Gas Prices, Electric Vehicle Stigmas and YOU

Nearly all of us have visited the gas pump in the past couple of weeks, and one thing is for certain – it is the MOST expensive it has ever been in Alberta. Ever.

We know how it feels to work all week long and watch that money go straight to your fuel tank. It’s not a nice feeling, and let’s be honest; it makes you angry. It’s at this point you start to wonder if there are any other solutions out there, and for many of us, there may not be. However, it may be time to have this conversation again….

Electric. Vehicles.

In this province, that phrase is practically looked at as a curse word, but hear us out here. You don’t have to like or be a fan of Mr. You-know-who (Hint: His last name rhymes with ‘Dusk’) in order to appreciate electric vehicles. There is a stigma in Alberta about this, because we are a proud, oil-rich province, and having an electric vehicle can be seen as committing treason.

Before we grab the pitchforks – let’s just take a look at some of the facts.

Pressure at the Pump

It feels backwards, but “we produce oil” ≠ “we get cheap gasoline”. That one hurts and it also feels like it doesn’t math properly. Here’s the real picture in Alberta: Oil Price is Global, not Local.  Alberta producers sell into a World Market, not just locally - if global prices go up, local fuel prices follow — even if the oil came from nearby.

We produce crude, not gasoline - the is a process in between those two products. Higher fuel demand in the Summers and fuel blends in the Winter (such as detergents, anti-gel agents and stabilizers to prevent ‘gumming’) tend to drive prices up as it is, let alone what is happening to the Global Supply of Oil and Fuel in other parts of the world.

Much more goes into than just this – but we are just scratching the surface to provide a better picture of where we’re going.

The Curse Word: ELECTRIC

Don’t close the browser just yet!

Let’s start of by acknowledging that electric vehicles (EVs) aren’t automatically “better” in every situation — but they do have some clear structural advantages over gasoline cars. Some of what you can expect are:

Lower Operating Costs: Electricity is cheaper and more stable than fuel. Charging typically costs far less per kilometre than gasoline and with fewer moving parts = less maintenance (no oil changes, fewer fluids, less wear).

Mechanical Simplicity (Less Stuff to Break): Gas engines are complex — EVs are not. No engine, transmission, exhaust system, fuel injectors, etc. Fewer failure points → higher reliability potential.

Instant Performance: Electric motors deliver torque immediately. Faster acceleration (even in non-performance EVs) and smoother driving (no gear shifts).

Environmental Impact (But Not Perfect) No tailpipe emissions and lower lifetime emissions in most regions (especially with cleaner grids). Caveat: Battery production has a footprint, and benefits depend on how electricity is generated.

Convenience (If Set Up Right): Charge at home = no gas stations and you can enjoy a “Full tank” every morning – but long trips require planning, and charging infrastructure still matters.

Of course, like an Internal Combustion Engine, there are negative qualities that compliment the positive ones. When it comes to longer range, faster refueling and extreme cold (relevant in our Province!) – the EV cannot always compete as well as the ‘ol gasoline engine.

The Straight Facts

For many, purchasing a new – or even used – EV is not within the budget, as there can be some higher purchase prices and up-front costs to get started. However, the EV Market has come a long way in offering more competitive pricing than before, and it is no longer as high priced as it once was – in fact, it has come closer and closer to par.

Let’s use this example:

2025 GMC Sierra Denali 4WD vs 2025 GMC Electric Sierra Denali
The battery is about 212 kWh on the electric model, while the fuel tank on the gasoline engine is about 91 litres.

One could get about 720 kms off a full charge on average, weather depending. Before you say “a-ha - Cold Weather uses more Battery Power”, remember how much fuel it takes on a cold morning to use the remote start on a vehicle for 20 minutes each day.  

Let’s say your electrical rate was fixed at 8 cents per kWh (which is pretty average, but it fluctuates for everyone – just like fuel prices), but with transmission fees and all included charges, it levels out to about 17 cents per kWh. The cost to fully charge this truck is in or about $36.00.

The 2025 Gasoline powered Denali GMC uses about 14L/100 km. With gasoline currently at $1.65, you can say it would cost about $150.15 for a full tank if it was completely on empty and you had to push the truck to the pump – for all intents and purposes, let’s call it $140 for a full tank.

Now when leveled out to Dollars per 100 kilometers driven, you get an average of:

EV: $5.10 to go 100kms
Gasoline: $23 to go 100 kms. 

A brand new 2025 GMC Sierra driven off the lot cost approximately $110,000, while the Electric version cost approximately $123,500 – a difference of $13,500 to go from Gasoline to Electric.  

For many highway commuters, a single full charge — or a full tank of gas—can comfortably cover an entire week of driving. The cost difference in fueling versus charging is using this equation would equal approximately $3536 – if you purchased either of these vehicles for a 7 Year Financing term, your fuel savings vs charging would make up the $13,500 difference in approximately 4 years or less – not to mention all the savings on oil changes and maintenance that you wouldn’t have to do in the electric version. That is money that stays in your pocket.

Putting it all Together

In Alberta, EVs can often be seen less as a transportation choice and more as a political statement – which sometimes leads to these vehicles being vandalized (see our recent post So, You Want to Vandalize a Tesla?).  

Driving an EV can be perceived as virtue‑signaling or “buying into climate politics” rather than a neutral consumer choice, and we aren’t saying that Electric Vehicles are the “end all – be all” solution, but we can all appreciate that, like anything, EV’s have many Pros & Cons.

EVs can be viewed as disloyal to Alberta’s economic backbone, even when EV drivers themselves support energy diversification, and the “EVs don’t work in Alberta winters” has become a common refrain, even though real-world data shows they are usable with planning – as it is with their gasoline counterparts.

The bottom line: EVs aren’t a one‑size‑fits‑all solution — and that’s okay. Our goal isn’t to push you into a switch, but to give you the knowledge and confidence to decide whether electric driving fits your life. So don’t just take our word for it. When you’re out test‑driving your next vehicle, add an EV to the lineup and experience it for yourself. You might be surprised what a drive on electricity feels like - and what it costs or doesn’t cost.