Are you ready for an electric vehicle?

With the rising cost of fuel, more and more consumers have begun thinking about electric vehicles.  This was to be expected as the EV segment in the Canadian automotive industry has grown exponentially in the last few years. The combination of high gas prices and more model options means that electric vehicles have never been more popular. Still, you may be wondering if an electric vehicle is the right option for you.

We thought we would look at some of the considerations to take into account when determining if an EV is a good option for you and if you are ready for an electric vehicle.

What is your budget?

Electric vehicles have gotten a lot more affordable and accessible, especially with new federal incentives from the government of Canada as well as provincial rebates that are more generous than ever. Still, electric vehicles tend to be on average more expensive than gas powered vehicles. You will not find an electric vehicle with a starting price of $25,000 or $30,000, but if your budget allows for a vehicle in the $50,000 to $75,000 range, there are many options available on the market.

What are your driving habits?

What does your daily commute look like? Most Canadians drive on average less than 30 km per day, but some people have to drive a lot more for their work. The good news is that electric vehicles offer more range than ever before, and there are more charging stations than ever before as well.  Finding an electric vehicle with over 300 km of range isn't a problem anymore, and new vehicles offer advanced charging capabilities on level 3 chargers which can provide 80% of the available range in under one hour, often in 30 minutes or less.

Still, anyone driving outside of the city or in rural areas and that has to be able to do 300 or 400 km at any moment might be better off with a plug-in hybrid vehicle. You want to check if charging stations are readily available where you go most often, and if that's the case, an electric vehicle will likely work for you.

Can you install a charging station in your house?

The best way to get the most out of your electric vehicle is to have a charging station installed in your house. This usually isn't a problem, but if you live in an apartment or a condo building, you will want to make sure that you can install a charging station.

Electric vehicles have so much to offer. If you commonly drive in areas with many charging stations and you drive less than 300 km per day, and you have the ability to add a charging station to your house, you might just be ready for an EV. 

Give us a call today to learn more!