Ontario may ease electric car rules

ZENN Motor Co. may be headquartered in Toronto, but the maker of electric vehicles can't sell its product in Ontario.

That could soon change.

Premier Dalton McGuinty told the Toronto Star yesterday he's intent on amending outdated legislation that forbids the use of low-speed electric vehicles in the province. He said he didn't want the current rules to be an "impediment" to what's viewed as an environmentally friendly transport technology.

"I'm sure there were good reasons at one point in time to prevent electric cars from being on Canadian roads, but we've got to find a way to ensure that our regulations don't become an impediment from doing what's right for the environment," said McGuinty.

He added that it makes no sense for a local company to produce a car that can't be driven in its home province but is widely accepted – and sold – throughout the United States. "I'm going to allow them to drive these things in Ontario."

It's unclear, however, how quickly he plans to move. McGuinty and Transportation Minister Donna Cansfield are expected to meet today with officials from ZENN Motors to talk about rule changes. The premier said he also wants to convince the company to move its vehicle assembly facility from Quebec to Ontario.

Ian Clifford, chief executive officer of ZENN (Zero Emission No Noise), credited former U.S. vice-president Al Gore for drawing McGuinty's attention to the issue during a lunch in late April during the Green Living Show in Toronto.

Gore asked Clifford how sales of his electric cars were doing in Canada. "I told him we can't sell them here, and he said `What? That's ridiculous'," recalled Clifford, adding that he explained to Gore how provincial legislation prohibited use of the vehicles on public roads, mostly for safety reasons.

"Gore took me by the shoulder and marched me over to the premier and right in front of McGuinty's face, said, `Premier, do your part, it's crazy that you can't drive these electric cars in Ontario.' McGuinty said `Let's set up a meeting'."

Trevor Parker, president of Iclectric, a Toronto-based distributor of electric lawn mowers, boats and other vehicles, said a petition was also circulating at the Green Living Show asking the premier to change the law. But Gore, he added, put McGuinty on the hot seat.

"He (the Premier) should have done this two years ago, so we've got some catching up to do," said Parker, adding that emission-free electric vehicles are the future of transportation as cities and provinces attempt to battle climate change.

ZENN Motors has doubled its U.S. distribution network to 33 retailers since January. Shares in the company, which recently changed its name from Feel Good Cars and trades on the TSX Venture Exchange, soared 12 per cent yesterday ahead of the meeting with McGuinty.

EV's don't release emissions, but some critics argue the pollution is merely shifted to burning coal and other fossil fuels that generate electricity for charging its batteries.

A recent study out of Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, however, concluded that charging a hybrid-electric (or electric) vehicle with coal power releases fewer greenhouse gas emissions than a vehicle running on gasoline.

Such technologies could prove effective in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Clifford said it would be great if he could drive one of his company's own cars to work. "The irony is painful," he said. "We get tonnes of inquires from across Canada. We have cars we can sell in Ontario today. It's hugely frustrating that we can't do that today."