This event will be held in Southern California.

Source: Dexigner

A convergence of circumstances, including energy security, climate change and air quality concerns, have led to a rapid push toward sustainable transportation. Experts from across North America will present solutions and ideas related to sustainable transportation at the first-ever Forward Motion: Advancing Mobility in California & Quebec symposium organized by Art Center College of Design, the Quebec Delegation in Los Angeles and the Universite de Montreal.

Earlier this year, the Quebec government unveiled its 2011-2020 Action Plan for Electric Vehicles, intended to transform Quebec into a North American leader in the field of sustainable mobility. Similarly, in 2009 California became the first state in America to mandate carbon-based reductions in transportation fuels in an attempt to cut the state’s overall greenhouse gas emissions by 2020.

In support of these larger sustainable mobility goals, Forward Motion will feature experts in the fields of electric vehicles and public transit as selected by the three partnering organizations. The experts will discuss the experimental programs, groundbreaking initiatives, new technologies and advanced materials developed in California and Quebec that are rapidly driving North America forward.

The car is not yet available in Canada.

Source: Arimoto

The Arcimoto SRK is a reasonable choice for sustainable transportation. The SRK is designed for the everyday driver: its environmentally efficient footprint is easy to maneuver and park, it has the capacity to carry two people and plenty of groceries, and its grin-inducing ride experience ushers in a new era of responsible driving – free from compromise and the gas pump.

Featuring an all-electric ultra-efficient drive system, race caliber suspension, a sturdy space frame, and a lightweight body shell, the SRK strikes a unique balance between economy, efficiency, utility and pure electric fun. It sports a variety of body options, multiple range choices and a base price that won’t break the bank.

Arcimoto unveiled the SRK product prototype, ‘Red 5’ on April 23, 2011. The Company is currently testing this prototype as it moves towards product finalization, the launch of the SRK pilot fleet and the push to production.

You can now reserve your place in the initial production fleet for a fully refundable reservation deposit of $100. Click here to place your pre-order.

The most difficult step in any journey is the first one…

Source: Montreal Gazette

Highlights of the plan include funding for:

• more bike paths
• green promenades through the most densely populated sectors
• charging stations for electric cars
• curb-side pickup of kitchen compost for buildings with less than 8 units (sorry apartment dwellers!)

Source: Montreal Gazette

This is great news and shows true leadership from an entrepreneurial company. In a province that produces some of the cheapest electricity in the world, this is almost a no-brainer. It is good for the sustainability of the local economy, is emissions free and is good for Communauto’s brand.

As a proud Communauto member, I can’t wait to try out these all-electric cars when they’re available.

Source: Communauto Press Release

Communauto to offer all-electric Nissan LEAF to clients in 2011
Carsharing pioneer to add first all-electric real-world car to fleet

Communauto, one of the world’s largest and North America’s first carsharing service, announced today a commitment to add 50 Nissan LEAFs to its fleet when the vehicle is available to the Canadian market before the end of 2011.

“By offering the all-electric Nissan LEAF next year, Communauto is reconfirming its environmental commitment to our more than 20,000 users,” said Benoît Robert, President of Communauto. “Our customers will soon be able to share the only real-world car with zero emissions and that brings together all the comfort, style and practicality that they are looking for.”

Communauto plans to integrate the Nissan LEAF into its fleet with the technical support of the Centre National du Transport Avancé (CNTA), at some locations in and around Montréal and Québec City. This is the first and largest all-electric self-service carsharing project to be announced in Canada.

“Nissan’s agreement to supply the LEAF to Communauto was facilitated by our MOU partnership with the Government of Québec, Hydro-Québec, Montréal, Québec City and the Agence de l’efficacité énergétique du Québec. The MOU and agreement with Communauto are a testament to the importance of establishing the strong relationships required to build a zero-emission community,” said Mark Grimm, President, Nissan Canada Inc.

Hydro-Québec will be implementing the charging infrastructure Communauto will need to keep the Nissan LEAFs fully charged when carsharers are on the go next year.

“When it comes to transportation, electricity is the way of the future. Thanks to the clean, renewable and reliable energy that we provide, Hydro-Québec can offer Quebecers a healthier environment,” explained Thierry Vandal, Hydro-Québec’s President and CEO. “The company is pleased to play an active role in transportation electrification and to contribute to the ecologically responsible initiative being launched by Communauto and Nissan.”

While 100% electric vehicles are positive, an extension of the Montreal Metro system and the creation of high-speed rail service to Toronto and Dorval airport would make me more excited.

Source: CNW Group

In collaboration with the City of Boucherville, Hydro-Québec will test the performance of up to 50 all-electric Mitsubishi i-MiEVs on the road under a variety of circumstances, notably winter conditions. The project, which is evaluated at $4.5 million, is the first of its kind to include the participation of a car manufacturer, a public utility, a municipality and local businesses that will integrate the vehicles into their existing fleets. The trial is designed to study the vehicles’ charging behavior, the driving experience and overall driver satisfaction.

“This new pilot project is part of our action plan for the electrification of vehicles,” noted Thierry Vandal, Hydro-Québec’s President and CEO. “It will allow us to advance our knowledge of the technology and its integration into our grid, which in turn, will help us plan the necessary charging infrastructure for homes, offices and public places…”

i-MiEV, which stands for Mitsubishi Innovative Electric Vehicle, is an all-electric, highway-capable, charge-at-home commuter car. Because the battery, the motor and other items are mounted out of the way beneath the floor, the i-MiEV seats four adults and offers surprising interior room and cargo space. Other i-MiEV features include excellent low-speed acceleration and a very low centre of gravity, which contributes to superior handling and stability. Moreover, the i-MiEV is extremely quiet…

At the recent Tokyo International Motor Show (2009), the i-MiEV won the Japanese Car of the Year award for “Most Advanced Technology.”