EV Canada Newsletter: VinFast in Canada, Hyundai Home, 2023 Prius + more!

Weekly Recap Issue #40 - Tuesday, November 22nd, 2022

Good evening EVeryone! Just over a month now until Christmas and all I want is an affordable EV that’s available on the lot for everyone. As a safety moment for readers, please make sure you get your snow tires on (if you haven’t already), she’s gonna get slick out there, if it hasn’t already, in your area. Also, some newer EV owners might be a bit shocked at the drop in range of their electric vehicle. Please keep an eye on your range and take advantage of public and at home charging!

Canada

According to a report by BloombergNEF, Canada lags behind other nations when it comes to EV adoption.

The Electric Vehicle Outlook 2022 report by BloombergNEF indicates that EV sales have grown by roughly 33% in the first half of 2022 but may still be trailing other nations. The report, which was tables at U.N. climate talks in Egypt shows that on a global average, only 1 in 8 new car sales are a BEV or PHEV.

How does Canada stack up when compared to other countries? In Canada, 1 in 14 new car sales are a BEV or PHEV. Total BEV or PHEV sales in Canada was 4.7 million units in the first 6 months of 2022 which is an increase from 1 in 20 when compared to the same time last year.

What are other countries doing to improve their EV adoption? Why is Canada lagging behind?

Other countries are offering great incentives for consumers to purchase EVs, which is a driving force behind changing habits and also educating consumers. Imagine the average person sees that the government is providing rebates on certain vehicles, naturally they would be curious and “research” the incentives and in the process learn more about EVs and then come to the decision whether an EV is right for them or not.

Other nations are also investing heavily in infrastructure. The long time concern for consumers has been range and charging infrastructure when it comes to adopting EVs and countries that offer better charging infrastructure also see a higher adoption of EVs.

Grizzl-E Smart Commercial Bundle offers charging solutions for Condos and Apartments.

VinFast launches first brick-and-mortar store in Canada.

VinFast has officially launched their first physical location inside the Yorkdale Shopping Center in Toronto, Ontario. VinFast has a 5-phase launch approach to their marketing and branding in North America. Phase 1 was the opening of 6 stores in California a few months back.

“The opening of the first store in Canada marks the next milestone in VinFast’s global expansion journey. Our network of stores will be key in interacting with our customers, ensuring quality service, and strong relationships in Canada on our journey towards a sustainable future,” Huynh Du An, CEO of VinFast Canada, shared.

The VinFast Store network in Canada is part of VinFast’s go-to-market strategy, in which 8 retail and service centers opening in 2022 will be the first in a network of locations to build personalized relationships with Canadian customers, ensuring reliability, convenience, and peace of mind throughout the process of purchasing and owning their VinFast vehicles.

VINFAST CELEBRATES CANADIAN LAUNCH WITH OPENING OF FIRST STORE AT YORKDALE SHOPPING CENTER

The flagship location is part of the company’s Canadian rollout where 7 more stores will open by the end of the year. The next two are set to open at CF Carrefour Laval in Quebec (Carrefour: CF Carrefour Laval, 3003 Boul. le Carrefour, Laval, QC H7T 1C7), and Park Royal Shopping Centre in Vancouver, British Columbia (2002 Park Royal S, West Vancouver, BC V7T 2W4)

At the VinFast locations, customers can access VinFast’s offerings with ease to explore the interior and exterior details of VinFast’s electric SUVs the VF 8 and VF 9.

VinFast uses advanced technologies and promotes one-on-one with VinFast product experts. At VinFast Yorkdale, visitors will also be able to test drive the VF 8 and view vehicle features on a large LED screen.

EV Around the World 🌏

Toyota reveals 5th-Gen Prius Hybrid.

Toyota has unveiled information on the fifth-generation Prius hybrid for the US market. Even though in Europe Toyota will only sell the new Prius as the Prime PHEV, in the US both plug-in and non-plug-in models will be available, with the former now featuring all-wheel drive for the first time.

Both the Prius and the Prius Prime have been substantially improved from their older versions. For the Prius Prime plug-in hybrid model, Toyota paired a 2-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine (instead of the older 1.8-liter) with an electric motor to produce much more power than in the previous model – 220 horsepower versus just 121 horsepower in the outgoing Prime. This power boost allows the Prius to reach 0-100km/h in 6.6 seconds.

The battery capabilities have increased as well, and although it is not mentioned in the official press release, the Prius prime is estimated to have an approximate range of 96 km compares to the current model which only provides 63 km of range.

Visually, the new model looks sportier, this is due to it sitting 2 inches lower, 1 inch wider and 1 inch longer than previous.

The all-new Toyota Prius Prime will go on sale sometime next year with more details and pricing to be announced in the first part of 2023.

Hyundai launches Hyundai Home - energy to power lives.

Hyundai continues building on the major success of the Ioniq 5 and its goal of providing the next generation of technology for consumers to produce, store, and use their own energy to power their lives at home and on the road with the launch of Hyundai Home.

According to Electric Cars Report, Hyundai has partnered with Electrum to develop a one-stop online marketplace to connect homeowners in select US regions to solar panels, energy storage systems, EV chargers and local installers. The collaboration combines Electrum’s home energy expertise and national network of certified installers with Hyundai’s leadership in electric mobility.

The goal of Hyundai Home is to help customers live more sustainable lives, lower their energy bills, and make their homes more resilient with solar panels, energy storage systems, and electric vehicle chargers. Hyundai Home is currently available through Hyundai dealerships in 16 states.

“Last year, we introduced Hyundai Home as a proof of concept at the Los Angeles Auto Show and the response was outstanding,” said Olabisi Boyle, vice president, product planning and mobility strategy, Hyundai Motor North America. “Hyundai Home is now live and is ready to help customers make a seamless transition to sustainable living. Hyundai is committed to changing the way people view transportation and elevating their quality of life. Hyundai Home embodies Hyundai’s mission, Progress for Humanity, ensuring universal mobility and accessible sustainable living for everyone.”

Customers can use Hyundai Home Marketplace, to purchase a home charger, learn more about home solar, home energy storage, and have access to a dedicated Energy Advisor. The advisor will help guide customers through the purchase process, answer questions about suitable energy system options, and help determine the right system for customers’ home energy needs.

The marketplace will also present customers with three installation bids per project, sourced from Electrum’s network of trusted electricians. Customers can then review the proposals, consult with their Energy Advisor and ultimately select the best offer for their project. Hyundai and the Electrum Energy Advisor will provide customer service throughout the ownership experience.

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