Hyundai Ioniq 5.Petrina Gentile/The Globe and Mail
We are near retirement, residing on an acreage outside Edmonton. We have a pickup truck as well as a performance sedan. Our commute (when needed) is a minimum round trip of 150 kilometres. We count on 175 kilometres. We travel three times a week. We rarely (six times a year?) exceed 200 kilometres in an outing.
We are already wired in for 220 volts / 50 amps in the garage. We will have a solar array shortly.
We do little towing, but we do have a 17-foot covered trailer for necessities, such as carrying motorcycles or a riding mower. That trailer is used at most three times a year.
A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle sounds great, but we would never avoid having to fire up the gas engine based on our proximity.
Do we look at hybrids or longer range EVs? Should we keep the (mint) lower mileage Chevrolet Avalanche or keep the (mint) low mileage Volvo V90CC? – Steve
Mark Richardson: My first reaction is keep the Chevy and the Volvo if they’re both mint. Why replace them? What is it you’re looking to improve?
Petrina Gentile: I’m with you – I’d keep them both, too. But maybe Steve wants to lower the fuel consumption. He is, after all, looking at hybrids or PHEVs to replace them.
Richardson: Before we get into which to replace, Steve should know that driving a plug-in hybrid is not about avoiding firing up the gas engine. It’s about using less fuel for a portion of the journey. In fact, it’s not good to never use the gas engine – the gas in the tank will grow stale or may be inappropriate for the season.
The all-wheel-drive version of the Chevrolet Equinox EV is more peppy, but has less range.Petrina Gentile/The Globe and Mail
Gentile: And he does drive at least 150 kilometres three times a week. Most plug-in hybrids have 30- to 70-kilometres of electric range, so he’d be using the gas engine on those trips.
Richardson: Sure he would. But if his PHEV has an electric range of 50 kilometres and he drives 150 kilometres, he’ll only be paying for gas for 100 of those kilometres. He’s effectively improved his consumption by a third. And if he can recharge while he’s at work, he’s improved by two-thirds. It makes a difference.
Gentile: It absolutely makes a difference. He also asked about longer range EVs, but there aren’t many now. More are coming down the road, though.
Richardson: Today’s long range EVs can often cover 500 kilometres on a single charge, though probably just half that in an Edmonton winter. That’s still plenty for Steve to drive even his 200-kilometre round trips.
Gentile: Absolutely. So, shall we start with some electric options? Maybe a Hyundai Ioniq 5?
Richardson: The Ioniq 5 is my favourite EV. It’s built on 800-volt architecture, which means it can recharge exceptionally quickly if you can find a Level 3 charger. I’ve never spoken to an Ioniq 5 owner who didn’t love their vehicle.
The Tesla Model Y charging in Jasper, Alta.Jason Tchir/The Globe and Mail
Gentile: It’s true. It is one of the best-selling EVs on the market. It has a cool design, respectable range of up to 488 kilometres and it starts around $55,000 before freight, predelivery inspection and taxes.
Richardson: There’s no provincial EV rebate in Alberta, but Steve will qualify for the $5,000 federal rebate. There are also plenty of basic Ioniq 5′s available now. When it was first introduced, the only models on dealer lots were the fully loaded, $70,000 cars, but the supply has evened out. He should consider the Kia EV6 too – it’s a sportier and slightly less practical equivalent of the Ioniq 5.
Gentile: But there are other cheaper options out there – maybe an electric Chevrolet Equinox or Blazer EV?
Richardson: Prices are starting to come down. In Canada, the federal rebate applies to cars with a base price of no more than $55,000, and SUVs with a base price of no more than $60,000. For a long time, that was the price you’d expect to pay. The Chevrolets are less expensive, though I’ve not driven either of them to recommend them.
Gentile: I’ve driven both, but I really like the Equinox EV – it’s smaller than the Blazer and cheaper. In fact, it’s one of the cheapest EVs in Canada. It starts around $48,000 (plus freight and predelivery inspection) and it has up to 513 kilometres of electric range with the front-wheel-drive model; 459 kilometres with the all-wheel-drive version.
Richardson: That’s the front-wheel-drive version – the AWD is about $4,000 more, with a shorter range. It should still be plenty for Steve’s 200-kilometre round trips in an Edmonton winter, though. The new Ultium batteries from General Motors are good at handling cold temperatures.
The Kia EV6.Mark Richardson/The Globe and Mail
Gentile: They are, and the range is true to driving distance, too. At least that was the case when I drove it in Michigan. And he’s used to driving a Chevy – sometimes it’s nice to stay in the same family. But on the downside, the new GM vehicles don’t come with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto any more. It’s replaced with Google built-in.
Richardson: That’s not an issue for younger drivers, apparently, though Steve is near retirement and would probably appreciate them for staying connected. But we can’t suggest EVs like this without talking about the Tesla Model Y. It’s good value if it’s leased, but its purchase price has been so fluid recently that some owners who bought or financed their Teslas took an expensive bath.
Gentile: That’s true. I’d be really upset if I bought a Tesla Model Y a year ago before all the recent price drops.
Richardson: It’s a very capable crossover, but its biggest advantage this year is its convenient access to the Tesla charging network. Steve can drive into Edmonton, plug it in for 10 or 15 minutes, and he’ll regain the charge he just used. It might cost him around the same at the public network as using gas, but he’ll have peace of mind. Other makers will access the same network soon.
Gentile: I still prefer the Hyundai Ioniq 5 or Chevy Equinox EV over the Tesla Model Y, because I think they’re better quality. But honestly, in Steve’s case, if it ain’t broke, why fix it? He should stick with his Chevy Avalanche and Volvo V90CC and forget about buying a new vehicle. Wouldn’t you agree?
Richardson: I would, but if he wants to go electric now, I’d recommend holding on to the more utilitarian Avalanche. It’s reliable for towing or carrying cargo in the middle of winter, which is the Achilles' heel of all EVs. And the performance of most EVs will blow the Volvo into the weeds.
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