Mitsubishi and Nissan recently announced collaborations with public partners in Manitoba to encourage green vehicle use. The Government of Manitoba will undertake a long-term study of electric vehicle performance using Mitsubishi EVs. Public utility Manitoba Hydro is working closely with Nissan Canada to develop a public charging system for battery-electric vehicles. These partnerships put Manitoba on the right path to achieving the goals of the Electric Vehicle Road Map. This document states that the province needs to increase green vehicle use to save $1 billion in the next five years.
The Government of Manitoba will assist Mitsubishi in gathering performance data from i-MiEVs used by provincial employees. This data includes battery life, average speed and maintenance problems accrued over the next year. Researchers at Mitsubishi will analyze data from Manitoba along with other fleet tests to improve the production version of the i-MiEV. Provincial officials will participate in an advisory council to review regulations, insurance costs and budgetary constraints before fleet adoption of the i-MiEV.
Nissan Canada and Manitoba Hydro are dealing with the infrastructure issue to facilitate plug-in vehicle adoption. This partnership starts this summer with a review of existing charging infrastructure and grid capacity before sending Nissan test vehicles onto the streets. Representatives from Nissan Canada are creating a public education program for Manitobans that encourages adoption of green vehicles. Manitoba Hydro and the Government of Manitoba are assessing potential incentives like tax credits that could reduce EV costs. Nissan’s experiences with 95 city, regional and national government partnerships to present should help Manitoba develop comprehensive plug-in infrastructure.
Manitoba starts along the Electric Vehicle Road Map with a solid base. Provincial officials note that 500,000 recharging outlets exist throughout Manitoba. These outlets are used during the winter to heat parking garages and allow drivers to preheat their vehicles. This infrastructure represents nearly $1 billion in savings as Manitoba can bypass the development of public outlets. Manitoba Hydro is also producing electricity using alternative sources including wind, solar, hydrogen and hydroelectric that significantly reduce emissions. The Electric Vehicle Road Map indicates that the province’s 700,000 registered vehicles include 1,600 hybrid and electric vehicles. Nissan, Mitsubishi and other automakers should leverage these assets to turn Manitoba into Canada’s leader in green vehicle adoption.
