As fuel prices soar, EV advocates say now's the time to consider electric

As costs for transportation fuel continue to rise, owners of electric vehicles (EVs) say now is the time to consider ditching gas-powered vehicles for good.

On Friday, the province's Public Utilities Board posted record-high prices for gasoline and diesel, among other fuels.

Currently, the price-per-litre for regular unleaded self-serve is above $1.90 across the island In Ramea, Churchill Falls and Change Islands, that price topped $2.

But despite being insulated from rising costs for transportation fuel, EV advocate and co-founder of Drive Electric NL Jon Seary says now is not a time to gloat: "It is a time to step back and make some serious plans," he said.

Joe Butler, who co-founded Drive Electric NL with Seary, says cost stability is one of the main reasons he's sworn by EVs for the past six years.

"I can predict roughly what my fuel will be," he said. "And currently it's probably one fifth or one sixth of the cost if I had gasoline for the equivalent car." 

Butler said while the sticker price may be higher for EVs, cheaper options exist: Each of the three he's driven, including his current Tesla Model 3, were all purchased second-hand.

"Look at your car payments and your fuel bills together," Butler said. "The car payments are a little higher, but your fuel cost is so much lower. Their overall cost per month is lower."

Butler said while rates will likely go up as Muskrat Falls comes online, a less volatile fuel source, lower operating costs and monetary incentives from provincial and federal governments make going electric a no-brainer.

From long-distance trips to pulling trailers, Seary has done it all with his EV.

For him, the benefits of EVs are as much environmental as economical, and the drawbacks are non-existant.

"[EVs] use an energy product that we produce right here and avoid importing a fossil fuel into the province and watching that money go out of the province," he said. 

While he'd choose an EV any day, Seary said moving away from gas-powered cars doesn't mean the province has to ditch the oil and gas industry completely.

"I don't see the adoption of electric vehicles having to compete against the validity of the oil and gas industry," he said.