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City councillor wants to put the brakes on electric car plan

The City of St. John's is moving forward with its plans to purchase a pair of electric cars, but not all councillors are rolling with the change.
Coun. Wally Collins says he doesn't think electric cars are as reliable as diesel or gas and doesn't want the city to purchase one. (Mark Quinn/CBC)

The City of St. John's is moving forward with its plan to purchase a pair of electric cars, but not all councillors are rolling with the change. 

"The way I see it, we should stick with the one type of vehicle," said Coun. Wally Collins.

At Monday night's meeting, council voted to issue a public tender for two electric vehicles. 

Collins was the only council member to vote against the proposal. He said the city's run into problems in the past when purchasing parts for a new vehicle. 

"My gut feeling is that I wouldn't buy one myself and I wouldn't buy one out of taxpayers' money," Collins said. 

"[I might] if I had more proof of what they can do and how good they are."

The electric car plan is a pilot project.