Electric Cars vs. Latte Sucking Yuppie Wimps

By Bernie Quigley

For The Hill on 7/12/09

Vancouver city council has unanimously approved new regulations for electric vehicle charging stations, CBC reports. Under the plan approved Thursday, developers must include plug-ins for electric cars in at least 20 per cent of parking stalls in new condominium and apartment buildings, along with some city-owned parking lots.

One commentator responded, “Yet another example of a Canadian special interest group of latte sucking yuppie wimps that has taken over and obtained access to government policy.”

Council doubled the original proposal that would have required only 10 per cent of stalls to have the charging infrastructure. David Ramslie of the City of Vancouver said the initiative is drawing direct support from car manufacturers like Nissan and Mitsubishi.

“As a result of this each stall will cost $2000 eh. Think again. Do the freaking math folks. Those are after tax dollars,” said the commentator.

Ramslie said the city is getting attention from car companies when it comes to new model launches. "We've had discussions to bring electric vehicles to Vancouver first because we feel this city is set up in so many ways to support electric vehicles."

“In addition the cost will be added to your mortgage. Your real cost will be about $5000 a stall which is stupid beyond belief. People will likely pay for the charges via their credit cards pushing the costs even higher,” replied commentator.

The estimated price tag for the plug-ins is between $500 and $2,000 per stall. Developers are being given an 18-month grace period before the plug-ins are required.

“The fix is easy. Keep the special interest groups away from government policy making. Oh and you can bet the instructions will be in at least three or four languages too. Anybody heard of an extension cord? You can buy one at crappy tire for about $20,”said commentator.

“Electric cars are coming. They are in Europe and in Japan,” Mayor Gregor Robertson told Joanne Lee-Young of the Vancouver Sun, echoing observers who see that while Vancouver might lead Canada, it would be playing catch up to many cities elsewhere, such as San Francisco and Paris, which already each have hundreds of charging stations and growing culture for electric car use. “We need to be prepared.”

“Where does electricity come from,” asked commentator Dams n Coal?