Want a ride? Londoners plug in for electric-vehicle test drives

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Porsche calls it “launch control.” But you can just refer to it as a gut-wrenching, head-snapping good time.

The Porsche Taycan, the all-electric vehicle, goes from zero to 60 kilometres/hour in about three seconds and a weekend test drive on Craig Street in London’s Old South proves EVs don’t give up any performance to the traditional gas guzzlers.

But the Porsche was just one fun ride in a lot full of them as a gathering of electric vehicles offered London drivers a chance to test out 40 EVs, from 17 dealers, all in one spot.

London Hydro partnered with Plug’n Drive, a non-profit agency that advocates for electric vehicles, offering the test drives from the London Hydro parking lot on Horton Street.

“We just wanted to offer an opportunity to our customers to have an understanding of EVs, about the feel of driving one and the range,” said London Hydro spokesperson Nancy Hutton.

Mary Mallin, manager of events and logistics for Plug’n Drive, was on hand to answer questions about electrifying your ride. Her answers to Free Press questions have been lightly edited for length and clarity:

Q: Why should drivers consider an electric vehicle purchase?

A: “It’s financial. Gas prices go up and down but electricity is stable and you can charge vehicles off-hours, 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. when it costs less. They cost less to maintain, they only have a battery, motor and inverter. There’s little maintenance other than brakes and tires. It’s also environmentally friendly, there are zero tailpipe emissions. It’s 10 per cent of the emissions of an internal combustion engine.”

Q: Is availability an issue, with long waits for vehicles?

A: “It depends on the vehicle and how popular it is. There are only so many cars now being made. A lot of EVs are going to Quebec and British Columbia (which have legislation penalizing sales of gas-powered vehicles) and Ontario gets what’s left.”

Q: They’re also more expensive than gas-powered vehicles, correct?

A: “Not necessarily. The most cost-efficient is the Chevrolet Bolt (about $38,000) but there’s a lot now in the middle range of $45,000 to $55,000. There’s also a federal incentive of $5,000 for some vehicles.” (Ontario does not offer an incentive).

 Q: Are EVs selling and becoming more popular?

A: “The demand is there, the vehicles are not. There are about 300,000 EVs on the road in Canada, more than 10 per cent of all vehicles. This year EVs (and hybrids) are 10.5 per cent of sales, a 38 per cent increase year-over-year. People are ready to buy. It will gain traction with consumers. I see EVs having a bright future.”

 Q: How do I charge my vehicle?

A: “You can charge it from a regular household plug but it will be very slow, about eight kilometres for every hour. It will take days for a full charge. You can install a Level 2 charger in your home, which can give a full charge in six minutes.”

Q: Do government policies also support EV sales?

A: “The government has a target, wanting 20 per cent of vehicles on the road to be EVs by 2026, by 2030 that will be 60 per cent and 2035, 100 per cent. There are also incentives for businesses to electrify their fleet vehicles.”

ndebono@postmedia.com