top 3 reasons to buy an electric vehicle

Before we get into the reasons why you should invest in an electric car, let’s get the potential cons out of the way, the biggest one being price.  Electric vehicles are typically $10.000 on average higher in price than gas-powered vehicles.  Even with current federal rebates (Ontario currently unfortunately does not have a provincial rebate program for EVs at time of print), the delivery price is noticeably higher than a gas car.

Another one is “range anxiety”, a term not a lot of consumers are aware of, but nevertheless exists with the potential purchase of an EV.  The fear of running out of power before reaching a destination is real, whether justified or not.  

To address the above concerns, in regards to pricing, yes, electric vehicles have a higher upfront cost, but don’t discount the annual savings from not having to fuel up at the gas station.  And for someone who drives between 15,000 to 20,000 km per year or more, the fuel savings is even more significant.  In regards to needing an electric vehicle charger installation in your home, this will improve your car's charging efficiency at a relatively low cost.

As for the range anxiety issue, this is currently a reality of today.  When you look 5 to 10 years in the future, however, the landscape of vehicle types is likely to change.  The Canadian government has a goal to transition to all electric cars (zero emissions) by 2035.  Along with that goal, it has plans to dramatically improve the charging station infrastructure throughout the country.

Now, let’s get to the top 3 reasons why you should consider an electric vehicle in the near future:
​

• Environmental.  This is the main driving force behind the creation of electric cars.  The zero emissions feature reduces the carbon footprint and will hopefully leave the planet in a better state for future generations.

• Savings.  The higher upfront price will be offset by the annual savings in not having to fuel up at the pumps, especially with the gas prices skyrocketing with no end in sight.

• Maintenance costs.  Aside from the battery replacement, electric vehicles have virtually no maintenance requirements as compared to gas-powered vehicles that have a multitude of moving parts and systems that have much more chance of breaking down.  Oh, and say goodbye to oil changes too!

So there you have it.  The reasons why you should buy an EV for your next vehicle, but one of the most important ones to consider is that is the direction our country is headed.  In about 10 years, it will likely not be practical to continue owning an ICE, or internal combustible engine.