CSA Online by Andrew Moore-Crispin The Future of Cars is Electric There’s a shift afoot. The electric vehicle, EV, is having a moment. Scratch that. It’s looking more like a movement than a moment. Statistics Canada data says that 5.2 per cent of cars registered in Canada in 2021 were electric or plug-in hybrid, up from 3.5 per cent the previous year. In the fourth quarter of 2021, that number jumped to more than six per cent of cars registered. More than 50% of Canadians are apparently considering an EV for their next car purchase, according to J.D Power Canada research quoted by the Globe and Mail. Meanwhile, Canada has stated its intention to phase out new sales of internal combustion engine (ICE) consumer vehicles entirely by 2035. As the category matures, electric vehicles are offering increased range and faster charging times. At the same time, the infrastructure to charge EVs away from home is far more prevalent than it was when Tesla made its first forays into the public consciousness in 2006. Today, we’re seeing EVs with ranges approaching or even exceeding 600km on a charge and, with better infrastructure to support EVs, going electric isn’t the trade-off that it once was. Add to that the rising cost and finite supply of oil, and an electric vehicle starts to look like a pretty good idea. While the trail-blazing Tesla line is probably the first EV that comes to mind, Tesla is far from the only option. In fact, in the mid-range EVs, there’s a compelling argument to be made that they’re not the best choice. This year, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 took Car and Driver’s coveted Car of the Year. And, while the Ioniq 5 received a “recommended” ranking from Consumer Reports with an overall score of 80, it was edged out by the 2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E, which received an impressive 82 overall. Hyundai Ioniq 5 Tesla Model 3 50 | www.snowbirds.org
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