Barriers remain for many who want to buy an EV

More B.C. drivers considering going electric, but infrastructure, education must catch up

The emergence of clean energy vehicles over the past two decades has been a gradual one, but an emerging trend indicates we may be entering the dawn of a new era in electric-hydrogen and plug-in hybrid vehicle sales.

B.C. has the highest per capital EV adoption rate in Canada and the province also leads in market share of electric vehicle sales in this country at 3.7 per cent. In 2017, the CEVforBC program saw almost 1,800 applications processed for clean energy vehicles — a 20 per cent increase over 2016. Between April and June of this year, more than 1,400 applications were paid out to consumers. Remarkably, during a two-day period in June, a record 75 applications were submitted.

This is an exciting, but equally challenging, time for auto manufacturers, dealers, governments and consumers. We are seeing an increasingly positive response from consumers, but adopting new technology takes time and requires proper infrastructure, such as charging stations, to be in place.

A variety of surveys have shown there are a number of valid reasons consumers are still reluctant to buy EVs. As the association representing new car dealers across B.C., we recently conducted independent research involving 500 drivers, provincewide, to get a snapshot of opinions on the issue of EVs and factors that may motivate or hinder greater adoption of clean energy vehicles.

Some of the more interesting findings, include the following:

Six per cent of drivers report ■ that their primary vehicle is electric, a proportion that jumps to 15 per cent among those aged 18-to-34.

29 per cent have ridden as a ■ passenger in an electric vehicle, and 12 per cent have test driven an electric vehicle.

More than three-in-five drivers ■ (63 per cent) say they have “definitely” (27 per cent) or “probably” (36 per cent) thought about purchasing an electric vehicle.

More than nine in 10 drivers ■ of electric vehicles (92 per cent) are satisfied with their choice (recognizing the small sample size — nine per cent of the 500 individuals who participated in the survey own an EV).

Two in five drivers (40 per ■ cent) are “definitely” or “probably” considering purchasing a new vehicle in the next 12 months. Price (39 per cent) is the most important consideration, followed by fuel consumption (20 per cent), reliability (also 20 per cent), safety (eight per cent), comfort (five per cent) and the environment (also five per cent).

At least two in five drivers say ■ there are four significant barriers to purchasing an electric vehicle: not having enough places to charge the vehicle in the areas they usually drive (46 per cent); too expensive compared to nonelectric vehicles (44 per cent); fear of becoming stranded if you can’t find a charging station (42 per cent); and not having a place to charge the vehicle where they live (such as a strata) (41 per cent).

Most British Columbians (56 ■ per cent) are aware of the electric vehicle purchase incentives, but 44 per cent are not.

Women (53 per cent), those ■ aged 18-to-34 (50 per cent) and those in Northern B.C. (60 per cent) are more likely to be unaware of the incentives.

70 per cent say they “definitely” ■ or “probably” would be more likely to purchase an EV after learning of the “Clean Energy Vehicles for British Columbia” program — a point of sale incentive program with a potential rebate of up to $5,000.

62 per cent say they “definitely” ■ or “probably” would be more likely to purchase an EV after learning of the B.C. SCRAP-IT Electric Vehicle Program, which provides financial incentive for early retirement of old vehicles that are replaced with lower emitting options, with a potential rebate of up to $6,000.

The results of the survey, while not definitive, certainly underline there are a number of factors that may influence new car buying, including point of purchase incentive programs.

To that end, the New Car Dealers Association remains a strong advocate of the approach based on incentives and education, because further adoption of clean energy vehicles is good for the economy, the environment and British Columbians.