The narratives spin so fast with some journalists that you just can’t keep up these days. When faced with the obvious problem that EV sales are cratering at the same time that government subsidies are evaporating, the typical response is to cite opinion polls which claim that car buyers are actually quite positive about EVs.
DesRosiers Automotive Consultants described an “astonishing” collapse in battery electric vehicle sales, adding that “stunning declines were witnessed by a plethora of BEVs, as sales plummeted across the segment.”
However, J.D. Power Canada says only 42 per cent of new vehicle shoppers likely considering an EV say Ottawa’s rebate halt had a “negative effect” on their decision. Twenty-eight per cent say the pause was “more or less neutral” in terms of swaying their intentions. J.D. Power says it collected responses from 3,979 new vehicle shoppers in March and April.
The only EV anybody likes is Telsa, and since Elon is a Nazi these days the Lefties have abandoned the field.
Politics and virtue signalling is about the only reason anyone buys one of these things. They’re sitting on dealer’s lots all over Canada and the USA, not moving.
If Elon is smart, and wants sell cars, he will bring out a diesel hybrid. Lots of mileage, lower cost fuel, lower emissions, and still mostly electric. I wouldn’t buy one myself, but for the city a thing like that would be practical.
Why add the complexity of a diesel to a hybrid? Diesel fuel is more expensive than gasoline. There’s also the extra cost of DEF. There are fewer diesel mechanics. Gasoline hybrids are proven reliable technology.
Right now, at least where I live, diesel is cheaper than regular unleaded.
When I was in diapers diesel was cheaper than gas but no time in recent history, in Alberta at least.
Diesel used to be a minimally refined fuel. Refineries could blend all the cats and dogs into it and nobody cared. New rules require it to be highly refined and desulphurized so it is quite a bit more expensive to produce.
To some extent, same for gasoline. Used to allow (IRC) 300 ppm sulphur and octane was enhanced with lead. Now 30 ppm sulphur and no lead so more expensive blend stocks.
Because it’s summer time, Diesel is currently cheaper than Gasoline in these parts.
Diesel electric hybrid have been around for a long time, but they are mostly used in Trains not cars.
Gents think of the trouble starting a cold diesel and that is your answer as to why they don’t make diesel hybrids. I have had several hybrids and the gas motor can cycle a lot depending on load, speed and temperature and I imagine a diesel would not engage smoothly or quietly in those cycles.
My Acura RLX hybrid can usually cycle on & off and if you don’t look at the tachometer you don’t hear or feel the transition from fully electric to gas.
Plus a diesel would be $$$ both the initial purchase and maintenance IMO.
“Gents think of the trouble starting a cold diesel and that is your answer as to why they don’t make diesel hybrids.”
My Ford starts first turn at 15F. They all do. Diesels are far more efficient than gasoline engines and last a lot longer. That’s why generators in industry are diesel, why trains run diesel, tractors, etc. Efficiency and fuel cost.
Diesel engines do better than gasoline running at constant speed. A D/E Hybrid could run like a locomotive, using the a small optimized diesel to keep a small battery charged and have a completely electric drive train. This would be especially useful in a truck, all the torque and towing capacity in the world with no range barriers.
I always thought that this might be a good application for a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC). Run off of battery until the fuel cell comes up to temperature then use the SOFC to charge the battery.
“D/E Hybrid could run like a locomotive, using the a small optimized diesel to keep a small battery charged and have a completely electric drive train. This would be especially useful in a truck, all the torque and towing capacity in the world with no range barriers.”
There is already a guy doing this with semis in Canada…Edison Motors ( or something similar). Makes for an awesome logging truck.
Just imagine if it were possible to harness the narrative spin into the power grid.
No need for bird choppers or flash fryers cluttering up the landscape.
Cult membership is costly.
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2025/05/evs_lose_more_than_50_of_their_value_within_first_two_years.html
Anyone who purchases anything other than FOOD that depreciates by 50% in two years has;
a) money to burn,
b) shit for brains.
Most likely both.
In Ottawa I see more people using e-scooters and e-bikes. I guess to “compliment” shitty bus and train service.
They’re cheap compared to any car and go 30-40 kph at least.
But Jesus what a nightmare on the road. Worse than idiot cyclists – and I cycle a bit.
The e-scooters and e-bikes riders that take it too close to the roads are about to find out what motorcyclists know all too well: Cars do not watch out for bikes.
I have almost hit two preteens driving their e-bikes at motorcycle speeds – blowing through stop signs, in two separate incidents. If not for me being a highly attentive driver … they’d be dead or crippled.
Nor do they require liability insurance. They’ll run you over and then disappear.
Stats are such fun.
When discussing the changes in purchasing decisions amongst a tiny portion of car owners,you can make these statistics say whatever you wish..just like public opinion push polls.
Numerical illiteracy is so bad here in Can Ahh Duh, that we will be “Taxing our way to wealth”.
Political announcements of wealth generation,essentially amount to “Divide by Zero”.
Take your assets in hand,divide by zero..Gloat about how wealthy yea be.
Canadian Government idea of fiscal responsibility.
Probably one reason so many people said dropping the subsidies was neutral in their decision whether or not to buy an EV was because they had never considered buying one anyway regardless of the subsidies.
There may be a niche market for them in densely populated areas with nice temperate climates, neither too hot or too cold and for people with a lot of time on their hands to stand around waiting for batteries to charge. It wouldn’t hurt if they were also home owners with in home chargers and big incomes.
Reminds me of the spin that presstitutes use to describe the effects of the massive inflation caused solely by the Liberals/NDP spending like drunken sailors on various friends-and-family-enriching scams, and the Bank of Canada printing billions during the Coronahoax.
As a result, many Canadians are no longer able to afford basic necessities, while others can no longer afford to vacation in the US.
I mean, they aren’t buying American goods or vacationing there because of Trump…
The government subsidies (or the lack of them) have no effect on my lack of interest in buying an electric vehicle.
Government slapped 100% tariffs on EV’s from china just last year, they’re not serious.
Give me a EV with 100 Km battery range that has a gas generator under the hood to extends the range to 400 km.. Entice me to plug it in every night with a normal extension cord because this is cheaper than gas..
I would guess.. 2/3rds of the cars on the road, do not have pole position at the home charger.. This means they are kicked to a charging station.. One house, 3 cars.. Very few want to be a EV gypsy..
China got hit with tariffs because they are building EVs with gas generators in them.. Being the underdog, they are going for the throat with a superior product for half the price.. I have seen a few of them online.. Pretty cool and dare I say desirable in a reptile brain sort of way.. A EV that somebody with no parking spot can drive..
Its not just cheaper and slave labor.. Its a better product as well.. That is a SHAME..