Electric Avenue

It seems like everyone in the city is swapping their gas guzzler for a sleek, climate-friendly electric vehicle. Here's everything you need to know before taking the EV plunge

- ALEX CYR

THE SIGNS of Toronto's transformation into an EV capital have been gradual but unmistakable: Teslas everywhere, new charging stations popping up on the daily commute and, this past December, the launch of Canadas first full-scale electric-vehicle production facility, in Ingersoll, just west of the city.

Last year, six per cent of registered cars in Canada were fully electric (as opposed to hybrids, which are powered by both an electric motor and a gasoline engine), and the numbers are on the rise. One big reason for the shift is that EVs finally make financial sense and are practical to own. Some can now travel up to 800 kilometres between charges. They are, on average, cheaper than ever, with budget-friendly models selling for just over $40,000 (there's also a $5,000 federal rebate for some EVs) and charging costs that amount to a tiny fraction of what you'd pay at the pumps. And they're supported by better infrastructure: the city has committed to installing 400 public chargers by the end of this year.

The industry is still dealing with growing pains, like long wait times to purchase the most popular vehicles and overall higher off-the-shelf costs than comparable gas-powered options. But, with so many hot new models on the market-like the Chevrolet Bolt, the Ford F-150 Lightning XLT and the Lucid Air Grand Touring Tesla is far from being the only name (and price tag) in town. Read on to learn about our favourite EVS for every type of driver and what EV buffs love about their eco-friendly, battery-powered rides.

The Aesthetes 
What they drive: Tesla Model Y