Drivers consider options amid EV shortages, cheaper gas not one of them

vancouver traffic — (Photo credit: Dustin Godfrey/ CityNews photo)

Posted May 11, 2022 7:26 am.

Last Updated May 11, 2022 7:29 am.

The price at the pump in Metro Vancouver dropped a few cents Wednesday but that hasn’t stopped drivers of a lot of gas-guzzling vehicles from thinking about going electric.

Supply chains issues are making that tough right now, but advocates say there are some stop-gap options for people considering EVs.

Unfortunately, waiting for the price of gas to drop dramatically probably isn’t one of them.

There have been questions asked about why governments are not cutting taxes and levies at the pump to lower prices. However, one analyst suggests any relief would be temporary as gas companies see opportunity for more profit and bump prices back up again.

“That’s the problem, you see. If you give drivers some relief by lowering whatever form of taxes, that’s only going to come back and be refreshed,” said Roger McKnight, senior petroleum analyst at En-Pro International.

“The only way to get prices down — and it’s a brutal thing to say — is to have what we call ‘demand destruction.’ You have to shut down demand so we can get the crude oil inventories up, we can get the gasoline inventories up, we can get the diesel inventories up. If you’re using less of the stuff, then the inventories build and the price comes down.”

McKnight says artificially lowering the price in a free market for political reasons won’t help.

“It’s a very difficult thing to do, but you have to divorce yourself from the lure of gasoline as your fuel,” he told CityNews.

Short-term solution to an ongoing EV problem

If you would like to do just that by buying a hybrid or electric vehicle, but you can’t find one right now because of supply issues, advocate Michael Stanyer with Plug In BC says there are interim options.

“At the same time that electric vehicles are becoming popular, so are e-bikes and other micro-mobility options. Those are really important, too, and we do encourage people to look at that,” Stanyer told CityNews, adding there are non-electric ways to save money and reduce the use of fuel, as well.

“Like community car shares that have been brought to my attention lately from throughout B.C. Look at those options in your community if you just want to reduce your driving or eliminate one vehicle, maybe, and have something available for filling in the gaps.”

The used-EV market may also be tight, but Stanyer says older electric vehicles may be a good option for some drivers.

“The used-electric-vehicle market has developed quite substantially over the past few years. There are really great options out there, so you don’t always have to get the latest and greatest EV, especially if you are a multi-vehicle family and just need something for basic commuting. You can rely on a less expensive electric car,” he said.

No matter the option you are considering, Stanyer says you should do your research to make sure electric is right for you.

“The technology changes so fast and, unfortunately, it does require some homework for some people to see if an EV will really fit into their lives. We try to offer that on the Plug In BC website — there is an ‘EV 101’ section and a ‘Charging 101’ section and it’s really our role to be answering questions that people have. I encourage anyone to reach out to us for that.”

Plug In BC also offers information on how to access incentives for EV buyers, support for first-time buyers, and information on charging stations.

-With files from Hana Mae Nassar and Liza Yuzda

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