Yukon Energy is compiling research on electric cars in cold climates to see what the potential for the technology might be in the territory.
“We see an opportunity not only to sell more electricity but also to help Yukon mitigate its emissions picture,” said Andrew Hall, Yukon Energy’s president.
For now, the corporation will not be actually testing any electric cars here in the Yukon.
Instead, it will be a paper study to understand the technology, the issues and the industry, and to make projections on what that industry could look like here.
“Lots of folks have concerns about greenhouse gas emissions, and climate change,” said Hall.
Nearly 60 per cent of the territory’s emissions come from vehicle traffic, he said.
A lot of people have doubts about the usefulness of electric cars in cold weather, but that hasn’t stopped the technology from catching on in Norway.
Tesla, manufacturer of luxury electric cars, is huge there, said Hall.
“I believe it’s their biggest market outside of California,” he said.
“That will be an interesting test market, in terms of what they have done to encourage that situation.”
The results of the study, to be completed this spring, will be shared with the public when they are available, said Hall.