November 2021

A WORD FROM THE EDITOR

Happy Halloween, and fall colours driving season! Capacity constraints, delayed deliveries and hyper-inflated used vehicle prices amongst EVs as well as many popular ICE vehicles have made it a somewhat difficult time for many potential EV buyers recently. But barring more chip or health mayhem, the last quarter of the year in Canada will also bring some notable new entrants to the EV marketplace: from VW's ID.4 SUV, its upscale Audi Q4 e-Tron cousin, and perhaps even a few Hyundai Ioniq 5s will trickle in by year's end as well. Plus the Chevrolet Bolt EUV and EV that debuted in the summer before its temporary stop-sale will hopefully be back on the market in November, if all goes to current GM plans.

On the six-figure side of the price scale, where cutting edge automotive technologies have traditionally debuted to later filter down in price and scale, Mercedes-Benz has launched its EQS full-size flagship BEV sedan. Lucid has also launched its Air flagship in the U.S., and opened its first retail outlet in Canada (located in Vancouver), though first deliveries to Canadian customers for both it and fellow new EV automaker Rivian look likely to be pushed back into early 2022. And patient Tesla Model S and X customers are starting to receive new vehicles this quarter as well, though slowly.

After a third quarter dreadfully bare of new EV arrivals - plenty of future EV announcements, but very few new choices landing on the ground - it seems the start of the 2022 model year will bring a new wave of plug-in candy for EV owners to enjoy. Even if there's still some waiting involved.

Michael Bettencourt, EV Newsletter Managing Editor

Episode #18 - Jacques Demont, Chief Commercial Officer of Taiga Motors - Electrifying the Power Sport Industry

Tuesday November 2nd, 2021 - 7:30PM EST

It's no secret by now that electric mobility is the future of transportation but it's not just about cars and trucks. A large and growing power sport industry, (think snowmobiles and watercraft) is also making the transition and for all of the same reasons. Our guest for November's episode is leading the way in Canada.

Jacques Demont joined Taiga as its Chief Commercial Officer. He has extensive management experience. Before joining Taiga, he worked as a Country Director for Tesla from November 2017 to 2020, where he led Tesla's business development in the French market. Prior to joining Tesla, he worked at Swiss watch maker, Tissot SA as a Head of Zones (Europe & Americas) where he was leading and coordinating global sales plans and strategy in these markets. From 2009 to 2014, Mr. Demont became the President of Nespresso Canada after having held the position of International Retail Manager with Nestlé Nespresso SA from 2006 to 2009. He holds a degree from the Business School Lausanne as well as a Certificate in organizational leadership from the London Business School.

EV SOCIETY NEWS

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EVS President Wilf Steimle provides his opinions on Election 2021

Despite the familiar outcome, the federal election broke important new ground when, for the first time, party leaders of all political stripes presented platforms that positioned clean transportation as a key to climate action, writes Wilf Steimle, president of EV Society.

Read more at Electric Autonomy...

Do you want your local EV association event to be featured here? Send your info to newsletter@evsociety.ca to be included in the next newsletter.

EV INDUSTRY NEWS

Canada sees potential threats in U.S. 'Buy American' EV rebate provisions

Major EV tax incentives are coming for U.S. plug-in vehicle buyers, potentially as early as January 2022, that could provide them with up to US$12,500 in federal government incentive money. But the Canadian government, along with auto industry watchers, are concerned that some of its 'Buy America' provisions could hurt Canadian auto manufacturing facilities, suppliers and Canadian consumers, by mandating that these funds would eventually only be available to U.S.-made electric vehicles.

The proposed rules have not been finalized, but were included in the late October update by Biden with the contentious provisions, which offer varying levels of subsidies for vehicles built in the U.S., batteries built in the U.S., and ones built by U.S. union workers. Starting in 2027, EVs would have to be produced in the U.S. to receive any of the $12,500, prompting formal objections by the Canadian government, according to a Reuters report in late October.

The issue could become a major trade issue, since it potentially discourages billions of dollars in potential EV, battery and supply chain investments in Canada over the next decade or longer.

"We're all kinds of anxious," said Volpe, head of Canada's Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association, to CBC News. "It's an investment-chiller, potentially."

Running a (gasoline) car costs much more than people think

Car owners underestimate total vehicle costs. Giving consumers this information could encourage the switch to cleaner transport and reduce emissions.

Read more at nature and share with your non-EV friends. Remind them of the significant cost savings of driving electric.

Canadian new vehicle sales up to nearly 5% plug-in vehicles in Q2 2021

Plug-in new vehicle sales were up to 4.9 percent of all new vehicle sales in Canada in the second quarter of 2021, according to Statistics Canada data released in October.

And though all vehicle sales increased compared to early pandemic-affected numbers of the same time in 2020, plug-in vehicle sales roughly tripled the increase of new gas vehicle registrations.