How electric microcars wound up on Bora Bora’s front line against climate change
Electric microcars are often touted for their superior urban performance, wiggling through crowded cities without taking up more space than they need. But you can find them much farther flung than just the narrow alleyways of European cities. In fact, you just might see them on the beachfronts of your next vacation.
When picturing French Polynesia in your mind, you’re more likely to conjure up images of the white sands around Bora Bora or Tahiti’s mountaintop jungles towering over the beautiful crystal-clear waters below.
What probably doesn’t come to mind first is the climate emergency faced by those South Pacific Islands, whose low-lying population centers could soon be devastated by rising ocean levels.
And that’s why radically reducing the carbon emissions that are warming our planet and increasing ocean levels is such a keenly important issue on coastlines around the world. In French Polynesia, one solution is to start with alternatives to unnecessarily large and inefficient cars and trucks.
Eli’s ZERO electric microcar, which I’m more used to seeing cruise the streets in Italy and the Netherlands, is getting some much more tropical weather after the French Polynesian government adopted the vehicles as part of its new fleet of eco-focused transportation.
It wasn’t enough to simply go electric, but rather the government sought a smaller form factor that provided just enough enclosed vehicle without being wastefully large.
For Pacific islands known for intense rainy seasons, the vehicles work well all year round yet are much more efficient than full-sized electric cars.
As the company explained, “Eli Electric Vehicles is at the heart of French Polynesia’s radical transport decarbonization program. Amidst climate emergencies, the government is making a bold move – overhauling their fleet with our eco-conscious vehicles, based on their actual usage. Eli ZERO, our compact, two-seater, zero-emission vehicle, is the perfect solution for government officials’ commuting needs, leading to an optimized balance of vehicle capacity and energy use.”
The vehicles, which are brought to French Polynesia by local Tahiti-based distributor E-Motors Pacific, were chosen to closely meet the needs of government workers.
As the distributor added, “Faced with climate emergencies, the government is turning to an eco-responsible modernization of its vehicle fleet, based on a careful analysis of their actual use. Thus emerges our Eli ZERO by Eli Electric Vehicles, a compact two-seater vehicle, specifically adapted to urban needs. Designed to meet the requirements of either individual or two-seater use, common among government agents, the Eli ZERO is an eco-efficient solution that emits no carbon emissions and consumes little energy. Its choice was motivated by a desire to optimize not only energy consumption but also vehicle capacity, in perfect alignment with the real needs of users.”
In addition to the government fleet, E-Motors Pacific has also made the Eli ZERO electric microcars available for purchase by locals as well as for rent by tourists via a partnership with Avis.
This isn’t E-Motors Pacific’s first electric rodeo, either. The company has already brought other leading light electric vehicles to the island nation, including Pickman electric mini-trucks, Yadea electric scooters, Evoke electric motorcycles, and Frey electric bikes, among many others.
The company has also focused efforts on installing dozens of solar canopies for parking light electric vehicles in the shade while using the solar energy to charge from a 100% renewable source.
Electrek’s Take
Sure, I’m used to spotting electric microcars around Europe and have also long enjoyed the lonely job of trying to convince Americans that they can be useful in the US as well. So this is a fun chance to see electric microcars in a new environment that is no less ideal for them than the narrow winding alleyways of European cities or the crowded streets of New York City.
And of course a few electric microcars is mere water vapor coming off a drop in the bucket of global transportation emissions. But the whole point is to send a message. These are the locations that will suffer first from rising sea levels. And not just the beautiful beaches of Bora Bora, but also the hundreds of millions of people living along less affluent Asian coast lines in areas that don’t get postcards made of their villages.
And yes, even you in California and New York and Florida, it’s coming for you too. Without creative solutions like these to address the damaging climate impacts of oversized and inefficient vehicles, your kids are doomed. We need fewer Cybertrucks and more cyberbikes. We need fewer driverless cars and more carless drivers. We need our transportation solutions to meet what we actually need, not the maximum of what we think we might need twice a year. And that’s exactly what microcars, e-scooters, e-bikes. and other energy-conscious solutions are designed to do.
Well that’s depressing. To end on a happier note, here’s a short video of me testing out an Eli Zero last year. Or for a longer test ride on a pre-production unit, check that one out here.
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After its electric vehicle sales more than doubled in the first quarter, GM claims it’s now the “#1 EV seller” in Canada. With a full lineup of 13 all-electric vehicles, GM sold more EVs than Tesla in Canada.
GM tops Tesla to become the #1 EV seller in Canada in Q1
GM’s electric vehicle sales in Canada surged by 252% in the first three months of 2025, with new Chevy and Cadillac models driving growth.
The Chevy Equinox EV led the way with 1,892 units sold, followed by the Silverado EV with 894 units. Cadillac’s new entry-level OPTIQ had a strong showing, with 615 models sold, nearly matching the 720 units sold of its first EV, the LYRIQ.
Even the GMC Hummer EV Pickup and SUV saw more demand, with sales up 232% (186) and 88% (252), respectively.
Combined, the automaker sold a total of 5,750 EVs in Q1. According to GM, this was enough to top Tesla to become “the #1 EV seller in Canada.”
GM Canada recently posted on social media, saying, “We claimed the top spot as Canada’s #1 EV seller!” The news comes as registration data show that Tesla registered just 524 vehicles in Quebec in Q1, down 87% from the same period last year.
The steep decline in sales comes after the Quebec government paused federal EV incentives from February to April 1st. Canada also paused its iZEV rebate program in January, which offered up to $5,000 on the purchase or lease of an EV. Like the US federal EV Tax credit, it was designed to be used at the point of sale to help lower prices.
GM also registered significantly fewer Equinox and Blazer EVs in Quebec during the quarter. Despite higher year-over-year (YOY) sales, GM’s electric vehicle (EV) sales were down considerably from the over 15,000 in Q4 2024.
The American automaker will continue to expand its lineup with the launch of the new Cadillac Escalade IQL, Lyriq-V, and Visiq.
By the end of the year, we also expect to get our first look at the next-gen Chevy Bolt EV with deliveries starting in 2026.
Electrek’s Take
GM is building momentum with new models rolling out, which now cover nearly every segment. In the US, GM surpassed Ford and Hyundai Motor, including Kia, to become the second-largest seller of EVs last year.
Chevy is now the fastest-growing EV brand in the US. The new electric Equinox, or “America’s most affordable 315+ miles range EV,” as GM calls it, is quickly becoming a top seller. The Blazer and Silverado EVs are also gaining traction.
Cadillac reported its best first quarter since 2008, with retail sales increasing by 21%. After delivering the first models in Q1, the entry-level OPTIQ is off to an impressive start with 1,716 units sold.
GM will top off its US electric vehicle lineup with the next-gen 2026 Chevy Bolt EV due out later this year or in early 2026.
Source: GM Authority, GM Canada
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Environment
ComEd extends electrification plan in Illinois, committing a fresh $168M toward EV charger and purchase incentives
ComEd confirmed that the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) has approved its second Beneficial Electrification Plan. This plan builds upon an existing investment and will commit an additional $168 million over three years to support its Illinois ComEd customers who purchase or lease an EV or install a charger.
Commonwealth Edison, known more commonly as “ComEd,” is a 118-year-old company that currently operates as a subsidiary of Exelon. ComEd is hands-down the largest energy provider in Illinois and has made considerable contributions to EV adoption in the Land of Lincoln.
In 2023, ComEd proposed its first Beneficial Electrification (BE) Plan, which was approved under the guidance of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) signed by Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker in 2021. ComEd’s first BE Plan comprised a $231 million investment between 2023 and 2025.
Since February 2024, the energy company has used those funds to help Illinois residents purchase and install nearly 5,000 public and private EV charging ports (Level 2 and DCFC) and incentivize the purchases or leases of almost 1,000 new and pre-owned electric fleet vehicles. During this period, Illinois said it saw EV registrations grow nearly four times faster than the US as a whole.
ComEd has committed another $168 million with BE Plan 2 to keep the momentum in Illinois EV adoption going, offering incentives through 2028.
ComEd commits to EV incentives in Illinois through 2028
According to a release from ComEd, the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) has approved its second BE Plan, enabling the energy company to invest approximately $168 million more in EV incentives in Illinois from 2026 to 2028.
As mentioned above, BE Plan 2 builds upon ComEd’s original $268 million investment, which expires at the end of the year. It will help residential and commercial customers transition to EVs. Per ComEd president and CEO, Gil C. Quiniones:
The shift to EVs is a major milestone on the road to Illinois’ clean energy future, and it is part of a broader effort to electrify more of our region’s energy system. Through the expansion of our Beneficial Electrification programs, ComEd is helping to reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality, and enable all communities to enjoy the benefits and opportunities that flow from the global energy transformation.
Per ComEd, here’s how the $168 million in fresh funding will be broken down across EV incentive programs for Illinois customers:
- $11 million toward the Residential EV Charger and Installation Program: Offers rebates of up to $2,500 per household to support the purchase and installation of residential Level 2 electric vehicle chargers.
- $82 million toward the Business and Public Sector EV Purchase Program: Offers rebates for the purchase or lease of new or pre-owned fleet EVs of all weight classes.
- $44 million toward the Business and Public Sector Make-Ready Program: Rebates for costs associated with making sites ready for public or private Level 2 of DC Fast Charging equipment.
- $11 million toward a Customer Education and Awareness Program: Fund multiple efforts to empower customers to make informed decisions about vehicle electrification and charging infrastructure deployment. Includes free access to ComEd support tools including Fleet Electrification Assessments, EV Toolkits, and training programs for municipalities interested in achieving “EV Ready” status, plus free Fleet Electrification Assessments.
- $11 million toward ComEd’s Research and Development Program: Will evaluate and demonstrate the impact of new transportation and electrification technologies.
- $9 million toward a Portfolio Program: Funds a variety of initiatives spanning across multiple programs, to support a successful deployment of BE Plan 2 as a whole.
ComEd also stated that future EV-centric projects from 2026 onward located in, or primarily serving, low-income or Equity Investment Eligible Communities (EIECs) in Illinois, will be eligible for higher rebate amounts and receive more than 50% of the BE Plan 2 budget. So far in its BE Plan, over 70% of its awarded rebates have gone to low-income customers, businesses, and public sector organizations in low-income and EIECs.
As an Illinois native, this investment news makes me happy and proud. You can learn more about ComEd’s EV program here, or see if you qualify for any EV tax incentives at the state level (in any state) by checking out this detailed breakdown.
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Ben & Jerry’s organic waste is now creating clean energy for the Vermont grid, thanks to a new PurposeEnergy plant in St. Albans.
PurposeEnergy, which specializes in converting organic food waste into energy, has officially opened a high-tech anaerobic digestion facility that began exporting power to the Vermont grid in December 2024. The project broke ground in May 2023 and marks PurposeEnergy’s first big move since being acquired by Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners in April 2023. Quinbrook fully funded the St. Albans facility.
A key player in this project is Ben & Jerry’s. The Vermont ice cream giant signed a long-term feedstock deal with PurposeEnergy in 2021. Now, all of Ben & Jerry’s high-strength organic waste and out-of-spec food products are sent straight from its factory to the new facility through a dedicated pipeline. The waste is then transformed into clean electricity and clean water.
Other regional food producers are also contributing their waste to PurposeEnergy’s new site. Casella, Wind River Environmental, Evergreen Services, and Carmichael Trucking haul additional feedstocks to help centralize food waste disposal across the region.
“This project strengthens Ben & Jerry’s commitment to environmental sustainability by providing a long-term solution for organic waste,” said Jenna Evans, the company’s global sustainability manager. “It will reduce Vermont’s road traffic, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and decrease phosphorus pollution.”
The plant sits on land purchased from the Franklin County Industrial Development Corporation and is expected to produce 8.75 million kWh of renewable electricity annually. That clean power is sent to the Vermont grid through the state’s Standard Offer program, which supports the deployment of small-scale renewable energy projects.
The plant also recovers up to 45,000 million Btu of renewable thermal energy annually, which helps heat the digester and run operations.
“It’s a model of industrial symbiosis – turning food production waste into clean energy, reducing emissions, and supporting local economies,” said Erik Lallum, PurposeEnergy’s chief development officer.
PurposeEnergy says the new facility could help attract more food manufacturing businesses to the St. Albans Industrial Park by offering a sustainable, onsite waste management solution that doubles as a clean energy source.
Read more: Vermont sees an explosive 41% rise in EV adoption in just a year
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