Finance committee  On average.

Finance committee  They start at $50,000 and go up. Buses go up to $700,000 or $800,000. The more expensive the vehicle, the higher the premium for the hybrid electric.

Finance committee  We've consulted our industry members, and their collective estimate is about 10,000. Then you'll reach the tipping point where they're into mass production and lower premium prices.

Finance committee  The hybrid electric technology is available now and is already in use in private vehicles. We were looking for greater use in commercial vehicles. The hydrogen technology, when it comes about, which may be years away, will need the hybrid electric drive we're putting into our vehicles, so it will go hand-in-hand with hydrogen fuel cells or other fuel cells, when they come about.

Finance committee  Yes, the battery's got to be charged at night, but they also recharge during their operation, through regenerative braking.

Finance committee  It's not a totally battery-electric vehicle; it's hybrid electric.

Finance committee  In the hybrid technology the motor will charge the batteries; it doesn't necessarily need to plug in. In the pure electric it has to be plugged in, and that's done in the off-peak hours.

Finance committee  Yes, Purolator already has about 15 hybrid electric vehicles in its fleet, realizing fuel savings in the order of 40% to 50%. They have placed an order for a larger quantity. That's typical of fuel savings in hybrid electric vehicles in commercial and personal use.

Finance committee  The industry recognizes that this has been a problem for a number of years. Vehicles are designed to operate during peak hours and have maximum load and engine capacity. Electric and hybrid technology allows us to have less engine power and to save on fuel. Several studies have shown that companies use different-size vehicles for different jobs.

Finance committee  Mr. Chairman, I was referring to studies conducted in part in Canada, but more particularly in the United States and in England. There isn't much data available in Canada on transportation and emissions. This problem has been around for a number of years. Similar studies done in England and in the U.S. corroborate this claim and have produced measurable results.

Finance committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am Al Cormier, representing Electric Mobility Canada, which is an organization of industry members that are devoted exclusively to the promotion of electric mobility as a readily available made-in-Canada solution to our country's increasingly complex energy and environmental problems.