C2 | Driving

theprovince.com

StartyourengineS

Friday, February 18, 2011

Car show plugs into citys green reputation

W
ith growing public acceptance and the support of BC Hydro, electric vehicles are finally arriving on auto showroom floors. Futuristic concepts and productionready plug-ins from a handful of manufacturers will be showcased at the 2011 Vancouver International Auto Show, including the Chevrolet Volt, Nissan Leaf and Mitsubishi i-MiEV. Automakers are tapping into renewed industry confidence to develop and promote new lines of ultra-efficient vehicles. British Columbia leads the environmentally friendly vehicle movement in Canada as the top province for people driving hybrids per vehicles sold. In fact, General Motors says that B.C. has more than double the adoption rate of hybrid vehicles than other provinces. While hybrid vehicles are commonplace in the Lower Mainland consider the number of Toyota Prius taxis on our city roads all eyes are turning to new, battery-powered electric vehicles. The most talked-about car in the electric vehicle revolution is the 2012 Chevrolet Volt. General Motorsanswer to the extended range electric vehiThe Nissan Leaf boasts plenty of power.

The Chevrolet Volt is General Motors answer to the extended-range electric vehicle. SuBMITTED PHOTOS

Plugged in, EVs will draw as much power as a TV.

cle is different than most hybrids in that the wheels are always driven by electricity, provided either by the onboard battery or gasoline engine that powers a generator. The 2012 Chevrolet Volt wont be available in Canada until the summer, but it will be at the

Vancouver International Auto Show. Arriving this fall, the Nissan Leaf is the first battery-only EV available in Canada. The Leaf has received early reviews praising its performance, especially the powerful torque that is available instantaneously from its

electronic, single-speed powertrain. The purely electric Mitsubishi i-MiEV has proven local experience as a fleet vehicle around Vancouver. Both BC Hydro and the City of Vancouver have used several i-MiEVs for over a year as part of their commitment to green

initiatives, and also to gain valuable information for developing the infrastructure for the next generation of electric cars in the province. Chevrolet and BC Hydro have plans to place 15 Volt plug-in gas/electric vehicles into the fleets of provincial organizations beginning this summer, with at least two Volts joining BC Hydros own fleet alongside the i-MiEVs. Naturally, BC Hydro electricity will provide the juice for those vehicles from their charging stations. BC Hydro and Science World installed a charging station at the Olympic Village last summer, and is currently used by BC Hydro and the City. This is really the year of the electric vehicle, said Mark Dubois-Phillips, senior manager of technical development at BC Hydro. Not only does Hydro have a fleet-greening initiative, but also it is trying out these various vehicles to understand their applications and the implications of the technology on the province. Expect a large portion of vehicles at the Auto Show, running March 29 to April 3 at the Vancouver Convention Centre, to reflect the citys worldwide green reputation.

2011 MAZDA3

GET AND NO PAYMENTS UNTIL MAY GET 0 AND NO PAYMENTS UNTIL MAY
% %
2011 MAZDA 3 SPORT 2011 MAZDA2
Finance From bi-weekly mths at $ for 0% APR On Finance Price from $17,770. Includes freight & PDI. Taxes extra.

FREEWAY

YOUR MAZDA SUPERSTORE!

16,690

137

60

PLUS GET $250 OWNER LOYALTY CASH**

146 $ % $ 17,890* 60 0% 149 48 0

$
Finance from

Includes freight & PDI. Taxes extra.

months at

14,390*
APR

Well equipped from

Well equipped from

Bi-weekly for

Finance from

at

Bi-weekly for

APR

Includes freight & PDI. Taxes extra.

months

RE-TOOLED. RE-PRICED.

2011 CX-7

2010 MAZDA5 %
$
Finance From
purchase financing

PLUS GET $1000 OWNER LOYALTY CASH**

for up to

27,990

229

bi-weekly mths at for 1.9% APR On Finance Price from $17,770. Includes freight & PDI. Taxes extra.

60

0 72
months

2010 MAZDA6 %
purchase financing

PLUS GET $250 OWNER LOYALTY CASH**

for up to

0 72
months

PLUS GET $1000 OWNER LOYALTY CASH**

cash purchase or get $ credit up to PLUS GET $500 OWNER LOYALTY CASH**

4,000

FREEWAY

CLEARANCE

cash purchase or get $ credit up to PLUS GET $1,500 OWNER LOYALTY CASH**

4,000

WE RE NOT TOO FAR FROM WHERE YOU ARE! Open 7 days a week MON. - THURS. 9-9, FRI. 9-6, SAT. 9-6, SUN. 11-5 154th Street & 104th Avenue in Surrey

Visit us online at: www.freewaymazda.ca

604-583-7121

CLEARANCE

DL #25555

No payments for 90 days applies to purchase finance offers on all new in-stock 2010, 2011 and 2012 models. The purchaser will repay principal monthly over the term of the contract, commencing 90 days after contract date. **$1,500/$1,000/$500/$250 Owner Loyalty Cash is only available to customers who qualify for the Mazda Owner Renewal Program and is applied against the purchase price of a new 2010 Mazda6/2011 CX-7/2010 Mazda5/2011 Mazda2, Mazda3, Mazda3Sport vehicle. No cash surrender value. Visit mazda.ca or see dealer for complete details. 0% APR Purchase Financing is available on new 2010 and 2011 Mazda vehicles. Based on a representative agreement using a finance amount of $15,470 for 2011 Mazda2 GX (B5XB51AA00)/$17,770 for 2011 Mazda3 GX (D4XS51AA00)/$18,970 for 2011 Mazda3Sport (D5XS51AA00)$22,470 for 2010 Mazda5 GS (E6SD50AA00)/$24,970 for 2010 Mazda6 GS I4 (G4SY60AA00)/$28,270 for 2011 CX-7 GX 2WD (PVXY81AA00), at a rate of 0%/0%/0%/0%/0%/1.9% APR, the cost of borrowing for a 48/60/60/72/72/48-month term is $0/$0/$0/$0/$0 $1,387, bi-weekly payment is $149/$137/$146/$144/$160/$229, total finance obligation is $15,470/$17,770/$18,970/$22,470/$24,970/$29,657 including freight and PDI of $1,395/$1,595 for the Mazda2, Mazda3, Mazda3Sport/Mazda5, Mazda6, CX-7. Taxes are extra and required at the time of purchase. Other terms available and vary by model. *Cash purchase price for new 2011 Mazda2 GX is $14,390 ($15,390 less cash credit of $1,000)/2011 Mazda3 GX is $16,690 ($17,690 less cash credit of $1,000)2011 Mazda3Sport GX is $17,890($18,890 less cash credit of $1,000)/2011 CX-7 GX 2WD is $27,990 including freight and PDI. Offer valid only on finance purchases of new 2011 CX-7 GX FWD (PVXY81AA00) and 2011 CX-9 GS FWD (QVSB81AA00) and all new 2010 CX-7 and CX-9 models purchased between February 1-28, 2011. Payments will be made by the Dealer, directly to the customer, in payment of actual monthly payments on financed amounts, up to a maximum of $800 in total. Any amounts due in excess of the payments made by the Dealer are the responsibility of the customer. No refunds of any difference if first 2 monthly finance payments are less than $800 in total. No substitutions or cash surrender value. See your dealer for program details. $4,000 credit is available on cash purchases of remaining 2010 Mazda5 and 2010 Mazda6 vehicles. See dealer for details. $75 max. PPSA, licence, insurance, taxes, down payment and other dealer charges are extra and may be required at the time of purchase. Dealer may sell/lease for less. Dealer order or trade may be necessary. Lease and Finance on approved credit for qualified customers only. Offers valid February 1 - 28, 2011 while supplies last. Prices subject to change without notice. Visit mazda.ca or see Freeway Mazda for complete details. Images not exactly as shown.
VAN01030503_1_1