Electrifying program

Photo: Contributed

An electrifying new program will help people get around easier.

The Columbia Shuswap Regional District is plugging into the South Shuswap Transportation Society’s drive to purchase an electric vehicle and set up a charging station with the goal of providing rides to seniors or other community members who have limited access to transportation.

CSRD Directors gave their support to submit an application for a $50,800 BC Rural Dividend Program grant which will go towards the purchase of an electric vehicle.

Electoral Area C (South Shuswap) has limited transit or private taxi options in the region and the society aims to alleviate some of these challenges, especially for those with limited mobility.

The non-profit society’s mandate is to offer convenient, safe, affordable and personalized transportation services for the South Shuswap community. The operation would be based on a model already in use in Sicamous and Electoral Area E, where volunteer drivers use the electric vehicle to drive residents to medical appointments or other needed services.

Directors also voted to support the purchase of an electric vehicle charging station which would be used by their organization, as well as be available for public use. The society would charge the public for use of the station to help off-set the costs of operating it.

The South Shuswap Transportation Society has set up a lease agreement with Sorrento Tirecraft to host the charging station.

The Board agreed to approve funds of up to $52,500 from the Electoral Area C Community Works Fund to purchase the charging station. The society is hoping to have the electric vehicle purchased and the charging station operational in late 2019 or early 2020.