Pollution Probe releases new report, "Unlocking the Electric Mobility
Potential of Toronto: Moving Toward an Electric Mobility Master Plan for the
City"

TORONTO, Oct. 18 /CNW/ - Pollution Probe is pleased to announce the release of its latest report, "Unlocking the Electric Mobility Potential of Toronto: Moving Toward an Electric Mobility Master Plan for the City". This report is the result of in-depth research, analysis and consultation with stakeholders, which culminated in a comprehensive set of recommendations for advancing the deployment of electric vehicle technology in Canada's largest urban region.

Part of the analysis involved conducting comprehensive simulations of the response of Toronto's electricity grid to the charging profiles associated with various scenarios of electric vehicle use in the city.

"We recognized at the outset of this project that the barriers to the effective integration of electric vehicles would be regionally specific, defined by the policies, the infrastructure and the mobility patterns of a given community," says Bob Oliver, Executive Director of Pollution Probe. "So we set out to identify the critical elements of a successful electric mobility master plan for the City of Toronto." "We found that while there would be significant emissions reductions associated with electric vehicle use, the capacity of the grid to accommodate the additional demand for power was limited in some regions of the city," says Kimberly Scratch, Transportation Project Manager. "This means that the early deployment of electric vehicles must be managed carefully to avoid interruptions in service, and that over time, upgrades to the local grid and the use of "Smart Grid" technology will be an important part of an electric mobility master plan."

The report show that in 2030, electric vehicles could contribute up to 37 per cent of Toronto's annual target for GHG emissions reductions. Higher reductions were associated with a greater proportion of commercial-duty electric vehicles within the vehicle mix.

Planning for electric vehicles is complex work, as it cuts across the scope of many organizations. A collaborative approach among local stakeholders is essential to successful planning. The recommendations in this report identify some of the critical players, including the Government of Ontario and the private sector.

"The growth and development of our city depends very much on a sustainable transportation solution," says Rahul Bhardwaj, President & CEO of the Toronto Community Foundation. "If electricity is the way of the future for vehicles, it's a good idea for us to be looking at how we can incorporate this culture shift into our current planning. We proudly support Pollution Probe's efforts in leading the process."

Pollution Probe extends its thanks to the Toronto Community Foundation, Ontario Power Generation, Toronto Atmospheric Fund, the Ministry of Transportation and Metrolinx for supporting this research. Pollution Probe would also like to thank Toronto Hydro for their in-kind contribution to the simulation work.

For a full copy of the report, "Unlocking the Electric Mobility Potential of Toronto: Moving Toward an Electric Mobility Master Plan for the City", please visit http://www.pollutionprobe.org/PDFs/EMMP.pdf.  For more information on hybrids and electric vehicles, Pollution Probe's Driving Electric brochure is available at http://www.pollutionprobe.org/PDFs/Driving%20Electric.pdf.

About Pollution Probe:

Pollution Probe is a leading Canadian environmental not-for-profit group dedicated to achieving positive, tangible environmental change through its research, education and advocacy programs. Pollution Probe has an active program focused on automobile fuel efficiency, freight movement, public transit, electric vehicles and consumer behaviour. To learn more about Pollution Probe, visit www.pollutionprobe.org.

For further information:

Bob Oliver
Executive Director
Pollution Probe
416.926.1907 ext. 231