February 1st, 2022 | DEVON KASH

Electric Cars Are Conservative

They're paving the road to energy independence and long term savings.

Electric cars are good for energy independence and they fit perfectly within the idealized worldview of most Canadian conservatives. Electric cars run on electricity, which can be generated from a variety of domestic sources such as coal, natural gas, and nuclear power. This reduces the need for foreign oil, which is a major concern for many conservatives. Not to mention the abundance of lithium and cobalt present in Canada, which could be used to create jobs and further fuel the production and maintenance of electric cars right here at home.

They also promote free market competition. The production and sale of electric cars is open to any company, big or small. This allows for innovation and competition, which ultimately benefits consumers and improves the products they buy. Additionally, the market for electric cars is still relatively new, meaning there is ample opportunity for new Canadian companies to enter the market and to disrupt the established players. Opportunities for Canadian entrepreneurs and start-ups are abundant within the electric car market and should be encouraged and promoted by conservative leaders.

Most importantly, electric cars promote fiscal responsibility. They require less maintenance than traditional gasoline cars and have lower fuel costs. A normal electric car has fewer than twenty components, compared to a traditional combustion car, which has more than 2,000. Those are a lot of moving parts, all of which can break and burn holes in your wallet. Electric cars could save individuals and businesses money in the long run by significantly reducing maintenance and repair costs.

Furthermore, electric cars produce fewer localized emissions, which would help reduce the cost of healthcare and other expenses associated with air pollution. It has been estimated that air pollution and airborne toxins kill upwards of four million people around the world each year. Specifically, in Canada, there has been growing evidence that our public healthcare system is on the brink of total failure and cannot be sustained in its current form. Reducing another burden might help save it.

Electric cars can also be seen as a pro-family and pro-community. They're quiet and produce absolutely no emissions. This means they're a better fit for suburban neighbourhoods and can improve air quality for families living in them. They would also reduce sound pollution. Children would no longer have to be woken up by loud trucks and motorcycles in the middle of the night, nor would their parents.

Electric cars seem to fit every conservative's vision for an ideal world. They create jobs, they create energy independence and they make financial sense for families and businesses. However, in order to embrace electric cars, conservatives will first need to stop believing the myths.

They're Slow And Have No Speed

Electric motors have instant torque, which means they can accelerate quickly and smoothly. Many electric cars now come with advanced features like regenerative braking and adjustable driving modes, which can enhance the driving experience. A Tesla Model 3 can accelerate from zero to 60km in half the time it takes an economy combustion car.

As the technology continues to improve, EVs will become faster and begin to make up a majority of the sport car industry. The global market for electric sports cars is expected to grow from $88 billion to $232 billion in just a few short years.

They Take Forever To Charge

Charging times for electric cars have also greatly improved in recent years. Many electric cars can now be charged to 80% in as little as 30 minutes using fast charging technology. Even with a standard home charging station, most electric cars can be charged overnight and be ready to go in the morning.

They Can't Handle Canadian Winters

Not only can most electric cars handle winter, they have automatic defrost functions that prevent windows and locks from freezing. In fact, electric cars start better than combustion cars in Canada's frigid winters. Regenerative braking also puts the energy back into the battery to be used later.

Electric motors are purposefully designed to withstand cold temperatures better than traditional car batteries and better than traditional combustion engines. The only real and tangible effect Canadian winters have on electric cars is a reduced ability to hold the charge. However, again, regenerative braking systems help mitigate that factor and overall losses of charge range between 5-15% when temperatures drop below 30.

As the technology improves and EV engineers work deliberately to make motors and batteries withstand cold temperatures, there will come a time when Canadian winters will make EVs the only logical option for most households.

They Have Limited Range

Electric cars have become increasingly popular in recent years, but one of the newer myths holding back a full embrace by conservatives is their ability to drive more than a few kilometres at a time.

In the earlier days, electric cars did have a relatively limited range, but modern electric cars have seen significant improvements. Many electric cars now have ranges of over 300 miles per charge and some even have ranges of over 400 miles. This is more than enough for most people's daily driving habits and even long trips can be accomplished with smart planning. With charging stations becoming more common, it won't be long until there's one on every third block.

As time goes on, their range will continue to improve and charging stations will become as common as gas stations.

They're Too Expensive

While electric cars can be more expensive to purchase than gas-powered cars, for now, the cost of ownership is often lower in the long term and the high costs are temporary. As supplies grow and EVs become the majority, their prices will start to decline. Electric cars also have fewer moving parts, which means less maintenance and fewer repairs. Additionally, electricity is cheaper than gas, so fuelling an electric car can be less expensive than fuelling a gas-powered car.

Governments around the world have started offering incentives and subsidies to purchase electric cars. In recent months, Tesla has been discounting many of their cars by more than 25%.

They Will Crash The Power Grid

No, they won't. The biggest and most pervasive myth is this one. Once everyone owns an EV, power grids will be so overwhelmed that rolling blackouts will be a normal, common thing. This myth simply is not true and never will be.

During the most recent heat wave, this myth made a swift comeback when California lawmakers encouraged residents to unplug their electric cars. However, power grid operators have been sending warnings and requesting reduced consumption for the better part of electricity's existence. During hot Saskatchewan summers, notices and reminders to use less air conditioning are sent out periodically. This is nothing new and power grids have always faced challenges during extreme temperatures.

Furthermore, power grids and electricity infrastructure are constantly being upgraded and technology is always being developed to reduce the usage of electricity. The capacity of most power grids has been on a steady rise for the most part of the century and electric cars are not the only new things using up power. Let's not forget that every home now owns a personal computer, multiple televisions, several smartphones and tablets, as well as heavy duty appliances and home alarm systems—many of which were non-existent 60 years ago.

Our power grids never collapsed when those technologies entered the mainstream and they won't when everyone owns an electric car.