Over the next few decades, more and more people will be driving electric vehicles (EVs) in Canada as models become more affordable and energy efficient with longer driving ranges. This means that people will be able to drive farther without having to stop as frequently for charging and when they do, there will be more charging stations across the country. Within Canada, some models predict that charging infrastructure will be well-developed as early as the mid-2030s. Charging will also become more efficient, reducing wait times so people can get back on the road more quickly. When compared to conventional vehicles that rely on diesel and gasoline, EVs already use less energy per kilometre and this will only improve with ongoing research and development.

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Within Canada, EVs are expected to make up approximately 60% of new car sales by 2040 and globally, 80% of cars are expected to be EVs by 2050. Initially, EVs are expected to be more popular in urban centres due to higher levels of awareness, shorter driving distances and more charging stations but EVs will quickly spread into suburban and rural communities as infrastructure becomes more common.

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As technology improves, EVs will be a more affordable option both for buying and for maintaining a car, since the costs associated with conventional vehicles are expected to increase along with prices of gasoline and diesel. On average, the purchasing price of EVs is expected to be the same as conventional cars by 2030 and conventional trucks by 2040 (see Table below). Following this, EVs are expected to become even more affordable. There will also be a greater selection when it comes to purchasing an EV since most car manufacturers will have a variety of models to choose from.

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(Approximations from NEB Market Snapshot - Technology Scenario)

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EVs are also expected to become more common for ride-sharing services, like Uber and Lyft, and since they are so convenient and cost-effective, fewer people will need to own their own cars in the future. EVs also have potential for self-driving vehicles depending on technological advancements in the next few decades. In the meantime, neighborhoods and cities are expected to become more interconnected with cost-effective, efficient transit and rail systems. This means that more people will be walking and cycling or taking the bus, subway and train so fewer people will need to own their own cars.