Community Profile
Michael Angemeer is "Taking it to the streets"
As CEO of a company that provides electricity to nine municipalities, Michael Angemeer of Veridian is well aware of the need for sustainability in meeting our energy and transportation needs. That's why he has been "taking it to the streets," for the last two years by reducing his personal carbon footprint in a plug-in hybrid car.
One of the main drivers of the climate crisis is modern transportation: cars, trucks and the infamous SUV. Driving the average Canadian car releases more greenhouse gases than heating the average Canadian home! Michael Angemeer doesn't drive the average Canadian car. Michael's corporate vehicle is the first Plug-in Solar Electric Hybrid Vehicle in Canada.
"Veridian is quickly becoming an environmental leader in sustainable energy distribution to the communities it serves, and I am proud of that. But I thought it was important to make positive steps in my own life and demonstrate a future path for sustainable transportation using clean energy."
Over half of the vehicles in the U.S. drive less than 50 km per day commuting or around town. Replacing all of these cars with plug-in hybrids would result in 2/3 less gasoline usage, less than half for commuters per trip costs and much less local pollution and global warming emissions.
"Imagine the choking local pollution in traffic jams on the freeway today being a thing of the past. That's what would happen if many of the vehicles around you switched to electric only mode," says Angemeer.
The vehicle is powered by the electric motor at low speeds, and by gas as it accelerates. For short distances, the car can run solely on electricity. The vehicle plugs into a solar and wind renewable power station located at Veridian's corporate headquarters in Durham Region during the day and into a normal receptacle at night. Development is taking place on a charging system that would limit charging during peak times when renewable power is not available.
When the car is not plugged in, the renewable energy can be fed into the grid. Michael Angemeer's car has built in solar panels that can charge the car's battery when the vehicle is travelling or parked off-site.
According to Angemeer, "as Ontario continues on the path to cleaner electricity, clean energy and electric vehicles will be two important ways to reduce local pollution and GHG and create a better quality of life in our communities and around the world"
