There are only about a dozen electric cars licensed to travel on British Columbia's roads. Ernie and Elvena Slump of Penticton own one of them.
Although the vehicles are seen by some as a way to become more carbon-neutral, the Lower Mainland company that makes them - Dynasty Electric Car Co. - says proposed new government regulations will completely dry up an already small market. In fact, Dynasty has been sold to a company that is moving the entire operation to Pakistan to build electric cars for the U.S. market.
The Slumps have owned two different electric cars over the past three years. Their current model was manufactured by Dynasty at its plant on Annacis Island, near New Westminster.
Dynasty has manufactured about 200 electric cars since 2001 in a pilot production project after its predecessor, Dynasty Motor Car Corp. in Kelowna, went into bankruptcy. Only about 30 vehicles were sold in B.C., with the remainder going to markets in the United States.
The Slumps love their electric car, but feel hamstrung by provincial regulations restricting their use.
Though electric cars are capable of reaching speeds of 75 kilometres an hour, in B.C. their engines are built so they can't go faster than 40 km/h. They are not permitted to travel on roads with a posted speed limit over 60 km/h.
Current regulations governing electric cars are basically the same as for farm tractors on public roads.
They must display a warning safety triangle in the rear and have their four-way flashers activated.
The Slumps use their electric car for errands around town, but they avoid the Channel Parkway, which has a speed limit of 70 km/h.
"It's fun to drive and it's clean," Ms. Slump said. "We can drive it from the end of March until the first of December."
In these days of skyrocketing gas prices, the couple feel pretty smug about the operating costs for their electric car, Ms. Slump conceded.
"I laugh every time I go past the gas station," she said. "We take it home and plug it in, and it costs you a nickel to charge her."
The cost of a new electric car is about $20,000, Mr. Slump said.
The vehicles are fully licensed and insured by the Insurance Corp. of British Columbia.