The Saskatchewan Auto Dealers Association is excited about the federal purchase incentives regarding electric vehicles.(THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)

By Ronald Quaroni

Electric Incentive

Federal incentive could boost electric vehicle interest in the province

Mar 26, 2019 | 12:26 PM

The recent federal budget included a nice incentive for electric car purchasers.

It outlined a plan that would offer prospective buyers $5,000 toward the purchase of an electric vehicle valued under $45,000.

Susan Buckle, the executive director with the Saskatchewan Auto Dealers Association, said they welcome the incentives but it may take time for electric vehicles to take root in the province.

“We’ll see how it goes. I don’t think dealers here in Saskatchewan are too excited yet about it,” Buckle said. “I do think it will eventually get here. Just a little slower than other provinces.”

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“If the consumer demand is there, then obviously, that’s what pushes everything.” Susan Buckle

Currently, Buckle said electric vehicle sales are slow due to availability of the cars and consumer concerns regarding battery and infrastructure.

She added changing technology should ease some of those worries.

“Every year the manufacturers are making improvements to these vehicles, so difference in battery life is changing all the time,” Buckle said.

Electric vehicles aren’t cheap, and the federal government is clearly trying to bolster people’s ability to buy the cars. Without these incentives though, Senior Petroleum Analyst with GasBuddy.com Dan McTeague is doubtful sales would flourish.

McTeague said electric vehicle technology still has a long way to come.

“Their practicality is still a long way off,” McTeague said. “Anyone who isn’t driving in the city recognizes that there are certain limitations. Even with a distribution or network (for) plug-in vehicles, (people are still) waiting one, three, five or seven hours.”

In Prince Albert, availability of charging outside a motorist’s home is not common, but not completely absent. Evergreen Nissan and P.A.’s Peavey Mart both have a 220-volt outlet.

Juergen Sommer, the store manager with Peavey Mart in Prince Albert explained the store has offered its charging station free of charge to customers for around four years.

Sommer said as a company they wanted to support electric.

“We want to support electric cars, we think as a company this is the future to go, at least the most ready-to-go alternative to gas,” Sommer said.

Sommer said the charging station doesn’t get used every day but quite frequently they’ll see a Tesla or a Leaf sitting outside.

“There’s a few more people with electric cars in town (P.A.) and there are a couple from Saskatoon, I believe they own vacation property, they drive here, charge, and drive to their cottage,” Sommer said.

Susan Buckle said ultimately the success of electric cars in the province will come down to the buyers.

“If the consumer demand is there, then obviously, that’s what pushes everything.”

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Ron.quaroni@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @RonaldQuaroni