Contact 100mpg.ca by e-mail.

Pictured above is John Vissers (l) and Keith Hebert (r) at Abbotsford City Hall with the One-Tonne Challenge smart car.

John Vissers has been involved with environmental concerns of one kind or another for the past 25 years.

Keith Hebert has no previous background or affiliation with any environmental groups.

100mpg.ca is dedicated to promoting greater interest in automobile fuel efficiency.

Many of the ideas for this project/site are the result of hundreds of hours of online research and reading. Although the site’s primary focus is currently to promote the One-Tonne Challenge and the smart car, this is only the first stage…

This website will document the automobile technology that is available and affordable to the “average person”; automobiles that can have a meaningful impact on GHG emissions by reducing energy consumption, while at the same time, not compromising our much treasured mobility.

Considering that 50% of our personal greenhouse gas emissions (CO2) are from our automobiles, we can make our largest impacts by changing what we drive, and how.

Graph from Why Take the Challenge? on the Government of Canada Climate Change website.

and now… a word from my sponsors

Uhm, well, there aren’t really any sponsors per se.

Here’s how this all came about.

First - I donated the advertising space on my personal car to the City of Abbotsford for one year - to help promote the One-Tonne Community Challenge. The City used a small amount of the funding they had received for ‘advertising’, about $2000, to cover the costs of putting the vinyl wrap onto the vehicle. BTW, National Graphic Solutions Inc. did a nice job, don’t you think?

As the car was being wrapped, I had an idea suddenly come to mind. I was to take the car across the country.

The original idea was run by John Vissers for discussion, who thought it had merit. So we worked together on the idea, and pitched it to various parties. In the end, a scaled down version became reality - with no corporate sponsors and no immediate national support.

In essence, I was going out on faith that the accommodations wouldn’t break the bank. Five weeks away from work had been long since arranged (three unpaid, BTW), and fuel and ferries had been budgeted for. Speaking of budgets, here are the rough costs:

Fuel: $625
Ferries: $800
Accommodations: $800
Vehicle depreciation: $1920 (16000 kms X $0.12 each)
Vehicle servicing/consumables: $400 (tires, oil changes, routine checks)
Laptop rental: $100
Photography/promotion: $350
Website: $200
Food: Well you have to eat anyway… not even keeping track.

That’s over $5000 in out of pocket expenses - not including the three weeks off work.

What has been covered is about $200 worth of fuel, and $100 towards accommodations. Thanks to Jim and Spinner!

In addition, many people have provided accommodations and meals - and this has been truly appreciated. I hope I have mentioned everyone in the various posts along the way.

Help with some website layout was provided by Dan Mitchell, a smart car owner in Montreal - thank you Dan! The 100mpg.ca l0go was provided by Bob Bunting, who also loaded the website and configured various features.

Others have assisted with planning travel, lodging, events, and media releases. Special mention needs to be given to John Vissers and Marie Harwood, for without their help, I’d be sitting on the rock somewhere!

Thanks to Cliff for the Microsoft Sreets and Trips with GPS, Mark for the cd’s and case to put them in, and of course, Deana, for packing, taking care of Chloe, and praying.

Mike T has provided technical advice and kept many of the fuel economy records up to date. Rich Helms provided the space and oil for the change in Uxbridge.

The City of Abbotsford has been right behind this since they first heard of it. They’ve helped with communications, media releases, and promotional materials. Thank you to Mayor Mary Reeves, Economic Development Manager Jay Teichroeb, and Economic Development Coordinator Rhonda Livingstone for their support and encouragement.

The 100 MPG Challenge was not sponsored or endorsed by Mercedes-Benz or Environment Canada.

Keith Hebert
September 23rd, 2005
Marathon, ON