Electric and hybrid vehicle sales have been on the rise for years, but the recent spike in gas prices is driving Greater VictoriansB次元官网网址� interest in them to an unprecedented level, dealerships say.

Ben Jillings, finance manager at Victoria Hyundai, said theyB次元官网网址檝e been taking EV/hybrid orders at about double the rate they normally would since the end of February. They took 85 in the four days leading up to March 15 alone.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e seen some ridiculous increases,B次元官网网址� he said.

The jump coincides with record-breaking gas prices, driven skyward by RussiaB次元官网网址檚 war on Ukraine and subsequent bans on purchasing RussiaB次元官网网址檚 oil.

On March 2, gas prices leapt 15 cents from 179.9 to 194.9 cents per litre in Greater Victoria. Less than a week later, prices surmounted the previously unimaginable $2 mark to hit 208.9 cents per litre at most stations.

The effect on car sales was almost instantaneous. Representatives at local Hyundai, Toyota, Nissan and Kia dealerships told Black Press Media people are calling them and coming into their showrooms like never before, and the first words out of most of their mouths are B次元官网网址渇uel prices.B次元官网网址�

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Brad Ostermann, general manager at Kia Victoria, said approximately 35 to 40 per cent of their sales are on EV/hybrid vehicles normally. Now though, 75 per cent of buyers are interested in them.

He said KiaB次元官网网址檚 latest electric vehicle is so popular they have to schedule appointments for people to test drive it several days out.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 mind boggling to us,B次元官网网址� he said.

The thing is, new car dealerships donB次元官网网址檛 actually have many EV/hybrids in stock. ItB次元官网网址檚 normal for them to factory order the vehicles for individual buyers, but a combination of pandemic-induced global supply chain issues, recent trucker protests that blocked the Canada-U.S. border, chip shortages, NovemberB次元官网网址檚 floods, and now increased demand, means the wait time can be long. Much of this applies to gas/diesel vehicles as well.

The four dealership representatives said EV/hybrid buyers are waiting anywhere between one and 18 months for delivery, depending on the model. ToyotaB次元官网网址檚 product advisor and NissanB次元官网网址檚 sales manager both said theyB次元官网网址檝e stopped taking orders on their new hybrid and electric SUVs for the year because theyB次元官网网址檙e so popular.

None of them are concerned that long wait times could deter buyers though. EV/hybrid sales have been on the rise for years.

B次元官网网址淚 think Victoria has always been a hotbed for electrification,B次元官网网址� Ostermann said. Rising gas prices are simply giving hesitant buyers the final push over the fence.

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Do you have a story tip? Email: jane.skrypnek@blackpress.ca.

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