There's never been a better time to consider an EV

You'll never forget the first time you drive an electric vehicle (EV). Even the least expensive models feel like a glimpse into the future: everything is luxuriously quiet and surprisingly fast – especially from a standing start.

So what do you need to know about going electric? Let's explore some of the many advantages of owning an EV.

5 great things about owning an EV

               1. You're fighting climate change

If your electricity is generated by coal or other fossil fuels, you could argue that driving an EV doesn't make much difference to carbon emissions. But EVs make total sense in B.C., where 96% of the electricity we generate is clean.

               2. You'll save on fuel costs
Electricity is not only cleaner, it's also a lot cheaper. Based on Fisher rates, this means that a Nissan Leaf can travel 100 km for just $2 in electricity costs – a tiny fraction of what it would cost to drive an equivalent gas-powered car the same distance.

              3. You'll save on maintenance
EVs have far fewer moving mechanical parts than gas-powered vehicles, so there's a lot less to go wrong. Braking is different in an EV, with the vast majority of slowing and stopping performed by regenerative braking. So an EV's traditional friction brakes get used much less. Anecdotal evidence from drivers suggests those friction brakes can last up to 300,000 km or more before being replaced.

Once you move to an electric vehicle, you can also say goodbye to oil changes. In fact, a Canadian EV cost study published in September 2018 concluded that on average, there was a 47% maintenance cost saving for electric vehicles over gas-powered vehicles.

                4. You'll love driving it
Driving an EV is a refreshingly different experience. As we noted at the top, you'll be amazed how quiet and fast it is, and reassured by all the efficiency information on display.

Don't believe us? Ask any EV driver about their experiences - and see if they'd ever go back to a gas-powered vehicle.


                5. You'll boost your green cred
Along with the benefits we've highlighted above, there are also other social benefits to driving an EV. Wherever you go, you're signalling your beliefs on sustainability and protecting the environment to everybody who sees you. If you use an EV for work, you're conveying a positive message about your business. And within your community, you're doing a valuable job of 'normalizing' EVs: the more EVs people see driving around, the more reassured they'll feel about making the switch themselves.