Five questions to ask yourself before buying your first electric vehicle

Do you really need to buy a car?

The idea behind buying an electric vehicle is that you’ll no longer be dependent on fossil fuels, thus reducing your greenhouse gas emissions. But that doesn’t mean electric cars don’t have any environmental impact at all. Metals such as lithium and cobalt must be extracted from the ground and then transformed to make EV batteries, generating a certain amount of GHG. The first question to ask yourself is whether you really need a new car at all. There are a number of other equally effective options for getting around town. If your answer is Yes, you do need to buy a car, and you’ve decided to go electric, there are a few more questions you need to answer.

Buy or lease?

That’s the million-dollar question, no matter what kind of propulsion system you want. How much does an electric car really cost? Given the high retail price and constantly evolving technology, many are hesitant to purchase an EV. If you’re one of them, then leasing might be a better option because government incentives apply to all electric vehicles, whether leased or purchased outright. As explained by AVEQ, Quebec’s electric vehicle association, the government pays the institution financing the lease, and your monthly payment goes down accordingly. Check out CAA-Quebec’s handy guide to help you decide whether to buy or lease your next vehicle.

New or used?

Plug-in America, a U.S. organization specializing in electric mobility, performed a detailed analysis of the electrical components of used vehicles and came up with a simple conclusion: If the battery is in good shape, buying a slightly used electric car is like buying a new car for less money, taking depreciation into account. The first wave of EVs had a shorter range, making them not suitable for all uses. But they might be a good solution for city dwellers and suburban families considering buying a second vehicle.

Electric or plug-in hybrid?

As of December 31, 2022, the total number of EVs in Quebec was 170,592 - 42% plug-in hybrids and 58% fully electric (source: AVEQ). For new buyers looking to cut their fuel costs, the logical strategy is to figure out which of these two configurations best meets their needs. Plug-in hybrids have a gasoline engine that takes over once the electric battery is drained, doubling or tripling their total range while maintaining average approximate fuel consumption of less than three litres per 100 kilometres. That kind of fuel economy will be particularly appealing to people who have to drive long distances. Also according to AVEQ, purely electric vehicles are beginning to show longer range but still require a change of habits. Instead of filling up at the corner gas station on the way to the office, you plug your vehicle in at night at home (or during the day at the office), and the car is out of service during that time.

Is towing possible with an electric vehicle?

With a range that increasingly compares to that of gasoline vehicles, it's tempting to replace our primary vehicle with an EV, but there are some details to consider. For instance, the towing capacity of the desired vehicle. Although the current selection is still limited, more and more EVs offer the possibility of towing. If the vehicle you wish to acquire does not offer towing capacity, using a trailer could void the manufacturer's warranty, so think twice. Some models, such as Hyundai’s Kona Electric, do come with roof rails for attaching storage accessories that won’t affect the warranty.

Have more questions about driving or buying EVs? CAA-Quebec’s Automotive Advisory Services can help.