Esquimalt is lining up to be the third municipality in B.C. to allow small four-wheel electric vehicles on its streets.

Similar to bylaws introduced in Oak Bay and Vancouver, Esquimalt's proposed bylaw would permit the vehicles on roads with speed limits of 50 km/h or less.

"We don't see problems (with the zero emission vehicles) per se, but because these vehicles are new we would like to monitor (them) for a few years and see if there are any issues," said Gilbert Cote, Esquimalt's director of engineering and public works.

On July 1 the province amended the motor vehicle act, leaving it up to municipalities to decide whether they want these vehicles on their streets. The vehicles don't meet safety requirements to allow them on highways or roads with a speed limit exceeding 50 km/h.

Such transportation is perfectly suited to Esquimalt, said Coun. Barbara Desjardins.

"A lot of people live in Esquimalt and all they do is drive from their house to the grocery store or to the park," she said.

The next step is to get Victoria on board, she said.

Before Oak Bay adopted its bylaw, a letter was presented to council from the Canadian Federation of the Blind. It warned electric cars posed a serious safety concern to both blind and other pedestrians who rely on the sound of vehicles to perceive traffic.

Esquimalt staff have not yet looked into this concern, but the owner of Canadian Electric Vehicles Ltd., Randy Holmquist, doesn't believe zero emission vehicles are any less quiet than high end gas-powered vehicles.

The bylaw to put electric cars on Esquimalt's streets comes before council Oct. 20.

raldous@vicnews.com