Cumberland Councillor Stephen Blais was on hand as the City of Ottawa added to its growing fleet of environmentally friendly vehicles this week with the purchase of its first electric plug-in car, a 2012 Chevrolet Volt.

“I am very proud to announce that the City of Ottawa will be one of the first municipalities in the country to use an electric car,” said Blais. “This is an opportunity for us to reduce our fuel consumption and show that we are serious about green technologies that make both economic and environmental sense.”

The City of Ottawa purchased the electric vehicle under its Green Fleet Plan, which is part of an overall commitment to reduce carbon emissions and generate long-term savings in energy costs.

To date, the City has acquired 36 hybrid vehicles as part the Green Fleet Plan. These vehicles reduce fuel consumption by approximately 28% every year, saving up to $1,150 per vehicle.

The Chevrolet Volt is ideal for Ottawa’s climate and geography. A traditional plug-in electric car can only travel 60 km without needing to recharge, and this distance is reduced on a winter’s day when the heater and window defroster are operating. Unlike other electric vehicles, the Volt has an on board generator, which kicks in when the batteries start to run down. This provides a maximum range of 560 km.

Residents can look for the new electric car to be on Ottawa’s streets right away.