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Plug-in vehicles gain traction as incentives propel consumers to clean energy
witching to an electric vehicle is becoming a practical and sustainable choice for a growing number of drivers in British Columbia. In 2016, the industry reported 2,100 new electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles sold, a little more more than one per cent of the new-vehicle sales total in the province. That means there are almost 5,400 electric vehicles on the road in B.C. today. B.C. Hydro is optimistic on where the market is going, forecasting that there may be up to 300,000 electric vehicles in the province by 2030. “It’s an emerging market,” said Dave Wheaton, dealer principal at the Chevrolet Buick Cadillac and GMC dealership that bears his name. “While still a small piece of our market now, I am confident it will become a more and more important part of our business.” The dealership had just delivered its first Chevrolet Bolt, an electric car with a range of more than 380 kilometres. “More and more, electric vehicles now represent an alternative for consumers,” he said.
The biggest roadblock to sales is limited supply of the product, said Wheaton, who has a waiting list of customers for the compact Bolt. Supply of the Chevrolet Volt, an extended-range EV with a conventional gasoline engine that acts as an electrical generator when the EV battery is empty, is much better. Sales in B.C. have also been on a roll thanks to incentives provided by the Clean Energy Vehicle program, which began in 2011. About 20 models are currently eligible for incentives from $2,500 to $6,000. More than $31 million has been made available for incentives, infrastructure, public awareness, research, training and economic development.
Consumers are attracted to EVs to save on fuel costs, with drivers saving an estimated $15,000 in 10 years of driving (200,000 km). Because EVs don’t emit emissions, EV drivers save an estimate 32 tonnes of CO2 emissions in the same period of time. The energy the EV uses is a lot more green, with more than 98 percent of electricity generated in B.C. coming from clean or renewable resources. Drivers of older gas-guzzlers have an additional incentive to switch, thanks to the Scrap-It program. As of February, they will receive $6,000 if they scrap their older car for a new EV and $3,000 if they buy a used EV. CP
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