Plug-in vehicles will get special license plate in Ontario next year
Want to emblazon your ride with Ontario's new "environmentally friendly vehicles" license plate? There are two hurdles you'll have to jump. First, wait until next year when the plate actually becomes available on July 1. Second, you'll need to get a car with a plug. According to the Toronto Star, the new green vehicle plates are for plug-in hybrids and battery-powered cars only.Like the Clean Access stickers that were so popular in California, the special plates will allow the cars to drive in high occupancy vehicle highway lanes through 2015 no matter how many people are in the car. Drivers will also get to pull up to recharging facilities at GO Transit and some government-operated parking lots, and will be allowed to park in special spots at some Wal-Marts and at the University of Toronto. The provincial government is offering the benefits as a way to reach Ontario's Electric Vehicle initiative goal of getting EVs to make up five percent of the fleet mix in Ontario by 2020.
[Source: Toronto Star]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mark Kiernan 8:17AM (11/05/2009)
Nice idea.
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atc98092 8:50AM (11/05/2009)
Yep, give some incentive besides the feel-good stuff. HOV lanes and special parking will help some fence straddlers.
Now just give us some cars with plugs!
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Brant 9:55AM (11/05/2009)
I think this is a great day well someday hopefully will come... Like i think it's ironic that in my wal-mart plaza they do indeed have chargeing ports but there on the other side of the parking lot... I was at MTO one day and asked the lady if she had knew of any electric vehicles and obviously she said no well then why do we have 4 dedicated EV outlets. I just wish i could build my dream ev and make some use of them... ya tooooo many ideas not enough money... well hopefully someday i'll eiter own an aptera or build a crx or take another car with good coeffiecient drag that my trip to work 9.8km of that about 8 are hwy so my gas engine doesn't have long till i'm at hwy speeds so i'm now driving my 92 jetta that after a top end rebuild i just got 5.95L/100km trip of mixed city and about 60-70% 90km/hr maximum late at night just enjoying driving 101.1km trip was 6.01L i was extatic notheless but still could be a cheaper 100k with electricity... My two cents
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Nick From Montreal 9:56AM (11/05/2009)
Yeah! Just a little background on the politics involved:
-- Ontario is currently under a Liberal government (like US Democrats) headed by Premier Dalton McGuinty.
-- Steven Harper, the country's prime minister (like the US president) is from the Conservative party (like US Republicans).
-- Like George Bush, Harper's home province is a major oil exporter & full of ruck-driving cowboys. Therefore, they don't like EVs.
In light of these facts, this is why this announcement is such a big deal. Pro-environment provinces such as Ontario, Quebec and BC are going to push for EVs, while the country's government will probably opt of the status quo.
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Snoopy 6:15PM (11/05/2009)
As an Ontarian, I totally get that, though I know plenty of people who vote Conservative nonetheless. Truth be told, I'm not a fan of either the Liberals or Conservatives, but McGuinty has certainly managed to surprise me this year. First came the partnership with Better Place, then the $10,000 rebate for electrics, and now this. I may not like the fact that we're switching to HST, but this is some cool news.