As the war in Iran rages on, gas prices are skyrocketing: drivers are now paying roughly $20 to $25 more each time they fill up their tanks. I, on the other hand, am saving $500 a month—and that’s because, for the last three years, I’ve been driving an electric vehicle. In B.C., where I live and where gas prices recently rose above $2 per litre, these savings are becoming harder to resist. Just recently, a friend’s boss ordered a new electric SUV; they said they’re simply over the volatile gas prices, especially since electricity is so much cheaper here. Indeed, for many drivers, today’s egregious gas prices may be the final push that tips them toward an EV.
There are already signs of this happening. While we won’t know exactly how much EV sales have grown until first-quarter data is released, online searches for EVs have ballooned. According to Rates.ca, insurance quotes for EVs rose 40 per cent in March, compared to the same time last year, while online vehicle retailer Clutch reported a 94 per cent jump in searches for EVs between January and March. Meanwhile, the president of Electric Mobility Canada said some car dealers have seen a 30 to 100 per cent leap in EV sales.
Keep reading this op-ed in Maclean’s.
