New car models and electric vehicles available in Canada

For many years, electric vehicles were thought of as consumer products. For instance, when the Tesla Model S, Tesla Model X, Tesla Model Y and Tesla Model 3 debuted, fleet managers did not add these electric vehicles to their selectors, because these were not practical to use for fleet applications. Even the more affordable, and more practical Nissan LEAF wasn’t a sure bet for all fleets, because it came with its own limitations. Today, much has changed. Fleet professionals have digested innovations and oddities like the Tesla Cybertruck, and they’ve seen how vehicles like the Chevrolet Bolt, the BMW i3, the Volkswagen e-Golf, and even the Audi e-tron perform in real-world applications. Now, the fleet world is planning and preparing for an electrified future. We are living in exciting times. No longer do we see the electric car or the electric SUV as a novelty. Today’s electric vehicles come in a variety of shapes and sizes, some of which are ideal for a number of fleet applications. For instance, who could have imagined that we would see an electric pickup truck (or two) come market? Today’s fleet professionals can harness the power of an electric truck, like the Silverado EV, without worrying about the electric range. Moreover, the architecture of the electric powertrain is being adapted and modified for application in even larger electric heavy trucks. 

EV innovation

As battery manufacturers continue to innovate, and as new electric motor and electric drivetrain options become available, we can only imagine what tomorrow’s EV production landscape will look like. Already, we’re enjoying vehicle’s like the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Kia Niro EV, Hyundai Kona Electric, the Volvo XC40 Recharge, and the Chevrolet Bolt EUV. Soon, fleets will able to choose from the likes of the Volkswagen ID.4, Audi Q4 e-tron, and the Cadillac LYRIQ. Municipal fleets are also taking advantage of innovations that have made of vehicles, including electric buses, possible. These zero emission vehicles are part of a bigger environmental picture that will only mature and evolve over time. We’ve certainly come a long way since Tesla was the major EV player in the industry. Consumers and fleets alike now have many more options to choose from, and there’s more in the pipeline still. Fleet managers are sure to find practical ways to employ more affordable vehicles like the Kia Soul Electric, the growing family of Hyundai Ioniq Electric vehicles, and even the Smart EQ ForTwo (if it ever comes back to Canada). Company executives, on the other hand, might gravitate towards the Audi e-tron Sportback, Mercedes-Benz EQB, or plug-in hybrids like the Volvo XC60 Recharge or the Volvo XC90 Recharge. Even with this short list, we are barely scratching the surface when it comes to available electric vehicles. As the industry continues to evolve and to migrate closer and closer to electrification, fleet professionals will continue to enjoy choices and options that simply weren’t available, even recently. We truly are living in exciting times.