Will Canada be able to switch completely to electric vehicles by 2035?
The government and car manufacturers are pushing motorists to buy electric cars, but can ordinary Canadians afford them?
The federal government wants every passenger vehicle sold in Canada to be electric by 2035. But experts believe that until prices become affordable for the average buyer, these plans will not be realized.
The center of the future production of electric cars should be the city of Winsor, the center of Canada's automotive industry. But statistics show that not everyone in Ontario will be able to afford an electric car.
James Godfrey, general manager of the Eastway Toyota and Lexus dealership, admits that lately it's generally "really tough" to talk to potential buyers. After all, car prices across the country have gone up significantly. Let alone when it comes to buying an electric car.
According to a recent report from AutoTrader.ca, the average price for a new conventional car is now $57,519 CAD and a used car is $37,141 CAD. Electric cars, Godfrey says, will sell for much higher prices than classic cars or hybrids. Godfrey assures that prices for electric cars will start at $55,000 CAD. On average, prices for electric cars are 40-45% higher and, according to the Canadian Automobile Association, could be as high as $180,000 CAD.
"For those looking for more affordable prices, we offer hybrid or small fuel-efficient cars," Godfrey says. — But the problem isn't just that electric car prices are high. Supply is thin too. We probably won't get a fully electric vehicle at our dealership until 2024."
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