Evan Saugstad: Just Say ‘NO’, it Works!

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Fifty per cent, plus one, may say electric vehicles (EVs) are the best thing since sliced bread, but that means 50 per cent, minus one, do not agree and, for now, are content with their internal combustion engines (ICE) vehicles. Despite the lack of agreement, our governments (Canada and BC) believe they know better and are determined to force the dissenters to follow. What they forget is that followers need to believe in leadership before jumping off the cliff.

For me, it is all about choices. I make them every day. I choose to do what I think is best for my life, and sometimes, that means ignoring the government’s choices in trying to shape our lives.

Ottawa and Victoria would like us to believe there will be no more new ICE vehicles sold after 2034. Yet, despite these governments’ best efforts to force us all to say “yes” to their mandates and get with their program, many are responding with a resounding “No, EVs are not for me.”

To be clear, I have no issue with EVs or any other non-gas/diesel vehicles. EVs work well in some places and not so great, or not at all, in others. There, they work and are competitively priced, the consumer will buy and use them. If they don’t or can’t, the consumer will go with something else, which mostly means ICE vehicles.

Government has made the mandates, but it takes you and me to make this one work.

Consider what happens if a large percentage of Canadians keep saying “no” and stick with their ICE vehicle. What happens if you, me, and the other person keep purchasing and using ICE vehicles because the proposed alternatives are not a fit for you? Will the government use a bigger stick and beat us harder (think COVID?), or will reality and sanity sink in, and the mandates be changed to something more reasonable and palatable for the “non-believers?”

To a certain degree, it is already happening. More and more are saying no to EVs, at least for now. EV sales are stalling out and not increasing at a rate predicted to meet the BC government’s 90 per cent by 2030 (Canada’s 60 per cent) and 100 per cent by 2035 targets (both BC and Canada. All indications are that the 26 per cent by 2026 target will be met in BC, while Canada’s 20 per cent by 2026 is a maybe. Following how they used the COVID club, BC has promised to fine manufacturers $20,000 per vehicle for every ICE vehicle sold above the target after these dates.

If sales do not meet the targets, who gives first: the consumers, the manufacturers, or the governments?

I can say most certainly that it will not be the consumer, at least not for their 100 per cent target. If I were to be optimistic, I would say that it is more likely that EVs top out at 50 to 60 per cent of total sales.

If this happens, what do the manufacturers do if the consumer has no intention of meeting the government mandate? It’s simple: They keep doing what they are doing today.

They will slow down the development and manufacturing of EVs to match demand as they know that those consumers who do not want an EV will stick with their old ICE vehicle rather than buy a new EV that does not meet their needs and will then wait for times to change Manufacturers won’t keep building vehicles they cannot sell for a profit They also know that a $20,000 fine applied to the purchase price of thousands upon thousands of vehicles would have a profound effect on the government’s ability to stay elected. 

And the government’s response?

Canadians already have Ottawa figured out and will say “no” for a few thousand reasons, and that means a new government, one that will quickly revise the targets to something more meaningful and meet the needs of the average Canadian. As for BC and Eby, I would hope that he too is replaced, but I’m not so sure the 50 per cent of BC residents he heavily subsidizes are ready to say “no” and give up the Eby free-money-gravy train. With the BC United and BC Conservatives dividing up the other 50 per cent, we may be stuck with his targets for a bit longer, but just like the temperance movement that tried to ban alcohol, 40 to 50 per cent of ICE users will still find a way to keep on buying and using what we always have.

And for me, it is not only a “no” to EVs. I will also say “no” to the electric furnace mandate. My current natural gas furnace was installed in 1978 when our house was built. It still works great and hasn’t quit yet, but it is only about 65 per cent efficient and should be replaced. I do know a new one will not have the same reliability as this old one. I will grudgingly pay the 12 percent PST our government imposed on new natural gas furnaces unless I go across the line and buy one tax-free.

If you are wondering why I wouldn’t switch to electricity, it is not always as simple as our governments would like us to believe.

Our home requires a major upgrade for an electric furnace, heat pump, or EV charger. I need to replace the 100-amp with a 200-amp service, and when that is done, I must, by building code, trigger moving my mast and meter base from within the wall to the exterior to meet the code. Costs for this include electrical permits, disconnect and reconnect fees for BC Hydro, materials, and contractors for the work. The rough estimate is $10,000, and that is before one gets to the furnace or heat pump.

Like you, I don’t always have to say “yes”. I can say “no,” and I will always vote and make my decisions with my wallet and some common sense. 

It’s not an easy or simple question to answer. Most Canadians believe that society has a duty to support those who are unable to support themselves. Most would agree that a society should be judged on how we treat each other. Most also agree that we should give back more than we receive, and therein lies the rub.