Long before electric vehicles (EVs) became an ordinary sight on Canadian roads, Daniel Novy—whose last name, fittingly, means “new”—was an enthusiast. The Slovakian-born machinist and amateur auto mechanic read up on EV technology, then applied his broad knowledge and skills to building his own e-car. Technically, Novy’s project, completed in his garage over several months, involved replacing the internal combustion engine of a 1990 Honda CRX with a lithium-ion battery. He kept the original transmission, making his converted car different from most EVs, which have just one gear. (An explanation of the gearing and remarkable acceleration capability of EVs is beyond the scope of this article, but for the mechanically inclined, the topic is fascinating.)
Heather Burt bicycles to Langara College, where she teaches literature and writing. Her novel Adam's Peak (Dundurn Press, 2007) was shortlisted for the 2008 BC Book Prizes.
Stephanie MacDonald
Heidi Fritz, MA, ND
Carime Lane
Joshua Duvauchelle