The Alternative Fuel Vehicles (AFV) Conference will be hosted in Montreal on September 27. This invite-only event will feature dozens of North American experts, with a strong focus on the use of electricity for passenger transportation and the use of natural gas for heavy vehicles.

This event is organized by the Ministère des Transport du Québec, in coordination with the Gouvernement du Québec and the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers.

The conference will feature key presentations on the positive impacts of alternative fuel vehicles, in addition to good practices to help better a green economy. Finally, the event will showcase a platform to establish a collaborative network of expertise throughout North America with respect to emerging and innovative vehicle technologies.


A provincial planning grant has been awarded to the City of Nanaimo to seek out strategic locations for twelve level II electric vehicle charging stations throughout the city. In addition, the Regional District of Nanaimo has also been awarded with a similar grant, which will, in the end, result in twenty-four level II stations within the region.

Level II charging stations have the capabilities to fully charge electric drive vehicles in three to eight hours. The stations are most beneficial in areas that are accessible to residents and visitors, as well as where vehicles are typically parked for three hours or more.

Mayor John Ruttan highlighted that during the City’s recent Strategic Planning process, residents made it clear that they wanted the City to continue its work to offer and support environmentally sustainable choices. With this new grant, the entire region will take an important step closer to reducing greenhouse gas emission levels in its communities.

The City will be working with major regional employers, local businesses, and other interested stakeholders to identify appropriate locations for the charging stations. The twelve sites will be prioritized for installation in early spring of 2013. To assist with the identification and evaluation of the locations, an online Electric Vehicle Toolkit has also been provided by the province, which can be found here: http://www.livesmartbc.ca/incentives/transportation/EV-toolkit.html.