There’s no doubt about it: Canadians are jumping on the opportunity to purchase electric cars. Luxury electric cars, that is. Models like the Tesla S and Chevrolet Volt have already topped the 2015 list of the highest selling electric vehicles in Canada. Just in February, Tesla sold 48 units of their Model S, while the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf sold 38 units. This past March, Volt sales jumped to 68 units, and Nissan Leaf sales went to 74.
So what’s prompting this increase in plug-in and hybrid electric sales? The excellent rebates offered by the Canadian government for electric car buyers are definitely a major incentive. Quebec and Ontario both offer rebates up to $8,500, and the Clean Energy Vehicles for British Columbia program offers B.C. drivers up to $5,000 in rebates. Businesses like Manulife Financial in Toronto have even begun including electric charging spaces in their employee parking facilities. Needless to say, students in auto sales training will certainly be seeing more electric cars in dealerships in the upcoming years.
To get a preview of what the future holds, here are three of the biggest electric vehicles coming to Canada in 2015:
An Auto Mechanic’s Dream: The Tesla Model X
The long-awaited Model X crossover from Tesla is finally here! Professionals in auto careers have been left hanging since 2013, when Tesla first announced production of the fully-electric model. Production was halted several times for Tesla to fit their design to comply with U.S. safety regulations. When the Model X finally arrives in Canada at the end of 2015, it will have features like 0 to 60 in 3.1 seconds, gull-wing doors, and a range of 385km.
Volvo XC90 SUV
For a company who is already well-known for their innovative safety features, Volvo is doing a pretty good job making their mark in the electric vehicle market. The XC90 will be a seven-seater PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle)—one of the only seven-seater plug-in SUVs on the market. The XC90 has already been released in UK to raving reviews, but will hit Canadian markets at the end of 2015. In the meantime, automotive service technicians can get excited about the XC90’s 320hp engine, 40km range solely on electric power, and five different driving modes.
Hyundai Sonata Plug-in Hybrid
The Hyundai Sonata brand has been alive and kicking for 30 years now, and even competed against the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt back in 2011 for Green Car of the Year (losing to Chevrolet).
This new Hyundai uses a high-capacity lithium polymer hybrid (and chargeable) battery and as a family vehicle, carries some impressive safety features, including:
- Smart Cruise Control
- Lane Departure Warning
- Rear-view camera
- Forward Collision Warning
- Blind Spot Detection
Students training to become a mechanic will be excited to hear that the new Hyundai Sonata is slated for release early this summer—far ahead of the Tesla Model X and the Volva VC90.
What electric vehicle are you most excited to work with after graduating from auto technician school?
