This September, let's consider electric

Whistler’s Climate Action BIG MOVES Strategy identifies the six most impactful action areas we need to focus on as a community to reduce emissions and make Whistler a more climate resilient community. We all have a role to play! The RMOW, in partnership with Whistler’s environmental charity AWARE, has created "Small Steps for BIG MOVES"- 12 months of climate actions that each of us can take to support Whistler’s six BIG MOVES.

TAKE ACTION! This September, let's:

Consider electric

Transitioning to zero emission vehicles and electric mobility is key to achieving BIG MOVE #2: decarbonizing passenger and commercial transportation.

Electric modes of transportation are becoming increasingly available and British Columbians are leading the way in embracing e-mobility. With carbon taxes on fossil fuels set to increase over time, expansions in EV charging infrastructure, and subsidies for electric vehicles, there has never been a better time to consider electric!

This is good news because emissions from private passenger vehicle trips within the community are Whistler's biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions, creating 54 per cent of our carbon footprint.

Ready to take action? Let’s try one (or some) of these Small Steps for BIG MOVES:

1. WATCH this month's Electrify your Sea to Sky Commute webinar to learn more about EV ownership.

Traveling the Sea-to-Sky corridor frequently? Commuting for work? Watch this free webinar, featuring the experts from EMotiveBC, to find out more about EV ownership.

Watch now

2. Explore options for making your next vehicle electric

EVs are now being produced in a wide variety of sizes and to suit different needs. Be sure to explore options for making your next vehicle electric through some of these great resources:

3. Research rebates to save when you buy.

At time of writing there were up to $14,000 in rebates available for trading in your old car for an EV. Rebates change over time so be sure to check out the latest rebate programs and options to combine rebates. Check these sites for details:

Take advantage of additional rebates for the purchase and installation of EV charges at single family homes: Learn more.
BC Provincial Government: CleanBC | Go Electric BC
Plug In BC: Passenger Vehicle Incentives
BC SCRAP-IT Program: BC SCRAP-IT Program

4. Get Your strata or workplace set up for electric.

Even if you aren’t ready to go electric yet you can still motivate others to make the switch by encouraging your strata or workplace to get EV ready.

Tell your boss or strata about additional rebates available for the purchase and installation of EV charging stations for multi-residential buildings and workplaces. Learn more.
Contact an EV advisor for up to five hours of free advice on the best EV charging station solutions for workplaces and multi-unit residential buildings with shared parking garages in BC.
Head to the Plug in BC EV Advisor Service for Strata and Workplaces for details.

5. Skip road traffic and parking altogether and opt for an e-bike!

Ready to embrace e-assisted mobility but want to avoid putting another vehicle on the road? We can save time spent in traffic, parking and gas money by swapping car trips for e-bike journeys. E-bikes reduce barriers to going by bike and are a climate savvy swap for a car ride. Just like EVs, different e-bikes are designed to fit different lifestyles.

Find out more information about E-Bikes in Whistler.

What We Heard ~ Stories Shared

Thank you for sharing your stories!

Check out this small step for BIG MOVES that one of our community members has taken:

Dan made the most of the BC SCRAPIT program, which helped him recycle his old vehicle and get a significant rebate towards his new electric vehicle. What a great way to reduce emissions for his Sea to Sky commute.

We invite you to share your stories about your small steps for BIG MOVES every month. There's a chance to win some great prizes if you submit a story! Have a look at our October theme: whistler.ca/ReduceOurWaste

Check out these electric vehicle quick facts:

1. By 2035,100 per cent of car and passenger truck sales in Canada will be required to be zero-emission.

Not only are electric cars better for the environment, they are also fun to drive. The future is electric!

2. Charging an EV typically costs 75 per cent LESS than fueling up with gas

Fuel costs are the most obvious way an EV can save you money over a gas-powered vehicle. BC Hydro offers a fuel savings calculator to compare fuel costs for specific vehicles. Comparing the cost to drive 20,000 kilometres a year shows the potential to save with an EV:

In a Nissan Leaf S Plus: around $400 (or $33/month) on electricity.
In an equivalent gas-powered vehicle: around $1,848 (or $154/month) on gas.

3. Charging and driving an EV in BC produces 90 per cent less GHG emissions than a traditional car.

Over its lifecycle, an EV in BC will produce approximately 75 per cent less emissions than a gas-powered vehicle when factoring in emissions associated with resource extraction, manufacturing, usage and disposal.

4. By 2022, the average range of new EVs is expected to be 440 km.

Range anxiety is a common concern in those looking to purchase EVs. Most EVs have a range of 300 to 600 km which is more than enough to cover the 50 km most of us drive each day. 4
Still unsure about range? A plug-in hybrid is a great solution. Plug-in hybrids have all-electric driving distances between 20-80 km, with backup gasoline engines or generators for those longer journeys.

5. The province of British Columbia and the Canadian government want you to go electric, and they’re helping early adopters cover the cost through rebates.

As of July 2021, there were up to $14,000 available in rebates for British Columbians towards the purchase of a new EV and proper disposal of an old vehicle. (Clean BC offers up to $3000, iZEV offers up to $5000 and BC-SCRAP IT offers up to $6000). In many cases rebates can be combined.

6. Looking to install EV charging stations at your home, strata or workplace? Check for the latest rebates.

Need to install a charging station at home? Get up to $350 to install a Level 2 charging station in a single-family home.
Interested in a charging station at your work, condo or apartment? Get up to five hours of free support services from an EV Charging Station Advisor from Plug In BC to understand the best options and apply for rebates of up to $2,000 per station.