By Ian Holmes

Hybrid and electric vehicles in demand as gas prices soar

Apr 26, 2019 | 5:01 PM

NANAIMO — Motorists fed up with soaring fuel prices are increasingly turning to hybrid and electric vehicles to ease pain at the pumps.

Nanaimo Toyota product advisor Paul DeBron said a vast majority of his recent sales have been plug-in hybrid vehicles.

DeBron said most buyers are repeat customers who love the more efficient way of getting around given how high gas prices are.

“We’re seeing a big increase in hybrid vehicle sales especially plug-in hybrid vehicles with the rebates available on those,” DeBron told NanaimoNewsNOW. “Any time gas prices spike we see an increase in hybrid vehicles.”

ICBC data showed the number registered hybrid vehicles in Nanaimo between 2013 and 2017 jumped from 540 to 910.

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Electric vehicle registrations in Nanaimo increased from 15 to 75 over the same period.

“We have one guy on staff who was driving a half-ton pickup and traded it on a Toyota Prius Prime and makes his lease payments on what he used to spend on gas,” DeBron said.

Affordability is a key reason why hybrid and electric vehicles are begining to take off, DeBron said.

Gail Smith commutes daily to Nanaimo for work from the Qualicum Beach area in a plug-in hybrid SUV she bought last summer.

Smith found the overall driving experience better than she expected and she wouldn’t hesitate to buy an all-electric vehicle if the range were better.

“My fuel expenses have been cut in half and that feels good with gas prices the way they are,” Smith said.

Gas prices in Nanaimo are currently above $1.50 a litre.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com
On Twitter: @reporterholmes