Randy Holmquist, founder of Errington-based Canadian Electric Vehicles, has reduced pollution around the world since 1991 as he transformed a hobby into an export business when he converted his own vehicle from gas to electric, and started to offer designs and parts to others wanting to do the same.
The parts business was forced to expand after Los Angeles International Airport hired the company to design and build a zero-emission aircraft refuelling truck. That first one led to another 13 at LAX, and then hospitals, campuses and governments started ordering electric utility vehicles.
"Exporting is central to our business and has kept us going all these years," said Holmquist. "We initially assumed Canada would be our main market and instead discovered opportunities in Japan, Hong Kong, Dubai, Australia, New Zealand, the U.S. and more. The Internet and on-site demonstrations have been key tools in accessing markets and promoting our products."
Sales rose 50 per cent last year over 2008, despite the economic downturn, and conversion kits are selling at two per month.
Holmquist is exploring new pollution-reducing plans as wind power is introduced at CEV's Errington manufacturing plant, which currently runs on solar power and is heated with waste vegetable oil.
"Things are certainly picking up for us as the general population accepts the big picture that we need to reduce pollution," he said. "With neighbourhood electric vehicles now Transport Canada certified, we hope governments and communities will ease the way for our vehicles to run on low-speed streets and spaces across Canada, and beyond. For us, it really is a belief over a business."
Holmquist's business is adding to an impressive export total for the province and the Island.
The Island is well represented by small businesses, according to the annual Small Business Profile, prepared by the federal and provincial governments.
The Island and coastal region, the province's second most populous region, is home to 18 per cent of small businesses in B.C., marginally higher than its 17 per cent share of the population.
The Lower Mainland was home to about 58 per cent of the province's small businesses, less than its 60 per cent share of the population. The Thompson-Okanagan led B.C. in small business growth with the two-year growth rate for the region hitting nine per cent, amounting to a net increase of 4,400 businesses.
The Island was next with an increase of 4.8 per cent, adding a net 3,300 new small businesses over the two-year period. The Island also saw an 18.5 per cent increase in self-employed between 2004 and 2009.
The sector also generated 32 per cent of B.C.'s gross domestic product in 2009 and small businesses exported $12.5 billion in merchandise globally in 2008, representing more than 41 per cent of the total value of goods exported from B.C.
