OPG set to fuel EV revolution with clean power
The next big action to combat climate change begins in your driveway.
In Ontario, the transportation sector accounts for approximately 35 per cent of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. With the province’s electricity sector largely decarbonized due to OPG’s shut down of its coal generation, the next logical action to fight climate change is taking the company’s clean, virtually emissions-free power to electrify the transportation industry.
It’s a paradigm shift that’s happening right now in the auto industry. A recent KPMG survey of auto executives found 90 per cent of them expect battery EVs to dominate over traditional gas-powered vehicles by 2025.
We believe using clean electrons to power cars, trains and buses is the next big climate change victory for the province.Jeff Lyash, OPG’s President and CEO
To help spur greater adoption of EVs, OPG is leading by example as it electrifies its own fleet of cars, SUVs and minivans by replacing some gas-powered vehicles with EVs and hybrids.
Each vehicle converted to electric provides an approximate savings of $10,000 over the five-year life of the vehicle. Converting most of the company’s vehicle fleet could result in potential savings of more than $3 million.
EVs present a significant operational cost savings by reducing and in some cases cutting out gas, and the maintenance costs are lower.Andrea Brown, Manager, Strategic Environmental Initiatives with OPG
To support this new initiative, OPG will be installing EV chargers for employees and visitors at the company’s various sites and offices, including the Sir Adam Beck hydro stations in the Niagara region, the Darlington Energy Complex, and the Pickering and Darlington nuclear stations.
This year, the company will also deploy electric boats at two locations. In addition to being emissions-free, electric boats eliminate the risk of fuel spills into the water and the noise of loud diesel motors.
Through all of this, educating the public on the benefits of EVs remains a challenge, Brown said. OPG is looking to inform the public through its founding partnership with Plug’n Drive, a non-profit organization that advocates for electric cars.
OPG is a proud sponsor of Plug’n Drive’s newly opened Electric Vehicle Discovery Centre in Toronto, where visitors can learn more about EVs, batteries and charging, and also test drive electric vehicles.
“Ontario has created a lot of incentives for EV purchases, but the average person doesn’t necessarily know these incentives exist,” said Brown. The province’s Electric Vehicle Incentive Program helps make EVs more affordable for consumers by offering incentives up to $14,000 on eligible vehicles.
Investing in Innovation
Watch this video about OPG's Transportation Electrification Strategy
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