1. How and when did you form your group?
The Saskatchewan Electric Vehicle Association (SEVA) was formed in 2018 by a group of environmentally conscious individuals who were looking to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles in Saskatchewan.
2. What are your principal activities and why do you believe they’re important?
Our largest activities are public engagement and education. In normal times, SEVA hosts events in person to address the myths and misconceptions about EVs and allow people to interact with local EV owners while taking a test ride. We also work with local governments and businesses to advocate for charging infrastructure across the province. The majority of the general public do not believe that these vehicles are feasible in our climate and that they will not suit their personal needs. Education and infrastructure are the two biggest hurdles to EV adoption in Saskatchewan.
3. What were your successes (big or small) in 2020?
2020 was a tough year for us due to the pandemic; however, we used this as an opportunity to work behind the scenes and strengthen our organization. SEVA continued to push for major infrastructure investments and completed online education campaigns. We were able to significantly grow our membership and gain a larger presence in the Canadian EV industry.
4. What would you like to achieve in 2021?
We are hoping to resume more regular public operations in 2021. We need to get back to hosting education events in person and allowing people to interact with the cars.
5. If you could have 3 wishes for improving your community, what would they be?
Our community would be greatly improved in 3 ways. We need to electrify public transit, create more public charging infrastructure, and generate more power from renewable sources.
The Saskatchewan government recently announced plans to tax electric vehicles whereas other provinces are offering rebates. Members of SEVA have protested the new tax: “It’s important to bring attention to the fact that this is the first EV tax in Canada, and that’s really the opposite of the direction that we want to be moving in here in Saskatchewan.”
See Also
EcoFriendly Sask supports Saskatchewan environmental initiatives through an online publication, an events calendar, small grants, and the Nature Companion website/app.
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