It’s closing in on the end of the first full year of smart being in Canada. I’ve had mine since January. The year went by fast. It’s hard to believe that only 4 months ago, I set out for Labrador in the 100 MPG Challenge.

Tonight, I put storage insurance on it for two months. I’ve elected to not drive it through the winter months in order to save a few kms for next year. The odometer rests at 49,928 for 11 months of driving.

In the meantime, I have plates on my newly acquired Suzuki X-90, a small two-seater 4×4 with removable glass t-tops, the most fuel efficient 4×4 in it’s day. Some of my best tanks are nearly 40 mpg… and I seem to be hitting 35 mpg easily.

I’ll be updating this site shortly, with many additional links and articles coming. My time at Club smart Car has been positive, but I will not be carrying on as an admin or moderator by the end of January. My time will be refocused on this site, the BCSEA, and hopefully a new website tentatively called ‘Fraser Valley Enviro Hub’.

In the later spring, I will be attempting to beat 100 mpg (US). My record tank of 113 mpg imperial equates to 94 mpg US, so I’m quite hopeful I can pull it off. I have ordered and received an after-market cruise control system to assist with this goal. That will be the only modification made to the car, other than this time, I will not be carrying 300 lbs of luggage with me.

I will continue working with the City of Abbotsford through to at least June/July 2006 on the Community One-Tonne Challenge, provided the Conservatives don’t scrap the program if they win a minority mandate.

The car has recently been at Blackwood Lumber in Abbotsford for a ‘climate change cash’ promotion, and I was also at a school in Surrey early December, answering questions about climate change and my cross-country trek, while showing the grade 5 students the car. (There will be an article and pictures on this very soon!)

Stay tuned, there is much more coming!