Why aren't electric vehicles making record sales?

A blog from Plug'n Drive's Manager of Education and Outreach, Ron Groves. Despite the fact that electric cars are doing much better than the Prius did when it first came out, the media love to harp on "dismal" electric vehicle sales. There are lots of guesses as to why this is, but no real answers. So, why aren't electric vehicles making record sales?

Is it the money? Yesterday, we learned that there are 118,000 millionaires in Toronto alone. Not to mention that after five years of driving, your electric car saves you $2,000 and $3,000 a year. Everyone can afford them.


Is it the range? Statistics Canada has learned that most drivers travel less than 60 km a day 95 per cent of the time. You want to go on a long trip? Take some of the money you're saving not pumping gas into your car to rent a Mustang convertible for the weekend. An electric car will more than get you to and from work every day. 


Is it the time it takes to charge? Think about where your car spends most of its time... the mall, the grocery store, the hockey arena? No, it's your driveway or a parking lot! Plug in when you get home, and by next morning, it's fully charged. Who cares how long it takes to charge, you were sleeping.


Is it the batteries? You're not driving a flashlight. Electric car batteries are durable and reliable. You will never have to replace them. They won't just turn into a brick when the warranty runs out. Will they hold as much of a charge 10 years later? No, probably not, but after 10 years your gas engine ain't ticking the way it used to either.


No, it's not any of those things preventing people from buying electric cars, it's an unwillingness to act. I've heard all the excuses, and what it boils down to is a bunch of excuses to do nothing. Get out to a dealer and take an EV or plug in hybrid for a test drive. No more excuses, it's time to act or Mother Nature will act for us. 

Talking 'bout My Generation

A guest blog from Plug'n Drive intern, Jessica Turchet

As an intern at Plug ‘n Drive I have spent a fair bit of time volunteering at events. Each event is unique and ranges from the car enthusiasts at the Auto Show to curious shoppers at the International Home Show. For March break I was at the Science Centre. As a student and member of the millennial generation that is supposed to be the change happen and save the world, speaking to children and involved parents at the Science Centre had a huge impact on me.

I am an avid believer, (and a preacher at times), in educating the world’s youth on pressing matters, whether it’s environmental issues such as climate change or global endemics like hunger and water shortages. In my opinion, change is moving slowly. A significant reason for this is a lack of knowledge. If people are not proactive, they'll never learn more than what is . A mindset shift needs to happen in order for humans to progress in an environmentally sustainable way and I think the only place to start is with our children.

Kids are curious. They ask questions. But at the same time, they are simple. The concept of an electric vehicle is also simple: a car that plugs in, charges and then runs on a battery. Some already knew what an electric vehicle and was almost offended when I tried explaining it (I guess I got a taste of my own medicine at 9-years old), but those who were not aware were amazed and more often than not I heard the statement, “I’m totally buying an electric car when I’m older!” Now, it may seem naïve to put faith into these children who were equally as excited when their hair stood on all ends while touching the static ball but regardless they were learning and, more importantly, engaged.

The one barrier to this solution of mine: most kids are not going to actively seek information on a topic like electric cars, unless pizza and ice cream are included and in abundance. So whom do we turn to? The parents. The education system. The people that the youth turn to for answers. One father at the Science Centre brought his 12-year old son with the hopes of someday passing on his values of the environment. He prays that his values and outlook on life will make a lasting expression on his son and when the time comes that he can no longer voice his thoughts and concerns, his son will continue to live in a sustainable way and teach the same message to his own children.

After my visit to the Science Centre, I was truly inspired. Inspired by the kids who were showing an interest in the future of this planet. Inspired by the millions of questions I answered in one afternoon. Inspired by the parents who have acknowledged a concern for the future of their children and future grandchildren, simply by taking the time to open their child’s eyes to an alternative way of thinking. 

The Big Question: Plug-In Hybrid or Pure Electric

As my friends and I toured around the North American International Auto Show last week in Detroit this question kept popping into my head.  Regular hybrids have been on the market about 13 years now, ever since Toyota introduced the Prius.  The government (aka, you and me) is legislating the heck out of the manufacturers to bring down their corporate average fuel economy (CAFÉ) or else they won't be allowed to sell any product in the marketplace.  What better way to increase fuel economy than to not use gasoline at all.  That is the argument behind pure battery electric powered cars.  But it is a huge leap of faith for much of the population to jump from a gas powered car with 600 kilometers range and a gas station on every corner to 150 kilometers range and charging at home.

Volkswagen Cross Coupe - Diesel Electric Hybrid

So the plug in hybrid electric car makes sense for all those trying to do their part for the environment, without sacrificing utility.  Most of the plug-in hybrids will travel 20 to 60 kilometers on their high tech lithium ion batteries, but if the driver has to go further than this, either on their commute or for a special trip the car will run on gasoline for as long as you keep filling it up.

The Detroit show had a large selection of plug-in hybrids on display. The new Cadillac ELR moves the Chevy Volt into the luxury category.  The gold standard of mid size cars, the Honda Accord, is now available in a plug in hybrid version. Volkswagen, known for bringing diesels to North America, showed its prototype diesel electric hybrid Cross Coupe.

Of course you pay a premium for these plug in hybrids because you have added an electric motor, batteries, controller unit, on-board charger etc. to the existing gasoline engine drive train. There are government incentives available that help minimize the financial leap for early adopters.  One story I read yesterday demonstrated that with government incentives, the plug in Honda Accord was actually cheaper than the regular gas powered version, depending on trim level.  So as always when choosing a car it pays to do the math for the total cost of ownership, and not just compare their MSRP’s.

There is no doubt the world must wean itself off fossil fuel.  And if you have $100K large to spend on a luxurious electric car like the Tesla S, you will never buy a drop of gas again.  But until we have inexpensive, mainstream, pure battery powered cars capable of greater distances, maybe the plug in hybrid is the bridge technology many of us have been waiting for.

A blog by Ron Groves, Manager of education and Outreach.

To Support Sustainable Transportation You Need to Actually Support It

A funny thing happened to me on the way to the GO station today. A couple of weeks ago I noticed that there were signs in the parkade indicating that there will be two future EV parking spots with Level 2 chargers to boot. Looking closer, I noticed a weather protected 110V outlet installed just off the box that, I assume, will later be for the Level 2 chargers. I made a mental note to stop by with my trusty electrical circuit tester to determine if, indeed, the sockets were live.

Today, I did just that and... guess what? Nothing! No Power! How disappointing and futile. Nonetheless, I figured there's no need to get down, maybe there were other sockets in the garage that were live. I drove around the parkade and found two 110V outlets on EACH floor. My trusty circuit tester revealed that these sockets were indeed live. It's strange to me that the random 110V plugs scattered throughout the parkade were live, but the designated EV parking space plugs were dead. I wasn't going to argue because anyone with an EV can plug-in to any of the 110V plugs for free.

If every 110V socket was used to trickle charge an EV all day, it wouldn't really amount to much expense to GO. The money they must pay to electrically heat those stair wells, (not complaining, it is wonderful on a cold day), must be immense and would hardly compare to 8 odd EVs charging, but I have to say to GO… "LET'S GO!" You have spent good money to get the power to those special designated EV parking spots. Just because the 220V Level 2 chargers are not in place, why not get a little PR, turn on the 110V power, and let the world know you support sustainable transportation...

A blog by
Ron Groves, Plug'n Drive
Manager of Education and Outreach

The Business Case for Electric Cars

A guest blog from Plug'n Drive's intern Jessica Turchet who is studying Green Business Management:

Hailing from University with a degree in history and geography, I decided to pursue additional education that would introduce me to real-world sustainability issues and challenges. I am a student at Seneca, halfway through completing the Green Business Management post-grad program. A reoccurring theme in all of my classes is the "Business Case". We have been taught, or, better yet, trained that the majority of CEO’s don't want to discuss environmental sustainability. They are interested in one thing: Profits! So, the question is, how do you present a green idea without emphasizing the environmental benefits?

I was assigned to intern at Plug’n Drive, which was great because I knew nothing about electric vehicles, but I quickly learned how they work and about the economic, social, and environmental benefits associated with them. As the semester was coming to a close, I saw how EVs could potentially break out of they're niche market and expand into the corporate world. And, yes, I saw this through the lens of their "Business Case".

Two of the key components in the EV Business Case are the long-term cost savings and the power of green marketing. It's simple: an EV will save you money because charging up your fleet with electricity costs less than pumping it full of gasoline. The upfront cost tends to be higher, but with government incentives for both EVs and EV chargers, the opportunities for savings are getting better. Secondly, when a corporation installs an EV charger or purchases an EV as a company car, they create a competitive advantage and a sustainable atmosphere for employees. A great example of employee satisfaction is at the LoyaltyOne head office in Mississauga. Debbie Baxter, Vice President of Workplace Services and Chief Sustainability Officer of LoyaltyOne, spoke to our class about their public transportation, carpool, and fuel-efficient vehicle promotions. LoyaltyOne has purchased several EVs and hybrids to keep on site for employees to use during the workday if they made their commute via public transit. Employees are grateful for the flexibility and the reduced commuting costs and LoyaltyOne has reinforced a positive image of the company itself.

Although a reduced carbon footprint is important to some, the majority of companies place environmental concerns low on the priority list. Therefore sustainability consultants, or future sustainability advocates like myself, must stress the economic and marketing benefits in order for certain products or ideas, like the EV, to even be considered into their bottom line.

Worried About Range? Why not Preheat your EV?

At 5:30 this morning I went to the front door of my house to get the newspaper and I couldn't help but notice the frost all over Sparky, Plug’n Drives 2012 Mitsubishi i-MiEV. Cold weather and its negative effect on the range of EVs is a concern to the uninitiated, but if you are a regular EV driver, you already know how to deal with this non-problem in a comfortable way. Just plug it in.

It's true, lithium-ion batteries perform best at room temperature. When plugged-in to the grid and recharging the vehicle's battery warming system not only keeps the battery warm in cold temperatures, but also heats the interior to keep you warm, too. The windshield is frost-free and the inside of the car is whatever temperature you like. Instead of having to use the car's battery to heat up the entire car while you drive, you only use a little energy along the way to maintain the warm temperature. So that is what I did.

Using the key chain sized remote control reminiscent of something out of "Get Smart", (you actually pull up a tiny metal antenna, honest!), I programmed the car to begin heating the interior and then I took my coffee and went for a shower.

An hour later it was time to hit the road. Yes, it was cool, almost freezing outside. Sparky said our distance to empty with the heat on was 98 kilometers. Was I worried?  No, I was probably going 40 kilometers all day. I could even change my mind later on and go much further if I wanted to.  For now, I sit back, turn on the tunes and enjoy my warm and comfortable drive.

Don't be Charlie Brown, choose electric

Do they take us for chumps? Once again the oil companies have drastically lowered the price of gas. Were we just being handily ripped off all summer? It reminds me of the Peanut's cartoon where Lucy holds the football for Charlie Brown to kick (Charlie Brown - Football). He pleads with her that he doesn't want to do it because he knows she always pulls the ball away at the last second making him kick the air and crash on his back. Lucy successfully persuades him that “this time” she won’t. Sure enough, good ole’ Charlie runs to kick the ball and, swoosh, Lucy snatches it away at the last second and Charlie is on his back again. Sound familiar?

There is a solution to the monopoly gas companies have on our transportation fuel, it's locally made, plentiful, and no further away than your closest electric wall socket. A broad range of plug-in hybrid electric and pure electric cars are available on the market today. These provide a practical local transportation solution to 80 percent of where we need to go in a car, whether it be work, school, shopping or friends, most of these trips are short and local.

Could one of your cars be electric? If so, think about never having to go to the gas station again. No tune ups, or oil and filter changes.  Most people would save over $2,000 dollars a year not buying gasoline and only spending about $300 to charge their car with electricity. Wouldn't it be nice to not have the football pulled out from under you again?

They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting a different result.  It seems insane to continue burning finite resources, dumping tons of pollution and CO2 into the atmosphere, causing health problems and warming the planet when there's a simple solution in your electric plug at home.

If you get a chance to test drive a plug-in hybrid or all electric car, keep an open mind and imagine that vehicle fitting your life.  Don’t be a Charlie Brown and play the oil companies game. You do have a choice.

Ron Groves, Manager of Education and Outreach