Is driving an electric vehicle all that different?

Electric vs. gas: similarities and differences

Have you noticed that some cars have green license plates while others have blue ones? The plates with green lettering are notably offered only for electric or rechargeable hybrid vehicles. We tend to see them more and more often, as there are presently more than 100,000 electric vehicles on Québec’s roads and highways (link available in french only)!

Will you soon be getting behind the wheel of an electric vehicle for the first time? No need to fret, as it’s essentially pretty similar to driving a gas-powered vehicle with an automatic transmission. Here are a few things to note:

1. Shifter. The shifter on an electric vehicle will have the same options as a gas-powered vehicle, i.e., “P”, “R”, “N” and “D”. Moreover, when you shift into the “D” (Drive) or “R” (Reverse) position, the vehicle will begin moving as soon as you lift your foot off the brake.
   
   When first getting used to an electric vehicle, maintaining a steady speed is often the biggest challenge, as you have no motor noise to guide you. We recommend getting used to looking at your speedometer on a regular basis and relying on the vehicle’s cruise control (link available in french only) whenever possible.
2. Regenerative braking. With an electric vehicle, regenerative braking allows you to recover a certain amount of energy. Some vehicles have a “paddle” behind the steering wheel that allows for slowing down the vehicle; others have one-pedal driving, i.e., an option where the vehicle slows down as soon as you release the pedal (and even if this doesn’t fully replace braking, it can allow you to stop moving forward in various circumstances, especially when you can begin the maneuver early on).
   
   This is an additional feature not offered with gas-powered vehicles, but not mandatory. You always have the option of driving as per normal and using both your pedals (to speed up and to brake).
3. Charging your battery.  Nothing complicated here either. In fact, charging your electric vehicle’s battery is no different than plugging in a cellular phone. Also, many owners of electric vehicles have a charging station at home, which means they rarely find themselves having to plug in their vehicle anywhere else.
   
   ​As for longer trips, good news on that front as well, as the network of charging stations (link available in flrench only) is growing steadily! However, remember to abide by the unspoken rules (link available in flrench only) when using a public charging station.

Furthermore: If you know which type of electric vehicle you’ll be driving, you can check out its features with specific tutorials (link available in french only).
Many driving schools, in fact, offer courses behind the wheel of an electric vehicle. Why not try it out? Click here for a list of schools that offer this option.
 

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