Suppose you are concerned about the state of the EV market (source), and lets say it so happens you are not the prime minister, but a policy maker on a more local level, say Major, City counsellor etc. What can we do? Turns out lots, lets dole out some free advice to our city/town policy makers.
Keep expanding the charging network. Toronto has made excellent progress in putting charging stations everywhere. Particularly L2 charging stations, these are great, because the economics are so much better. At $2 an hour, these 7 kW stations get you about 30c/kWh. That’s far cheaper than Ivy’s 70 c/kWh (source) or 50 c/kWh at a supercharger (source). Plus if there is one down the street, its hard to beat in terms of convenience. Take the tale of a San Diego resident who could only barely L1 charge at home (source), a L2 Flo station on his street or somewhere within walking distance would have completely changed his situation, making EV ownership a dream.
Lead by example. The City of Toronto could save a fortune by replacing their gas guzzling city cars with gently used EVs (source). The Toronto transit commission (TTC) is a pioneer aiming for a fully electric bus fleet in 2040 (source). Perhaps Toronto Police, Fire, and the rest of it should do the same. Its kinda sad seeing an idling police car in the winter, polluting the air for no good reason really, sitting in a warm EV is just so much nicer. Plus computers/radios and the rest of the kit gets the power it needs. Seeing these EVs on the streets is a wonderful ad for EVs, if that parking enforcement officer can do it, why not you?
Green plates in carpool lanes. Ontario permits EVs with a green plate to drive in their carpool lanes regardless of the number of occupants (source). Toronto has many carpool lanes, some of these certainly could do with an EV or two.
Front yard EV only parking. Parking pads, or front-yard parking is a hotly contested item in city politics (source). Perhaps these should be for EVs only.
Congestion pricing. Many have suggested Toronto take up a congestion pricing scheme similar to other cities in the world such as London, UK. Briefly there is a fee for entering the city centre during certain hours, perhaps $10-20. Naturally EVs would be exempt (this is a EV column you happen to be reading;), at least for a while, thereafter getting a substantial discount (source).
Electric car adventures 