Had it with record gas prices? Go electric, B.C. Hydro suggests

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      Gas prices in B.C. have reached the stratosphere and there’s no indication they’re about to return to Earth anytime soon.

      It’s putting a crunch on many families’ plans for the summer. But in crisis, there is often opportunity.

      That appears to be the view on record gas prices that B.C. Hydro is choosing to take.

      Today (May 17), the Crown corporation issued a media release that suggests it’s a good time for British Columbians to make the jump from gas-powered vehicles to electric.

      “New data from BC Hydro shows switching from a top-selling gas powered car to an electric vehicle could save thousands of dollars per year on the average commute,” it begins.

      “At the equivalent of $0.25 per litre in gas, fueling an electric vehicle costs about 80 per cent less than fueling a gas powered vehicle,” the release continues. “Commuting 20 kilometres a day in a Nissan Leaf costs about $2 a week, less than the average British Columbian spends on a cup of coffee at $3.60.”

      According to B.C. Hydro, this means that someone who uses a Honda Civic to commute from Surrey to Vancouver could save more than $1,800 per year by switching to an electric vehicle. A Toyota Rav4 owner would save more than $2,000 each year. And a commuter in a Ford F150 would save more than $3,380 per year if they ditched the pickup truck for an electric car.

      “In addition to saving money, about 98 percent of the electricity BC Hydro generates comes from clean and renewable resources, which means making the switch to an electric vehicle will help reduce emissions,” the release adds.

      There's a lot more that all three levels of government could do to help incentivize B.C. residents to switch from gas to electric vehicles. But the province has begun to take an interest in infrastructure that caters to greener vehicles. B.C. has more than 1,000 fast-charging stations located throughout the province. More information about what the provincial government is doing to prepare for the long transition to electric is available at B.C. Hydro's website.

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