Are you considering making the leap to an electric vehicle? (Part 1)

4 factors to take into account before purchasing your next vehicle

Needless to say, electric vehicles have made great inroads over the last little while and we’re now far from the first models created, which were reminiscent of golf carts and notoriously uncomfortable for drivers.
Yet, an interesting fact: the first vehicle to exceed a speed of 100 km/h was an electric vehicle!
Do you have doubts about whether or not an electric vehicle is right for you? I recently switched to an electric ride, and have a few thoughts I’d like to share:

1. Overall cost
   While the sticker price of an electric vehicle is higher, rebates are offered on a number of models, which can significantly lower the car’s total cost. Once these discounts are calculated, an electric vehicle could cost as little as $30,000 (before taxes)!
   For your reading pleasure: America’s cheapest electric vehicles are coming.
   The real benefits of an electric vehicle lie in the operating costs (Article in french only): while even a small car will cost you somewhere between $9 - $10 in gas per 100 kilometres, the cost in electricity for travelling the same distance with an electric vehicle will be around $2 - $3.
   If you’re the type to hang on to your vehicles for a long time, the benefits will be even more alluring, as the maintenance costs of an electric vehicle are impressively low.
2. Charging time
   So how long does it take to charge an electric vehicle? The quickly answer is no more than 10 seconds, namely the time it takes to plug it in. But on a more serious note, while the time will vary depending on the type of vehicle and the power outlet, few people stay put to watch their vehicle charge.
   
   And besides, most cars spend the majority of their days immobilized, either in the driveway or garage, or parked at their owner’s place of work, so charging it can be done mostly anywhere, anytime. All it takes is being willing to slightly tweak your routine and you’ll be all set.
   
   ​As for when you go on road trips, there’s a constantly growing network of fast-charging stations that will let you give your electric vehicle a jolt of energy while you step out to stretch your legs or buy a coffee.

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