A bright future for electric vehicles
Quebec came very close to reaching its goal of 100,000 electric vehicles (EVs) on the road by the end of 2020. Nevertheless, EVs have a very, very bright future ahead of them.
Let’s go back to 2012, when Quebec first took up this challenge. At the time, we were still turning our heads at the sight of the few electrified vehicles on our roads. The Nissan Leaf (the first model launched on the market) only had a range of 160 km under the best conditions, i.e., half the range of the 2021 version. The Chevrolet Bolt didn’t exist and there was no plug-in sport utility vehicle (SUV) on the market. Going electric felt like a pipe dream at the time.
EVs have evolved, to say the least. Prices are falling, ranges are increasing, and the lineup of vehicles available runs from compacts to SUVs. Plug-in pick-ups will soon be next to enter the market. And the number of EVs on Quebec roads increased from a few hundred in 2012 to 92,000 by the end of 2020. In fact, at the current rate, Quebec will probably reach its goal before spring, so just a few months late at the most.
On the road to 2035
When the challenge of 100,000 electric vehicles was launched in 2012, it seemed quite ambitious. The same goes for Quebec’s new goal to ban the sale of new gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035. Yes, it sounds ambitious, but it’s not that far-fetched.
EVs continue to evolve quickly
You don’t need a crystal ball to see that EVs will continue to evolve quickly over the next few years. For example, Ford is expected to deliver its first fully electric F-150 as early as next year. GM has announced that 40% of its models will be electric in five years. There are many such announcements.
From a cost perspective, the huge batteries needed to power EVs are still keeping purchase prices high compared to gasoline-powered vehicles. We already know that subsidies (up to $13,000) considerably reduce this gap and that the low cost of electricity can offset it after a few years of use. However, batteries are costing less and less to produce, which suggests that in a few years, the price tag of an EV will be on par with that of a gasoline-powered vehicle. When? Some say 2025, 10 years before the 2035 deadline when the sale of new gasoline-powered vehicles will be banned.
CAA-Quebec is going electric
CAA-Quebec is going electric too! For example, Roadside Assistance offers mobile charging for electric vehicles, and CAA-Quebec Approved Auto Repair Service Locations are increasingly welcoming EVs. You can also charge your EV at the Electric Circuit charging station at our head office on Rue Bouvier in Quebec City, where you can see that many of our corporate fleet vehicles are electric.