CAA-Quebec busts myths at the Electric Vehicle Show in Montreal.

At the first-ever Electric Vehicle Show (May 26 to 28), CAA-Quebec helped set the record straight about EVs by shattering a number of myths. The following myths, along with CAA-Quebec’s responses, are below:

• Too expensive? Although the price of a plug-in electric (PEV) or plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) is higher than its gas-powered counterpart, that doesn’t take into account the government rebate, the reduced maintenance cost and the lower energy cost. All those savings mean that a few years after going electric, the trend is reversed. Moreover, electric vehicles are becoming increasingly less expensive to buy.
• Not fun? Electric vehicles deliver instant acceleration, making them particularly pleasant for city driving. Plus, it’s hard not to appreciate how quiet it is inside. And consider the overall experience: you’ll make fewer visits to the gas station (or none at all), and with a PEV, it’s goodbye to oil changes forever!
• Long trip? Yes, you can! A PHEV can travel as far as a fully gas-powered vehicle, while some PEVs, like the new Chevrolet Bolt EV and the various Tesla models, can easily make the trip from Montreal to Quebec City without a recharge. Otherwise, at a quick-charge station, it takes only 20 to 30 minutes to give the battery an 80% charge. It’s simply a question of planning.
• Got range anxiety? Did you know the vast majority of commuters travel only 60 km per day, on average, to and from work? A PEV will easily cover that distance, even if it’s minus 30°C out!

“Electric vehicles are gaining in popularity, and they’re increasingly well suited to our lifestyles,” says Sophie Gagnon, CAA-Quebec’s Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs.