Crossover of efficiency, ‘bunch of values’

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This article was published 30/10/2024 (346 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Peg City Car Co-op has added a second and third electric vehicle to an ever-expanding fleet that’s now up to 160 automobiles, including 28 hybrids.

There will be more EVs in the future, the car sharing co-operative’s officials say, but one of the barriers to increasing the number is the cost of the charging infrastructure.

For these two new EVs, Peg City partnered with Assiniboine Credit Union, which is covering the cost of the Level 2 chargers at the South Osborne Housing Co-op and Old Grace Housing Co-op locations.

Michelle Panting, marketing and communications manager at Peg City, said the assistance from ACU was crucial for the project, with the installation of the two charging stations costing close to $12,000.

“We try to find partners for new programs like this and ACU, as well as the two housing co-ops, are a good example of that,” she said. “When we can all share the load, that increases the outcomes we can achieve.”

In addition to its sustainability goals, ACU was already a corporate member of Peg City and the two housing co-ops are ACU members, making it an excellent fit for the credit union’s support.

Dennis Cunningham, ACU manager of environmental sustainability, said the Peg City project was a bit of an experiment for ACU, a certified B Corp that has sustainability as one of its core driving principles.

“We wanted to do something that crossed over a bunch of values,” Cunningham said. “We are trying to start thinking a bit more about how we can engage in the support of the growth of charger networks.”

Cunningham said ACU understands the gaps that currently exist, especially in Manitoba where the EV charging infrastructure is still getting figured out. As an organization that’s serious about environmental sustainability and one that also provides mortgage financing for commercial developments, he said there will be opportunities in the future to include charging stations in new developments

“For us, it is promoting the efficiency of business opportunities, as well as environmental sustainability in terms of reducing greenhouse gas for their fleet.”

Panting said Peg City has had a good experience with the growing number of hybrids in its fleet, with lower maintenance and fuel costs. (Peg City covers the cost of fuel on its vehicles.)

She said the plan is to continue to acquire hybrids whenever possible, but the expansion of an EV fleet is still up in the air, mostly because of the additional costs related to chargers.

Having said that, the introduction of a provincial purchase incentive of up to $4,000 for a new vehicle has turbo-charged growth of the local EV market.

For competitive reasons, Marc Beghin, owner of EasyEV, Manitoba’s only electrical contractor dedicated to EV charger installation, was cagey about how much work is out there for EasyEV.

“We’re quite busy,” he said. “There is strong demand.”

EasyEV installed the chargers at the two locations for Peg City. (Old Grace Housing Co-op installed an additional one for its residents as well.)

Despite the cost of the chargers — which can reach $20,000-plus for commercial stations — Beghin said EV owners can still save substantial amounts.

“Were doing lots of installations outside the city,” he said. “Commuters can save $800 per month driving an EV. Even driving around the city, you can save $200 (a month).”

James Hart, president of the Manitoba Electric Vehicle Association, said all the activity around EVs is picking up because of the incentives including an increase in inventory at the dealerships.

He said the addition of EVs in the Peg City fleet will also help with that dynamic. “It will give people a chance to drive them before they buy.”

martin.cash@freepress.mb.ca