The Canadian Electric Vehicle thread

[urbandreamer]

I checked out the Rivian dealership on Weston Road in Vaughan this afternoon. They've got 200-300 R1S/R1T in stock wow.
https://imgur.com/a/bDY681H
Someone's traded in their new Cadillac Lyric
https://imgur.com/a/q7XdJZC
Gorgeous vehicle vs the cheaply-designed Caddy. Other than the Prius, it's the EV I want.

Stunning, luxurious interiors vs the bareboned Teslas. Wtf would anyone want a Lightning over this?
https://imgur.com/a/ivFfBo0
But, are these vehicles awaiting PDI, ie sold? If not, then I agree with Elon, ie bankruptcy unfortunately. I saw several with rework orders on their windscreen.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by urbandreamer

I checked out the Rivian dealership on Weston Road in Vaughan this afternoon. They've got 200-300 R1S/R1T in stock wow.
https://imgur.com/a/bDY681H
Someone's traded in their new Cadillac Lyric
https://imgur.com/a/q7XdJZC
Gorgeous vehicle vs the cheaply-designed Caddy. Other than the Prius, it's the EV I want.

Stunning, luxurious interiors vs the bareboned Teslas. Wtf would anyone want a Lightning over this?
https://imgur.com/a/ivFfBo0
But, are these vehicles awaiting PDI, ie sold? If not, then I agree with Elon, ie bankruptcy unfortunately. I saw several with rework orders on their windscreen.

The Lyriq illustrates some of the worst of gimmicky EV design. Supposedly in the name aerodynamics you get those stupid doors that pop out slightly leaving the user to grasp a cheesy plastic pull. So stupid. Just give me a frickin’ pull-up door handle circa 1985!

[Wigs]

urbandreamer, you should have taken one for a test drive to give us a full report

[urbandreamer]

I highly doubt the dealer would let me test drive a $135,000 R1T when I show up in a paupermobile.
https://www.autotrader.ca/a/rivian/r...=1_5_5&sprx=50

$125k for the pick-up truck lol
https://www.autotrader.ca/a/rivian/r...=2_5_5&sprx=50

The vibe I got at the dealership reminded me of the time 40 years ago my Dad took us to the Skoda dealership in Kitchener Waterloo Cambridge area, or a Saab dealership c.2009.

While cool and interesting in a Volvo c.1995 way, or admiring the original Jeep Grand Wagoneer in 1985, or a Jaguar in the early 1990s, I get this sinking feeling Rivian is a dead-end.

In positive EV news, I rather like the Renault 5 EV unveiled today. Now all it needs, like the Rivian, is a petrol engine, even as a Ramcharger-style on board generator.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by urbandreamer

I highly doubt the dealer would let me test drive a $135,000 R1T when I show up in a paupermobile.
https://www.autotrader.ca/a/rivian/r...=1_5_5&sprx=50

$125k for the pick-up truck lol
https://www.autotrader.ca/a/rivian/r...=2_5_5&sprx=50

The vibe I got at the dealership reminded me of the time 40 years ago my Dad took us to the Dacia dealership in Kitchener Waterloo Cambridge area, or a Saab dealership c.2009.

While cool and interesting in a Volvo c.1995 way, or admiring the original Jeep Grand Wagoneer in 1985, or a Jaguar in the early 1990s, I get this sinking feeling Rivian is a dead-end.

I didn't think Dacia was ever sold n Canada? Are you sure it wasn't Skoda or Lada?

Re: Rivian:

After losing $2B in 2023, California-based Rivian lays off hundreds of workers
By Stephen Council
Feb 22, 2024

Electric truckmaker Rivian is laying off 10% of its salaried staff, the Irvine-based company announced on Wednesday. It’s Rivian’s third major job cut since July 2022.

The 10% layoff round will likely leave several hundred people out of work and slam Rivian’s California-based corporate workforce. Rivian spokesperson Harry Porter told SFGATE on Thursday that the company has 16,700 total employees, but added that the thousands of hourly manufacturing workers wouldn’t be part of the layoff.

The layoff announcement came alongside Rivian’s financial results report for the end of 2023. Despite the buzz surrounding the luxury car company, Rivian lost more than $2 billion last year on $4.4 billion in revenue, per the report. .....

https://www.sfgate.com/tech/article/...s-18682507.php

[urbandreamer]

Yeah it was Skoda. My father bought a 1985 Lada Niva and sold it 6 months later. It's now a very desirable vehicle. It was excellent in rural Ontario winter and must've been fun to drive. He didn't like the build quality: what did you expect for $5900?!

[SpongeG]

this seems to be the latest idiot trend, shoot up my cybertruck cause it's bulletproof

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x.com

[Djeffery]

Must have thought it was the Batmobile or something, where the bullets just bounce off without a scratch lol.

[Tvisforme]

Hopefully, this won't inspire some lunatic to take pot-shots at CyberTrucks in real-world situations...

[whatnext]

From today's Alberta budget. At first glance it seems petty but then lost gas tax revenue needs to be replaced with more EVs on the road...

...Taxes coming for EVs
The federal government has laid out a plan to phase out sales of gas-powered vehicles by 2035 — but Albertans looking to trade in their ride that has an internal combustion engine for a Tesla will soon be paying an extra fee.

As early as January 2025, an annual $200 tax will apply to electric vehicles in Alberta.

The government notes that EVs tend to be heavier than similar internal combustion vehicles and cause more wear and tear on provincial roadways...
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calga...erty-1.7129945

[Truenorth00]

I've seen a lot of EV advocates complain that it's unfair. Analysis usually based on 13¢/L provincial gas tax. This complaint ignores the fact that a good chunk of the 10¢/L federal gas tax goes towards transit. Also ignores the fact that gasoline has carbon taxes which fund rebates that EV drivers collect. So with all that in mind, $200 isn't that bad.

But if the UCP motivated by ideology? Absolutely.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by Truenorth00

I've seen a lot of EV advocates complain that it's unfair. Analysis usually based on 13¢/L provincial gas tax. This complaint ignores the fact that a good chunk of the 10¢/L federal gas tax goes towards transit. Also ignores the fact that gasoline has carbon taxes which fund rebates that EV drivers collect. So with all that in mind, $200 isn't that bad.

But if the UCP motivated by ideology? Absolutely.

Add the recent announcement concerning limits to where renewable projects can be located, (or, more accurately, can't be located) and a pattern starts to emerge...

[Truenorth00]

Originally Posted by Changing City

Add the recent announcement concerning limits to where renewable projects can be located, (or, more accurately, can't be located) and a pattern starts to emerge...

Are they ideologically motivated luddite pricks? Absolutely.

Does that make it wrong to charge $200/yr to EVs? Not really.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by Truenorth00

Are they ideologically motivated luddite pricks? Absolutely.

Does that make it wrong to charge $200/yr to EVs? Not really.

I agree that some form of replacement for gas tax is going to be needed. A flat charge doesn't seem ideal, as it doesn't reflect the difference in costs to the province that someone who uses roads a lot incurs, compared to a vehicle owner who rarely drives, but without tolling or equivalent road pricing, I'm not sure there's an easy fix for that?

[Truenorth00]

Originally Posted by Changing City

I agree that some form of replacement for gas tax is going to be needed. A flat charge doesn't seem ideal, as it doesn't reflect the difference in costs to the province that someone who uses roads a lot incurs, compared to a vehicle owner who rarely drives, but without tolling or equivalent road pricing, I'm not sure there's an easy fix for that?

Any solution that is going to be mileage dependent will either require tracking or self-reporting. One is an invasion of privacy. The other is susceptible to manipulation. Given the federal and provincial gas taxes and average fuel consumption (~9L/100km), the $200 charge is the equivalent of driving ~9700 km/yr. That about covers a 40 km roundtrip commute for someone. So I don't think the tax is excessive, except for those grandmas who only use their car to go to the grocery store or visit their grand kids. They might drive 5000 km/yr. They be might find $200 to be too much.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Looks like Apple has canceled their electric car plans:

https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/28/tech/...car/index.html

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by Truenorth00

I've been saying this for a while. Delivery is electrifying fast. Cutting fuel cost across huge chunks of the supply chain is a major advantage. Any business that doesn't get onboard will get run over by their competitors. Amazon kicked it off, and scared every other major retailer and grocer into getting their act together. I think most last mile will be electrified by 2030 and all of it by 2035.

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Not in Canada. I've seen the same Bolt IKEA truck for that last year or so but that's about it. The biggest commercial electrification around here is Uber drivers in their Teslas and other EVs.

I saw a brand-new Intelcom E-transit kicking around Halifax a couple of days ago, so it's starting to happen.

[Djeffery]

Saw this article on the Ontario Chamber of Commerce twitter feed regarding Purolator's EV plans.
https://occ.ca/on-the-road-to-fleet-...on-in-ontario/

Fedex is also going big in the GM Brightdrop. Not sure how many they will deploy in Canada as that seemed like a US announcement to me, but I have seen one Fedex Brightdrop in London (a Fedex Ground truck, which means it's privately owned, not by Fedex).

Intelcom are also owner-operators so that one in Halifax is privately owned as well. Honestly I'm surprised a private courier would buy something like an E Transit. They have a pretty crappy range, less than 100km. I'd rather use a PHEV like a Chrysler minivan or something, probably cost about the same and offer the same type of cargo volume, and are probably nicer to drive.

[harls]

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[jonny24]

Originally Posted by Truenorth00

Any solution that is going to be mileage dependent will either require tracking or self-reporting. One is an invasion of privacy. The other is susceptible to manipulation. Given the federal and provincial gas taxes and average fuel consumption (~9L/100km), the $200 charge is the equivalent of driving ~9700 km/yr. That about covers a 40 km roundtrip commute for someone. So I don't think the tax is excessive, except for those grandmas who only use their car to go to the grocery store or visit their grand kids. They might drive 5000 km/yr. They be might find $200 to be too much.

Could tie it to your insurance? You have to report some kind of annual mileage to them, and if you lie it's insurance fraud.