Choosing a hybrid, plug-in hybrid electric or electric car?

Want to reduce your carbon footprint and save on gas? Purchasing a hybrid or electric vehicle for the first time can raise a lot of questions. 

Choose between a hybrid, plug-in hybrid electric or electric car

You have quite a selection! In Québec, there are currently on the market more than fifty hybrid, plug-in hybrid electric and electric cars. In fact, almost every brand has its own models: Acura, BMW, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Toyota, Tesla, etc. You can go to the CAA site to see the many models of hybrid or electric vehicles and find out about their features.

Find the green car that best fits your lifestyle

Do you spend your entire days on the road, or do you only use the car for short trips? The distances you cover will help you determine the type (hybrid, plug-in hybrid electric or electric) that best fits your lifestyle.

Long distances drivers will often opt for a hybrid vehicle for the additional autonomy offered by the gas tank, unless they select the Tesla electric models, which have an autonomy ranging from 345 to 649 km. It should be noted, however, that this choice of green vehicle is not for every budget.

Other electric vehicles are more affordable, with prices ranging from $27,000 to $43,000, and having batteries that can cover between 108 and 383 km depending on the model.

To guide your choice, the ABCs of electric vehicles on the Transport Canada web site and the section All you need to know about electric vehicles of CAA are excellent sources of information.

The question of recharging a green vehicle

The internal charger of the car varies from model to model and impacts the charging speed. It is an important factor to consider in choosing your ecological vehicle.

In Québec, the network of public charging stations offers accessible stations in privileged spaces reserved for electric cars (parking lots, restaurants, parks, etc.). It is made up of two main players:

The Electric Circuit, which offers the charge at 240 V at at cost of $2.50, regardless of time. VERnetwork, which offers accessible stations, at a cost of $1 per hour of recharging.

This public network lets you do a top up of the battery, which is fully recharged at home or at work. It is therefore useful to have a charging station installed at home or at work. L’Association des Véhicules Électriques du Québec offers a purchasing guide for charging stations and is a good source of information in that respect.

If you wish to estimate the energy cost of electric vehicles based on annual mileage, consult the electric vehicle cost calculator on the CAA site.

Financial incentives to start going green

For some, the cost of a hybrid, plug-in hybrid electric or electric car may represent an obstacle to buying this type of green vehicle. There are, however, financial incentives that can facilitate this purchase.

In terms of financing, Desjardins has added to its Desjardins Auto Loan a green option exclusive to purchasers of new green vehicles, hybrid or electric. It is currently the best global offer of integrated car financing for the purchase of a green vehicle, hybrid or electric, with a reduced competitive fixed rate, along with an additional rebate* on car insurance of 15% for a hybrid car and 20% for an electric car.
Calculate the monthly payments for your Desjardins car loan.

In terms of subsidies, the government of Québec has just launched its Transportation Electrification Action Plan 2015-2020 (with a budget of over 450 million dollars) which intends, among others, to quickly give more room to electric transport and make Québec a model to follow. It includes incentives that can mean a rebate of up to $8,000 on the purchase of a plug-in hybrid electric or fully electric vehicle, and a subsidy on the purchase and installation of a charging station at home. To find out more about these financial incentives from the government, go to the site Running on green power!

Choosing a “green” vehicle: a popular option!

There is no denying that the juice is flowing when it comes to transport electrification! The development of the network of charging stations for electric cars, government subsidies and the innovation of car manufacturers show that these ecological vehicles will become a must in the coming years … Will you be ready to go green?