More than 500 new electric vehicles hit N.L. roads in 2023
CBC
The number of electric vehicles on Newfoundland and Labrador's roads continues to rise, with the total number of EVs in the province rising by nearly three-quarters in 2023.
Updated numbers from the provincial government show that 526 new electric vehicles were registered in 2023, raising the total number to 1,241 — a 74 per cent increase from the previous calendar year.
Those numbers show continued significant growth in the number of electric vehicles in the province. In 2022, 398 new EVs were registered, more than doubling the total number at that time.
The number of hybrid vehicles is also on the rise, up 26 per cent from the year before. Hybrids are vehicles that use two different forms of power, like an internal combustion engine and an electric motor.
Government numbers show there are now 2,722 hybrid vehicles registered in the province.
Jon Seary, a co-founder of non-profit Drive Electric N.L., says he's encouraged by the growth of electric vehicles.
"This is excellent to see, all the trends are going the way that we expected that they would," he said.
"It mimics any other technology adoption that we've seen.… More and more dealers are having cars available on the lots in stock and ready to buy, and before you know it, it's going to be something that you'll see everywhere."
Seary said the availability and pricing of vehicles depends on the manufacturer. Some have plenty available, while others have long waiting lists for specific models or only choose to carry more costly vehicles with extra bells and whistles.
"Right now, if you want to drive an electric car, there are models to be had in a reasonable amount of time, [but] you may not be able to stay with the brand that you've always wanted to be with," he said.
Seary anticipates the number of EVs to continue to grow as they become more available and more affordable, and he's not alone.
The province lags behind other parts of the country when it comes to EV adoption, but Newfoundland Power expects that between 100,000 and 200,000 EVs will be on the province's roads by 2040. That creates increasing demand amid concerns about the supply of electricity.
In a statement to CBC News, Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro says it's "actively monitoring the rapidly evolving electricity system needs arising from electrification," as last year saw record use of the utility's 23 public fast-charging sites.
"2023 saw record usage at these charging stations with over 13,000 sessions providing almost 330 MWh of energy, which is enough electricity for an average EV to drive more than 1.6 million kilometres," the statement read.
Hello, royal watchers. This is your regular dose of royal news and analysis. Reading this online? Sign up here to get this delivered to your inbox.
A Calgary biking group is calling on the city to build public dirt jumps, saying without them there is a void in the cycling community.
Hello, royal watchers. This is your regular dose of royal news and analysis. Reading this online? Sign up here to get this delivered to your inbox.
It's snack time in the barn, and Seamus fills his droopy belly.
Sault Ste. Marie city council will consider a motion at its Monday meeting to look into blocking the Chinese AI chatbot, DeepSeek, from city devices and networks.
Darlene Naugle had difficulties getting around the small community of Port Bickerton on Nova Scotia's Eastern Shore when she moved to area from Alberta three years ago to care for her sick daughter.
Skates and hockey sticks on backyard rinks are the definitive sound of winter for many Canadians.
Progressive Conservative leadership candidate Wally Daudrich doesn't seem to mind that some Tories might think his claim Manitoba schools are promoting acts of bestiality and incest is impossible to believe.
Artificial intelligence has become increasingly present in people's lives, ranging from the ability to create a generative image in a messages with simple prompts, to using data to reduce workplace injuries.
While Trump's tariffs, housing and health care have received plenty of attention during the Ontario election campaign, educators say voters should pay more attention to where the major parties stand on the province's public school system.
As the Canadian Armed Forces continue to try and dig out of a deep recruitment hole, they're starting to give new recruits with medical conditions a shot at joining the military rather than automatically turning them away.
Israel says the release of more than 600 Palestinian prisoners is delayed "until the release of the next hostages is assured, and without the humiliating ceremonies" at handovers of Israeli captives in Gaza.
