Car Enthusiast: Electric Vehicles are not a Compromise

Intro:

It started with a successful test drive and turned into a passion. This is Merle’s story.

User Profile

Who: Merle Cole

Where: Oshawa, ON

How Many Years Driving an EV: 7

What Model: Smart Electric 2014

Home Charging Station: Yes

Charging at off-peak times: Always

Merle’s EV Journey

On Influence…

I had test-driven an earlier model two years prior in Halifax and was impressed with the performance. I wanted to drive an EV to save money, to protect the environment, and to set an example for others to do the same. I was on a mailing list for Smart Canada and they contacted me in 2013 to advise of incentives to buy their product as well as government rebates that were very appealing. It was a good match for our daily needs and driving patterns and as it would be a second car, the range limitations would not be an issue. When I compared the annual costs of operation to the slightly higher upfront cost, it was a no-brainer.

It is the responsible thing to do, I have felt guilty about putting so many emissions into the air. My hydro bill is actually lower now than before I got the EV because my concern for the environment and our grandkids' futures has meant also changing all of our lighting to LED as well as replacing appliances with high-efficiency ones.

It takes a macho man to drive a cute car as well and to be a trendsetter. I have, and still do, drive an IC sports car for fun but that is limited and I actually have a lot of fun driving my Smart Electric. Driving is a state of mind and feeling good and less guilty is a good thing and not necessarily a compromise.

Any advice for potential EV drivers, John?

Do it sooner than later. Electric Vehicles are no longer much of a compromise and there is a great will to see them become the norm and to be supported. You will not be disappointed and you will find that it is a very good option for many reasons. There will come a time, sooner than later, when IC vehicles will not have much resale value and will become more expensive to drive. Don't miss an opportunity to be a leader in your community.

Do your research. Talk to people who are owners now. Keep an open mind and think past the next 10 years to what is in store for everyone and don't miss an opportunity to be a game changer.

And what about encouraging greater EV uptake?

More and better infrastructure. Continue with financial or tax incentives to encourage purchases. Ensure that major corporations, such as Oshawa Power, start making EVs a major part of their fleets and personal choices for vehicles. In other words, lead by example and keep doing things like this to get the word out, hear it from the electric horses' mouths and spread the word.

I love the tone of this survey and how encouraging it is to get the right and true thoughts of participants. Well done!

Infrastructure and example and incentives as well as more showcases of EVs and what they are all about. Green license plates are good and more perks for parking and access to venues would encourage more uptake as well. It would also make the number of EVs on the roads more obvious and other envious and maybe even resentful that we got there first, lol.

On barriers to purchase….

Safety concerns were upfront because this was a small car, it had huge batteries, extra weight and potential fire or explosion considerations, or so I thought. Through research, I learned that there was to real basis for concern as the basis Smart car had a very good safety record as did electric vehicles in general. I also researched the range issues and where and how to recharge on the road if needed and my concern diminished. We had wintered on Vancouver Island and had seen their electric recharging infrastructure there and were impressed.

I had concerns about winter driving, this is Canada after all, and the diminished range plus handling concerns with snow and ice. While range and capacity are reduced, that has never been an issue for me and I drive the car year-round, even at -20 C. My biggest expense so far has been snow tires and the lower center of gravity due to the battery packs, makes it a dream for traction in the snow and ice.

Final thoughts?

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