What is Electric Mobility?

Electric mobility consists of any transportation mode that is fully or partially propelled by electricity and can be refueled by plugging into an external source of electricity.

Electric mobility modes include:

• Electric Vehicles (EVs) – EVs are vehicles that are 100% powered by a battery that is plugged in to recharge. Some EVs are plug-in hybrids, which are powered by both an electric and internal combustion engine.

• Electric Bikes (E-Bikes) – E-bikes typically have two or three wheels, a seat, pedals, and an electric motor that cannot power the bike faster than 32 km/hr.

• Other Micro-mobility – A wide range of electric micro-mobility (or “little vehicle”) options are now available. These modes include scooters, mopeds, single-wheels, weather-protected cargo bikes, and more.

• Electric Trucks and Buses – A wide range of electric vehicles used for goods movements or passenger transportation are emerging. These include electric delivery trucks, pick-up trucks, vans, buses, heavy duty tractor trailers, and other medium and heavy duty vehicles.

All these forms of electric mobility have the benefit of being zero-emissions (except in the case of plug-in hybrids), meaning they produce no tailpipe emissions. They also have low life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions when charged on BC’s low GHG electrical grid.

Electric transportation modes typically have low operating costs, and their initial costs are declining. For these reasons, electric mobility has an important role to play in contributing to a cleaner, healthier, zero emissions future.