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Residents can plug in their cars at Oakville GO by David Lea Oakville Beaver Staff 5 | Thursday, November 28, 2013 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Oakville residents driving electric vehicles can now charge them at the Oakville GO Station. Ontario's Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Glen Murray joined Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn, Metrolinx President and CEO Bruce McCuaig and others in unveiling two electric vehicle charging stations within the new Oakville GO Station parking structure Wednesday. The Oakville charging stations are part of a $500,000 three-year pilot program, which also saw the devices established within the Aurora, Centennial, Lincolnville and Whitby GO Stations. Ajax, Burlington, Pickering, Erindale and Clarkson GO stations will receive similar facilities in early 2014 as part of the same program. Additional charging stations may be added depending on demand. "These new electric vehicle charging stations support environmentally-friendly transportation," said Murray in a press release. "They also help improve public transit by providing commuters with another option for accessing GO stations, along with carpooling, kissand-ride facilities and bicycle storage." Murray said the Province wants people to drive electric vehicles (if walking, transit or cycling are not options) and noted it is pretty hard to do that if there is no infrastructure in place at the GO Stations. (This) is going to encourage people to make the purchases we want them to make when they choose their vehicles -- cleaner, greener vehicles. Kevin Flynn Oakville MPP smog-producing emissions pouring out the back of their car and your car has turned itself off," said Flynn. "It makes you feel like you are doing the right thing." Cara Clairman, president and CEO of Plug 'n Drive, said there are currently about 1,800 electric vehicles in Ontario and around 5,000 in Canada, a number which she says doubles annually. She said an average driver who switches from a conventional vehicle to an electric vehicle can save about $2,000 a year on fuel alone. She said the maintenance costs are also less for such vehicles. McCuaig said that by launching this pilot project, Metrolinx is showing its commitment to investing in sustainable transportation, something which he said is a key component of the regional transportation plan dubbed the Big Move. POOL TABLE FLOOR MODEL SALE!!* Ontario Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Glen Murray, left, and Plug 'n Drive President and CEO Cara Clairman watch as Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn demonstrates how to use the new electrical vehicle charging station at the Oakville GO station. | photo by David Lea ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_ photog) MODELS 50% OFF · 4 Person Spa · Plug n' play 110v · Just Plug It In! ALL FLOOR 4' x 8' Hardwood Slate Table* SALE $1,499 ALL 1/2 PRICE Officials said charging a car at one of the stations will be free for the first month; after that, each charging session will cost $2.50. Electric vehicle users can wave a credit card or a Chargepoint smart card over a card reader to pay for their electric vehicle charging access. "This is really great news for the residents of Oakville. An electric vehicle charging station right here in the GO parking lot is going to encourage people to make the purchases we want them to make when they choose their vehicles --cleaner, greener vehicles," said Flynn. "I have the sense people will be using this from Day One and I will be back bugging the minister and Bruce to install some more stations here very soon. I think, overall, this is a very smart way to encourage greener transportation options for people. This is going to help reduce vehicle emissions in our community." Flynn said he currently drives a hybrid car, but said he believes he will be moving to the electric car option fairly soon. "It just makes sense. It makes sense economically and it feels really good when you are driving around the community and you are stopped at a red light, everybody else has REG.$2,999 BARS $ FLOOR MODEL 1,999 $ 504 IROQUOIS SHORE ROAD, UNIT #1, OAKVILLE, ON L6H 3K4 WHY PAY HIGH RETAIL? 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