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Le Guide de l’auto journalist Marc Bouchard wrapped up the test drive of the luxury hybrid vehicle in Charlottetown today. Honourable Philip Brown, Minister of Tourism, said, “It was the perfect fit to have our majestic coastline, beautiful sea-side drives and gentle landscapes promoted alongside a vehicle that uses the latest technology to protect just such environments. We’re honoured that the luxury Lexus GS toured the Island as part of the test drive for Toyota and Le Guide de l’auto and look forward to the exposure it will bring Prince Edward Island as the Lexus GS is profiled.”

In addition to the Island’s breathtaking vistas, it was the Province’s concern for the environment that prompted Toyota, manufacturer of the Lexus line of luxury vehicles, to choose Prince Edward Island for the site of the test drive. Meeting with Mr. Bouchard today, Minister of Environment, Energy and Forestry Jamie Ballem told him of PEI’s plans for a clean energy future. Prince Edward Island has been a national leader in implementing progressive policies and legislation to encourage the development and use of renewable energy resources and energy-efficient technologies to produce electricity, heat homes, and fuel vehicles.

“Transportation accounts for about 40 per cent of the Island’s total energy needs, so reducing the amount of gasoline and diesel we use through development of biofuels and new technologies is a key part of PEI’s Renewable Energy Strategy,” said Minister Ballem. “Hybrid vehicles, which feature higher fuel efficiency and lower tailpipe emissions, will play an important role in a cleaner energy future.”

Toyota was the first manufacturer to intensively promote hybrid technology and it intends to offer this technology in all its vehicles in the next few years. The Department of Environment, Energy and Forestry purchased one of the first hybrid cars in the province in 2001 - the Toyota Prius. Minister Ballem switched to a hybrid truck last year and the department has extensively promoted hybrid vehicles by demonstrating their benefits.

Minister Ballem told Mr. Bouchard of some of other clean energy policy initiatives that the Province has implemented including a provincial sales tax rebate of up to $3,000 on hybrid vehicles – the best incentive offered in Canada – and a fuel efficiency standard for new and replacement vehicles in the Government fleet. The standard ensures that any new leased or purchased fleet vehicle will be more fuel efficient than at least 70% of vehicles in its class.

The article on the Lexus GS test drive in Prince Edward Island will appear in the fall issue of Le Guide de l’auto and the test drive will be featured on the television spin-off Le Guide de l’auto TV in early September. The Quebec car guide sells more than 110,000 copies every year and the TV program attracts more than 400,000 viewers.