Promoting a reduction in vehicle fossil-fuel dependency in the Township of Selwyn

The Township of Selwyn, a municipality of approximately 17,000 people located in Peterborough County, Ontario, adopted a Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP) in 2016 aimed at reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from corporate and community sectors. One of the priorities identified was to reduce the corporate fleet’s dependency on fossil fuels. To this end, the municipality aims to lease a Mitsubishi Outlander plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) for one year as the Building and Planning department's 2020 vehicle replacement. It will also purchase and install a Level 2, 240-volt, CoRe+ charger at the Township Office. During the pilot, the charging station will be available for free public use during working hours and then used to charge the corporate PHEV after-hours. By using a semi-electric vehicle instead of the typical half-tonne truck, the Building and Planning department will considerably reduce its gasoline consumption and, in turn, GHG emissions. The PHEV should also be less expensive to operate. This particular model was chosen because it is the only electrically powered four-wheel drive option that fits the department's budget. Leasing for a year will allow the department to determine whether the PHEV meets its needs before it makes a significant capital purchase. Providing the charging station to the public for free during the pilot phase is an opportunity to demonstrate the township’s commitment to reducing fossil-fuel dependency throughout the community and facilitates a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of vehicles belonging to the public. After the pilot the charging station will remain available to the public for a small fee. This will provide a more accessible and affordable way for the public to use their electric vehicles more often, and for hybrid-vehicle drivers to be less dependent on gasoline. The township will monitor the charging station’s use and convert kilowatt hours into litres of gasoline avoided. It will then convert litres of gasoline into a CO2e-equivalent to determine the reduction in GHG emissions. The amounts of gasoline avoided and reduced GHS emissions will also be calculated for the PHEV. Innovative aspect(s): • Small and rural municipalities often face common barriers to using alternative green technology—this project is a significant step in moving this technology forward for municipalities in similar positions • The installation of a public charging station will promote the use of electric and hybrid vehicles in the area Replicability: As part of the Local Government Climate Change Working Group, Selwyn can share knowledge and lessons learned through this project with other municipalities and First Nations in Peterborough County. This may inspire others to consider greening their own fleets and promoting electric vehicles in the communities they serve. Environmental benefits: • Estimated 40% reduction in fuel/oil consumption per month for the Building and Planning department’s fleet • Estimated 3.42 tonnes of CO2e reduction—a 34% reduction in GHG emissions from the baseline Economic benefits: • Maintenance and operational savings from using a PHEV (compared to a half-tonne truck) • Revenue generated from the charging station after the pilot-project term • Deferred capital expenditure Social benefits: • Increased opportunity to increase public awareness of electric vehicles and other low-emissions transportation options • Improved service provision to accommodate electric and hybrid vehicles (Project description from original funding application)