By JIM STANDEN
Salt Spring is special. Like many smaller island communities, we don’t have automotive wrecking yards and we don’t have big car dealerships with fancy repair tools. And boy, are we generally pretty happy about that. We do, however, have some fine talented automotive mechanics. More happy.
BC Ferries (BCF), under the watchful eye of Transportation Canada, has recently announced the enforcement of a ban for inoperable hybrid and fully battery electric vehicles due to safety concerns with lithium batteries. Even if lithium battery fires are very rare, it’s a legitimate concern as the fires are very hot and difficult to put out. A fire could seriously damage the ferry itself. Similar bans or restrictions are now in effect in many other countries.
There are two categories of inoperable hybrid or battery-powered cars. The first is cars that are seriously damaged or totalled in an accident. As we don’t have a wrecking yard, what is to happen with the carcass?
The other category is cars that simply don’t start for some mysterious reason. Island mechanics are able to resolve some of these issues. A common example is a fully drained 12 volt battery (which is also the cause of many dead internal combustion cars). Some of these mystery problems can be handled locally, but some will require a visit to the dealer. Some have to be at the dealer to avoid a warrantee issue.
BCF has a responsibility to safely transport their passengers, staff and cargo. In the history of BCF, like other carriers they have adapted their safety standards to accommodate flammable liquid and gaseous fuels. This includes implementing and enforcing reasonable safety measures to reduce risks, such as shutting off propane valves and limiting the transport of flammable cargo.
However, restricting the transportation of damaged or inoperable hybrids or fully electric vehicles is at odds with federal and provincial goals of reducing our emissions to slow the pace of climate change. In addition, there is the factor that none of the hundreds of current owners on Salt Spring was advised that this was an issue that would present itself. I wonder about a tourist in an EV — might they choose to avoid ferry destinations?
With lithium batteries abundant in cell phones, power tools, e-bikes and EVs, a reasonable set of standards is required to maintain an appropriate level of safety. The growth of EVs is well known on Salt Spring and we still may have the highest per capita EV ownership of any region in B.C. As early adopters, we have some of the oldest EVs, which may be more subject to failure. We can certainly expect more EVs on the island in future. Cars (personal, taxi, delivery), school buses, trucks (private, tourism support and the CRD) and, on the distant horizon, the ferries themselves. Which prompts a question: many ferries in other countries are hybrid or fully electric — what safety rules or precautions do they follow?
I believe it makes sense for BCF to spend the time and effort to find a solution to get the vehicles on and off island. Maybe a special container, maybe a special ferry run with the vehicle surrounded by special fire-put-out stuff. I think this is a new category of challenge that is present today that needs technology and collaboration to resolve. A solution would be a significant win, and other countries may wish to adopt our innovative solution.
Respectful comments are welcomed at jstanden@ucalgary.ca.