By Cecilia Nasmith

With more than 30 members to start, the Electric Vehicle Society-Northumberland Chapter invites everyone to learn more about electric vehicles at its first public meeting Feb. 20, at 7 p.m. at the Cobourg's Venture 13 Entrepreneurship and Innovation Centre.

The EV group will welcome Steve Lapp – a local engineer and former Director of Sustainable Energy Systems Engineering and Technology at Kingston's St, Lawrence College – for a presentation on the economics of electric vs. fossil-fueled cars.

He will also address many of the common questions he has fielded about EVs over the years, and recount his own experiences as the owner of a Nissan Leaf.

Northumberland County Environmental Officer Judy Smith, whose work includes developing the Climate Action Plan, predicts a big shift to EVs over the next decade as a result of the climate emergency we are in, affecting not only cars but everything from pick-up trucks to buses and garbage-collection vehicles.

“Electric on-demand micro-transit vehicles will likely be introduced to take you door-to-door,” she said in the group's press release.

“Already, there are 40 electric-vehicle models to choose from, and rebates from $5,000 from the Federal government and $2,000 for used electric vehicles through Toronto-based PlugnDrive.”

The goal of the local EV Society is to use the expertise of electric-vehicle owners and enthusiasts to help Canadians transition to electric transportation through education and advocacy. It shares the Federal government's target to increase the number of electric vehicles to 10% of all vehicles by 2025, and 30% by 2030. It is their hope that monthly talks – the third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at Venture 13 - will further this aim, along with organized events where people can talk to EV owners and take test drives.

Located at 739 D'Arcy Street, Venture 13 has a fast and free Level 3 electric-vehicle charging station for the convenience of EV owners attending.