FAQ

Do electric cars work in the Manitoba climate?

I've been driving electric cars in Manitoba since 2013. They work all year around, whether it's a winter blizzard or it's a sunny summer day, although the seasons have an effect on the range (the distance you can travel in one charge).

How do they start in the winter?

The good thing about electric cars, is they always "start". There is only one moving part in the motor so it is extremely reliable. 

How does the cold affect the vehicle?

In the winter, you will be using the battery to provide heat to the driver and passengers. In a gasoline car, waste heat from the engine is used to warm the occupants up. However, in an electric car, there is no waste heat created by the motor, so battery power must be used to heat up the interior. The amount of power will depend on the temperature outside, but you can expect to have 25-40% less range in the winter in extreme (-30c) Manitoba conditions.

Are there any government incentives or rebates available for the purchase of an electric vehicle?

Yes, there is up to a $5000 federal government rebate available on brand new electric vehicles. Most new-car dealers advertise their new EV's with the $5000 rebate already included.

There is a $2500 provincial rebate in Manitoba on used electric vehicles 2021 or newer. There is a $4000 provincial rebate in Manitoba on new electric vehicles. Quebec and BC also have provincial rebates. Quebec has a $4000 provincial rebate on used electric vehicles. This rebate is only available to people living and registering their vehicle in Quebec. And so, when looking at used car prices in Quebec, they advertise the sale price including the rebate, which is why the vehicles are less expensive in Quebec. 

There are no rebates or incentives on used electric vehicles in Manitoba. However, the used market has many enticing prices on vehicles just a few years old, and those are the ones I try to offer on my website here.

You can find a list of the vehicles eligible for the federal rebate on this site (click here).

How long will the battery last? How often do the batteries in electric cars need to be changed?

There is a common misconception that batteries in EV's need to be changed every few years. This is simply not the case. Every EV comes with an onboard Battery Management System (BMS) which controls each battery cell and each charge to ensure the battery is protected from accidental or intentional misuse. This system is active in the background and the driver does not need to do anything special. The manufacturer has equipped the car with this system to maximize the life of the battery. However, as any battery ages, the capacity slowly decreases, which causes the range (distance travelled on each charge) to decrease as well. Fortunately in Manitoba, our climate is quite cold, and therefore good for the longevity of the battery. In hot climates (Arizona, Florida, etc) the battery will degrade more quickly. After 10 years of daily use in our climate, between 10% and 30% range reduction is likely. The battery will not suddenly fail one day and leave you unexpectedly stranded. After 10 years of use, the question becomes: is the car still capable of fulfilling my needs? In most cases, the answer is yes. I have yet to hear of anyone in Manitoba replacing their EV's battery.

For a much more in-depth review of EV Battery Life Expectancy, please see this article by Inside EVs. 

 Just How Long Will An EV Battery Last? (insideevs.com) 

How much does it cost to charge?

This is where electric vehicles really shine! For a Nissan Leaf with a 24Kwh battery, you're looking at less than $1.75 for a charge using Manitoba hydro rates. This is the maximum it will cost if your battery is completely empty. Usually you will not return home with a fully depleted battery so it will usually be much less to charge up your car. You can figure on using about 1.5 cents of electricity per km of driving, meaning it is about $1.50 to drive 100 km. Compare that to a fuel efficient gasoline vehicle which will cost in the range of $7 to $9 to travel the same distance.

Won't my hydro bill increase quite a bit with an electric car?

You likely won't notice any change to your hydro bill. One of the members of the electric vehicle association tracked all the hydro he used to charge his car over the course of the year. He travelled 10,000 km for about $83 of electricity. His electric vehicle is one of the most efficient available.

Where can I charge an electric vehicle?

Most people will simply charge at home overnight, so it will be a matter of taking 10 seconds to plug in your car when you arrive at home at the end of the day, and you will have a fully charged vehicle every morning. Fortunately in Manitoba, hydro is plentiful and we have thousands of charging stations already installed in parking lots across the province. We have been calling them block heater plugs, but they also work with charging electric cars as well! 

Where else can I charge?

There are numerous charging stations around the province, and a list and map of them can be found at www.plugshare.com.

Where can I learn more or meet others who drive electric vehicles in Manitoba?

You may wish to connect with the members of the Manitoba Electric Vehicle Association at www.manitobaev.ca. 

Why do you sell electric vehicles?

I bought my first EV in 2013. It was a 2012 Mitsubishi i-MiEV. I purchased it because it was a great commuter car and because of its low cost of ownership. Over the years, people asked me a lot of questions about EVs and wanted to learn more about my car and other EVs. After allowing many people to take test drives of my car and answering many questions, some people were convinced that an EV was right for them. This led to the next logical question: Where could they find a reasonably priced electric vehicle in Manitoba? 

New EVs can be found brand new in some dealerships, but they can be very pricey when purchased brand new. What about the vehicles that are a couple years old? The short answer was that there are not a lot of used EVs in Manitoba. The main reason is that not a lot of new EVs are sold in Manitoba. Until a couple years ago there were no rebates on new EVs, but there are rebates in other areas such as Quebec and BC, and the US. Because these rebates were available in other areas, the number of EVs sold in those locations was a lot higher. After being asked numerous times how someone might find a used electric vehicle, I decided it was time to actively go out and find these vehicles and bring them to Manitoba. And so, this became the start of this business. I still work a full time day job but am happy to share my passion on evenings and weekends with those who are looking for a used Electric Vehicle.

Buying a vehicle remotely, transporting it to Manitoba, and getting it registered and safetied can be onerous and risky. Was it ever a Taxi or a delivery vehicle? Was it ever in a major accident? Was it ever an insurance write-off? Does it have any hidden structural damage that won't show up in a carfax (because the owner never made an insurance claim after they drove over a curb). Every vehicle I purchase is inspected before I transport it to Manitoba. Then, it is registered in Manitoba and goes through a thorough Manitoba safety inspection before it is offered for sale here. In addition, you don't even get a chance to test drive the vehicle unless you travel to these other locations to try it out. And therefore, I do this part for you. I make sure to bring in good used EVs to Manitoba so that we have the opportunity to enjoy some more reasonably priced vehicles without all the headaches of buying a vehicle remotely. I hope you enjoy browsing the vehicles I have available for sale and I'm happy to answer any questions you may have!