I have been an EV owner for two and one-half years, and I love it. Energy costs for the vehicle are about one-sixth of what I would pay for a gas-powered car, and other costs are eliminated or reduced. Savings include:
- Engine-oil and oil-filter changes
- Spark plugs, ignition coils, and fuel filters
- Timing belts and related engine servicing
- Exhaust-system repairs, including mufflers and catalytic converters
- Emissions-control equipment
- Transmission-fluid service for conventional multi-speed transmissions
- Many engine repairs involving pistons, valves, gaskets, fuel pumps, and radiators
- Much brake wear, because regenerative braking slows the car and reduces use of the brake pads.
Because the car’s relatively small battery has a low charging rate, replacement of this is unlikely to be needed for another ten years.
A battery-electric car driven in British Columbia produces about 80% fewer greenhouse-gas emissions than a comparable gasoline model over its complete life cycle. That calculation includes vehicle and battery production, fuel or electricity use, maintenance, and eventual disposal or recycling. (TD Economics)
Despite the considerable advantages, electric car sales in North America moved against the global trend in 2025. EV deliveries fell by more than 30% in Canada and were slightly lower in the United States. Worldwide, however, sales increased by 20%, with particularly strong growth in China, Europe, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. Canada’s decline was partly caused by federal and provincial governments reducing or ending purchase incentives. (IEA)
A heavy truck emits far more greenhouse gas than a passenger car, although cars vastly outnumber trucks. Major truck manufacturers are now producing or developing battery-electric models, especially for short and medium routes. Unsurprisingly, China leads this transition: more than 90% of the world’s electric trucks were sold there in 2025, and one in four new Chinese trucks was electric. (IEA)
Manufacturers including General Motors, Renault, Volkswagen, Stellantis, Hyundai, Kia, BYD, and others are introducing less expensive electric cars, although many of the cheapest models are not likely to be sold in Canada.
Because Carney’s Liberal government is working to promote fossil-fuel production, Canadians should not expect it to encourage sales of affordable electric vehicles—or the transition away from gasoline. That is unfortunate.
Categories: Environment
in-sights.ca 
For situations like this I often look to Norway to see what they are up to. Guess what!!! For the first half of 2026 EVs accounted for 97.6% of vehicle sales. This is, by far, the fastest adoption rate on the planet.
How do they do it???
Norway’s extraordinary EV adoption rate stems from a decades-long, consistent policy framework that makes electric vehicles significantly cheaper to buy and operate than fossil-fuel cars, combined with strong infrastructure and public consensus. Here are the key factors:
1. Aggressive Tax Incentives (The “Carrot”)
For years, the Norwegian government exempted EVs from the country’s notoriously high vehicle purchase taxes and 25% VAT (value-added tax). Since Norway imposes heavy taxes on internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles based on weight and emissions, this exemption made EVs price-competitive or even cheaper than similar gas cars.
Recent Changes: While some incentives are being phased out (e.g., VAT now applies to EVs over 500,000 NOK and weight-based taxes were introduced in 2023), the fundamental price gap remains due to the high taxes on fossil cars.
2. “Polluter Pays” Principle (The “Stick”)
Norway’s strategy isn’t just about subsidizing EVs; it’s about heavily penalizing polluting vehicles. ICE cars face steep registration taxes, annual road taxes, and higher fuel costs. This “carrot and stick” approach ensures that choosing an EV is the most economically rational decision for consumers.
3. Operational Benefits
Beyond purchase price, EV owners enjoy significant day-to-day savings and conveniences:
Toll Exemptions: EVs have historically been exempt from road tolls, though this is now being reduced to 70% of the cost in many areas.
Ferry Discounts: EVs pay reduced fares (often 50%) on ferries.
Bus Lane Access: EVs were allowed to use bus lanes, drastically reducing commute times in cities like Oslo, though this has led to congestion issues and is being reconsidered.
Free Parking: Many municipalities offer free public parking for EVs, though this varies by city and is being phased out in some areas.
4. Robust Charging Infrastructure
Norway invested early in a dense network of public charging stations, ensuring range anxiety was minimized. There are over 10,000 fast-charging points on main roads, and legislation guarantees a “charging right” for apartment dwellers.
The country’s electricity grid is almost entirely powered by hydroelectric energy (approx. 98%), meaning the EVs are genuinely zero-emission from a lifecycle perspective.
5. Political Consensus and Long-Term Goals
Unlike many nations where EV policy shifts with elections, Norway has maintained a bipartisan consensus since the 1990s. In 2017, the Parliament set a non-binding goal that all new cars sold by 2025 should be zero-emission. This long-term signal gave consumers and manufacturers the confidence to invest in the technology early.
6. Economic Capacity
Norway’s massive sovereign wealth fund (funded by oil and gas revenues) allowed the government to absorb the lost tax revenue from EV exemptions without cutting other public services, a financial cushion most other countries lack.
The combination of making EVs the *cheapest* option while making fossil cars the *most expensive* option created a market shift that became self-sustaining once it reached critical mass.
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