drivers wait to get home or at work to charge the battery. The other 20 percent may choose to do it at the shopping mall or the supermarket," he tells.
Another key factor is how sales of all-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids will split. Power demands will vary accordingly.
i-MiEV on sale soon
While Hydro-Quebec will carry out its pilot project, the Mitsubishi i-MiEV will become available through Canadian dealers (and so will its main rival, the Nissan Leaf).
"The first production models for regular sale will hit the market in late 2011," said Tomoki Yanagawa, Vice President of Sales and Corporate Planning, who confirmed that pricing will range between $30K and $40K.
A new plug-in hybrid SUV will also join the Japanese brand’s lineup in 2013. It will be based on the PX-MiEV Concept, which is scheduled to appear at the Montreal International Auto Show next January.
Clean Across Canada Tour
Before the official Canadian-spec models (with left-hand drive) land on our shores, Sparky and Zippy are enjoying their trip across the country. They left Signal Hill in St. John's, Newfoundland, on August 17th and they will wrap everything up in Vancouver, British Columbia, during the EV 2010 VÉ Conference and Trade Show (http://www.emc-mec.ca/ev2010ve/en/home.html) (September 13-16th).
You can follow the tour at www.cleanacrosscanada.ca.
The Hydro-Quebec Senior Director compares the annual power consumption of an electric car such as the Mitsubishi i-MiEV to that of a 60-gallon water heater (based on an average of 18,000 kilometres a year). Costs would amount to about $250, which is way less than your annual $1,500 gas bill, Mr. Honda Civic!
A few important questions arise, though. Is the Hydro-Quebec power network ready and capable to sustain the demand from all these EVs? "Right now, the grid could handle the power needs of one million of these vehicles," Desgagné claims. That number represents approximately one quarter of the total vehicle fleet in Quebec. A single power plant like Eastmain would prove enough to charge their batteries.
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| The annual power consumption of an electric car such as the Mitsubishi i-MiEV is similar to that of a 60-gallon water heater! (Photo: Luc Gagné/Auto123.com) |
Of course, Hydro-Quebec must first figure out the driving habits of potential EV users. "Studies show that 80 percent of current EV drivers wait to get home or at work to charge the battery. The other 20 percent may choose to do it at the shopping mall or the supermarket," he tells.
Another key factor is how sales of all-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids will split. Power demands will vary accordingly.
i-MiEV on sale soon
While Hydro-Quebec will carry out its pilot project, the Mitsubishi i-MiEV will become available through Canadian dealers (and so will its main rival, the Nissan Leaf).
"The first production models for regular sale will hit the market in late 2011," said Tomoki Yanagawa, Vice President of Sales and Corporate Planning, who confirmed that pricing will range between $30K and $40K.
A new plug-in hybrid SUV will also join the Japanese brand’s lineup in 2013. It will be based on the PX-MiEV Concept, which is scheduled to appear at the Montreal International Auto Show next January.
Clean Across Canada Tour
Before the official Canadian-spec models (with left-hand drive) land on our shores, Sparky and Zippy are enjoying their trip across the country. They left Signal Hill in St. John's, Newfoundland, on August 17th and they will wrap everything up in Vancouver, British Columbia, during the EV 2010 VÉ Conference and Trade Show (http://www.emc-mec.ca/ev2010ve/en/home.html) (September 13-16th).
You can follow the tour at www.cleanacrosscanada.ca.