*New* – I will buy “electric” when I replace my current vehicle. Fact: A typical gas-powered passenger vehicle emits about 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. – Source
The first questions to ask are: do I need a personal vehicle, does our household need a second vehicle? If you need to replace a vehicle, seriously consider buying electric (EV).
Range anxiety is the biggest issue. With better batteries and charging infrastructure roll out this is no longer the case. EVs now have a range from 300 to 700 km. Quick-charging outlets allow recharging during a bathroom/ coffee break.
Longer range equates to battery choice and increasing cost. The cost of an EV now, with the subsidies available, is closing in on the cost of an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle. Any difference is soon made up with lower operating and maintenance cost. A selection of used EVs is becoming available.
Plug N Drive is a great place to start your research. At their EV Discovery Centre in North York you can test drive a selection of EVs (Temporarily closed due to covid-19, re-opening soon). You can use the tool on their website to find an EV that matches your lifestyle.
Here is a great story about a couple who have owned a Nissan Leaf for 10 years. This is pretty much a Nissan ad, but it is a great story. Watch the video – Here.
Car manufacturers are coming on board with a wide range of models now available and with many more to come. Ask your local car dealer when they will have an EV on their lot that you can test drive.
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