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EV Vehicles Buyers Guide

EV Vehicles Buyers Guide
EV Vehicles Buyers Guide
EV Vehicles Buyers Guide

How going electric can save you money

Because electric cars use electricity instead of fossil fuels, they are much more affordable to drive. This is especially true if you charge over-night or on weekends when the cost of electricity is usually lower. The average Canadian driver, travelling 20,000 km per year, can save as much as $2,000 per year on fuel alone.

In addition, electric motors are more sophisticated and durable than internal combustion engines. Electric motors have one moving part and do not require oil changes, coolant flushes, mufflers or exhaust systems, saving you hundreds of dollars per year on maintenance. You can also save on insurance with TD’s Green Wheels Discount.

EV batteries do not need to be replaced. They are warrantied for at least 8 years and designed to last the lifespan of the car.

Range and electric vehicle public charging

EVs go Everywhere. There are 5,000+ public fast charging stations in Canada and 1500+ in Ontario. Located in mall, restaurant, office and condo parking lots as well as at highway rest stops, many are free to use. Pay-per-use Level 2 stations typically charge a flat $2.50 or $1 to $2 per hour. Most fast charging Level 3 stations bill by the minute and can often charge a car in less than half an hour, but some suppliers charge a flat rate of $15/hour.

You can see a map of charging stations here: Plug Share.

Federal Point-of-Sale Rebate on new Zero Emission Vehicles

Up to $5,000 rebate for individuals purchasing vehicles with a base MSRP* under $45,000 before delivery center fees. Higher trims of the same Model qualify up to MSRP $55,000 before delivery center fees. View Transport Canada’s website for eligible trims.

EV Vehicles Buyers Guide
EV Vehicles Buyers Guide
EV Vehicles Buyers Guide

Used Electric Vehicle Incentive

Ontario drivers qualify for $1,000 toward the purchase of a used fully electric car and an additional $1,000 if scrapping your current gas car (see below). The car must be registered and insured in Ontario, be for personal-use (company and fleet vehicles are excluded) and have a re-sale sticker price below $50,000 CDN before taxes.

Step One: Attend a Used EV Seminar

This seminar is free to attend and covers an overview of Canada’s EV industry, the advantages of electric transportation and things to watch out for when shopping for a used EV.

Step Two: Purchase a used EV

All used fully electric cars with a re-sale sticker price below $50,000 CDN qualify. Company and fleet vehicles are not covered under this program. You can purchase your EV from any country, province, website, dealership or private seller, as long as you register and insure it in Ontario.

Step Three: Claim Your Incentive

Email a copy of the following documents to usedevincentive@plugndrive.ca

  • Bill of Sale
  • Proof of Insurance
  • Vehicle Registration
  • Seminar Certificate (This gets emailed to you after you attend the seminar)

Scrappage Incentive Program

Plug’n Drive, in collaboration with Clean Air Partnership, and made possible thanks to the support of the M. H. Brigham Foundation brings you the Scrappage Incentive program.

Recycle your old gas car and replace it with a used electric car to receive $1,000 off your purchase. The Scrappage Incentive stacks with the existing Used EV Incentive program, which qualifies all Ontario drivers for $1,000 off the purchase of a used fully electric car. Combined, that’s up to $2,000 in incentives.

To qualify:

  • You must be eligible for, and apply to, the Used EV Incentive program.
  • You must scrap an old internal combustion engine driven vehicle that is operable and insured in Ontario.
  • How do I Scrap My Car?
  • Scrapping your old gas car is easy and sustainable. All you need to do is follow these steps:

Step 1: Visit carheaven.ca and select “Donate a Vehicle” from the main menu.

Step 2: Follow the website prompts to enter the requested information about your car, such as VIN, year, make, model, odometer reading, etc.

Step 3. When prompted to select a charity, choose “pndscrappage” from the list. If you do not select “pndscrappage” you will not be eligible for the $1,000.

Step 4: Wait for Car Heaven to contact you to arrange a date, time and place for them to pick up your car.

Home Charging

All electric cars need to be charged by plugging in. You can recharge using a standard wall socket or an EV charging station. The time it takes to fully charge is based on the level, or speed, of charging and how full the battery is.

Charge Using a Regular Wall Socket (Level 1)

1 Hour of Charging ~ 8 km of Driving Range

All EV models come standard with a portable cord-set that lets you charge using any standard household outlet. This is called Level 1 charging and is the slowest speed of charging, but ensures that no matter where you are, you can always recharge.

If you are driving a plug-in hybrid, it is possible that Level 1 charging is all you really need. Level 1 will fully recharge most plug-in hybrids on the market over-night.

Charge Using an EV Charging Station (Level 2)

1 Hour of Charging ~ 30 km of Driving Range

The most common way to charge. This is called Level 2 and most EV drivers will install a Level 2 charging station at home. All electric cars and charging stations sold in North America use the same plug standard, which means any car can use any Level 2 station across Canada and the United States.

Level 2 stations have similar electrical requirements to a clothes dryer or stove (240 Volts/30 Amps) and any certified electrician can install them.

EV Vehicles Buyers Guide

Finding an Electrician

Charging stations have similar electrical requirements to a clothes dryer or stove (240 Volts/30 Amps) and any licensed electrician can install them. The cost to install a charging station can vary dramatically from case to case and we strongly advise having two or three electricians visit and assess your property to provide an installation quote. The links below can help you find a licensed electrician in your area: Ontario Electrical Safety Authority