With motorists facing long lines for gas, or not finding gas at all, already hot interest in electric vehicles has been supercharged in Greater Victoria in the wake of damaging floods.
Julian Sale, owner of Motorize Electric Vehicles, said he and his staff have been receiving even more inquiries about EVs than usual, especially from small businesses which rely on vehicles to operate.
B次元官网网址淭hey are unable to justify the time and expense it takes to pay an employee to sit in a line-up at a fuel station,B次元官网网址� Sale said.
He said the sudden uncertainty around fueling up brought on by the temporary closure of the Malahat on Highway 1 on Nov. 15 has most noticeably been pushing self-employed delivery drivers who operate on razor-thin margins to look at EVs. TheyB次元官网网址檝e told him the situation is the push they needed to make the move to an EV.
B次元官网网址淲e sold a Tesla to a DoorDash driver today who is accustomed to spending $50 on fuel each day. When he switches to charging at home, he is going to be paying around $8 to do the same mileage,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲ith the fuel shortage we are experiencing this week, he has lost 45 minutes each day putting fuel in his car.B次元官网网址�
READ MORE: Gas shortage hits Greater Victoria as stations deal with supply chain issues
EVs are more resistant to energy supply issues as electricity is ubiquitous, making it easier to find another charger if one is not working, Sale said, comparing it to finding a gas station which has fuel when deliveries are interrupted for an entire region. Power outages can impact charging, he said, but they also impact gas pumps.
David Grove, president of the Victoria Electric Vehicle Association, said the floodingB次元官网网址檚 impact on Island supply chains is going to serve as yet another push for wider EV adoption, as it highlights their benefits in extraordinary situations and will support the groupB次元官网网址檚 advocacy efforts.
B次元官网网址滻tB次元官网网址檚 an event that seems to be shining a positive light on the electrification of the transport sector,B次元官网网址� said Grove. B次元官网网址淚 think this event gives everything new life, in terms of our advocacy and hopes to spread our word.B次元官网网址�
While demand is rising at an increasing pace for EVs, Sale said it isnB次元官网网址檛 necessarily leading to a sharp increase in how many are on the road. For some time now, demand has been far out-stripping supply in the EV industry, and Sale can hardly keep his lot full despite purchasing vehicles from across the country.
B次元官网网址淲e have to make sure there is a constant flow of inventory to satisfy customer needs,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hey arrive at our delivery centre in View Royal, and they head right back out the door. Everything is happening super fast.B次元官网网址�
READ MORE: 5 more fast chargers coming for EV drivers in Greater Victoria
justin.samanski-langille@goldstreamgazette.com
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