Gas prices making some people consider switch to EVs

Halifax Electric Avenue is an event that gives people the chance to ask questions about electric vehicles and test drive some of them. (Callum Smith/CTV News)

An event showcasing electric vehicles – and offering them up for test drives – is being held in the parking lot of the Canada Games Centre in Halifax this weekend.

The event, called Halifax Electric Avenue, receives funding from the provincial government. It’s aimed at educating and engaging with people about EVs.

Colin Robar, the transportation manager for Clean Foundation, says it’s a unique opportunity for anyone considering switching to an electric vehicle.

“A lot of people are very curious about electric vehicles, but they don’t necessarily want to go to a dealership yet to start talking about buying one,” he says. “They just want to see what it’s all about and understand how it fits into their lifestyle.”

EVs from 10 manufacturers are available to test drive.

He says combined with a $5,000 federal rebate (for EVs under $50,000 after taxes), affordability is “pretty steady,” with the lower-end vehicles costing around $40,000.

“As everyone’s seen, everything else keeps getting more expensive. So, at the very least, they haven’t gotten more expensive with time,” Robar says.

“There are lots of premium EVs that have really helpful features for different folks’ needs, but in the affordable section, it is getting pretty competitive.”

Gas price fluctuation ‘ridiculous’

The fluctuation in gas prices was one of the reasons that Chad Stimson and his family came out to look at other options.

“It’s gotten ridiculous,” he says.

He currently drives a plug-in hybrid and says realizing those savings, combined with accessibility of charging stations and speed of charging, have all helped him get over “range anxiety.”

“[Electric vehicles are] a little bit more expensive, but when you don’t have to factor in oil changes, all that kind of maintenance and gas, you’re coming away ahead.

“We save so much money with our plug-in hybrid that it’s worth it.”

That so-called ‘range anxiety’ – when people fear the vehicle won’t go far enough on one charge – is one of the reasons Khaled Alomari is apprehensive about making the switch.

“The [vehicle] that I test drove, I think the base model gives you about 390 kilometres for maximum range, which is kind of, I feel like, low, especially if you’re going to be going on long drives.”

But he’s intrigued by the modern look of EVs and the quiet cabin ride.

“I’m going to be looking for what makes financial sense to me,” Alomari says.

“I’m still a gas kind-of person, but, if it makes sense, I’ll definitely switch over to electric.”

Charging infrastructure ‘very, very good’

According to Robar, charging infrastructure in Nova Scotia has gotten to the point that it’s “very, very good.”

“Almost anywhere you go in the province, you’re never more than 150km away from a charger,” he says.

Still, he says 90 per cent of charging happens while people are at home and sleeping.

And for drivers planning longer road trips, he says they often underestimate how long pit stops are.

“They’ll say, ‘Oh, 20 minutes sounds so long,’ but then you have to wait in line for the bathroom, and you have to wait in line for your coffee,” he says. “All of a sudden, 20 minutes is actually feeling pretty short.”

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