You’d think buying an electric vehicle would get easier the more popular they become. More choices, more information, more people to ask.
And in some ways, it has.
But in other ways? People are still making the same mistakes they were making back when the Nissan Leaf first rolled onto the scene.
Julian Sale has been selling EVs since before most people knew what one was. Over 16 years at Motorize Electric Vehicles in Sidney, BC, he’s helped hundreds of Vancouver Island families — first-timers, upgraders, even people on their third EV — find exactly the right car. He’s watched the technology evolve, the market shift, and the questions change. And some stay exactly the same.
We sat down with Julian for a Q&A, and he didn’t hold back. Here’s what he shared.
How EV Buyers Have Changed — And What Still Surprises Them
The EV buyer of 2010 vs. today
Back when Julian started, the lineup was essentially two cars: the Tesla Model S and the Nissan Leaf. That was it. The people buying them were niche — motivated by environmental values, economics, or the social signal of being an early adopter.
“Now electric vehicles have definitely entered the mainstream,” Julian says. “Almost every manufacturer has something to offer almost every consumer. So instead of being a niche product, EVs are definitely a super mainstream product — and there’s something for everybody.”
Translation: you no longer have to be a tech enthusiast or environmental activist to love an EV. You just have to find the right one.
What buyers still worry about
So the technology has evolved. But the worries? Some of them haven’t budged.
Battery lifespan is still the big one. People want to know: if I buy a used EV, will I end up replacing the battery?
Julian’s honest answer is reassuring. “The reality is very few EVs will ever need a battery replacement,” he says. “And if they do, you can get a used one for about four grand. It’s not something we worry about.” He’s quick to point out that nobody shopping for a gas car asks what it would cost to replace the engine and transmission — and those numbers would be a lot more alarming.
Beyond batteries, buyers today are asking pretty practical questions: How much will it cost to run? How long is the warranty? Are they reliable?
“Pretty simple questions,” Julian says. “And honestly, the answers are mostly really good news.”
Range anxiety — is it still real?
Short answer: yes and no.
“Range anxiety is definitely a real thing for people with older EVs and smaller batteries who want to cover more distance,” Julian explains. “But it’s not an issue for people who choose the correct EV for their lifestyle and driving habits.”
That’s the key phrase: the correct EV. And that’s exactly why Julian starts every sale with a conversation — not a car.
What surprises first-time EV buyers the most
Julian doesn’t hesitate on this one.
Silence.
“People get in the car for a demo drive and the first thing they say is, ‘Is it on?'” he says. “Yes, it’s on — it just doesn’t start. You get in, you push a button (or in some cases there isn’t even a button), and you go.”
No growling engine. No vibration. No smell. For buyers conditioned by decades of combustion cars, it’s genuinely disorienting — in the best possible way.
The Biggest EV Buying Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)
Mistake #1: Shopping with price first
This is the one Julian sees constantly. A buyer comes in with a budget before they know what they actually need.
“You should go shopping for EVs the same way you shop for groceries,” he says. “Have a rough idea of what you want before you start grabbing things off the shelf.”
At Motorize, they start with an interview. Do you have home charging? Is it Level 1 or Level 2? How long is your commute? Do you take road trips? What does your parking situation look like?
“We start with what it has to do,” Julian explains. “Then we find the car. We don’t start with any other factor.”
Mistake #2: Obsessing over battery replacement cost
Julian’s got a favourite response for this one.
“When you were shopping for your last gas car, did you ask what the cost of a replacement engine and transmission would be?”
Most people say no.
“You should go find that out,” he says with a grin. “Because it’s gonna be way more than you think.”
Mistake #3: Underestimating the value of autonomous features
This one surprises a lot of buyers. They walk in focused on range, looks, seat count, and comfort — the same checklist they’d use for any car.
But Julian often steers the conversation somewhere else entirely.
“A lot of consumers, when they learn about the autonomous features of a car, realize that the vehicle’s ability to drive itself in the future might become more important than some of the other factors today,” he says.
If one car can drive you autonomously in five years and another can’t, that changes the long-term value equation significantly. It’s worth knowing now — before you buy.
Advice for Vancouver Island Drivers
How much range do you actually need?
The average daily commute for Vancouver Island drivers Julian talks to is under 40 km. So do you need a 400 km battery? Probably not — but you shouldn’t cut it close either.
“We always recommend a car with at least two and a half times more useful range than your average daily commute,” Julian says. “We want to plan for the worst case.”
Here’s the scenario he paints: You live out on Lands End Road and commute to downtown Victoria — about 35 km each way. There’s a windstorm. Power’s out. You couldn’t charge last night. You need to be confident you can still get to work and back.
Two and a half to three times your daily drive leaves you with comfortable margin. No sweating at red lights.
If you have Level 2 home charging (240V — the faster charger), you have even more flexibility. You leave with a full “tank” every morning and can manage with a smaller battery if needed.
What types of EVs fit Vancouver Island life best?
For families who want to explore the island — ski trips, west coast adventures, Long Beach runs — Julian recommends all-wheel drive with solid range and good ground clearance.
“The most popular EV fitting that criteria would be the Tesla Model Y Long Range Dual Motor,” he says. “But there are many others.”
Looking at what actually rolls around Vancouver Island roads, here’s the picture:
- Nissan Leaf — the go-to entry-level EV, still popular and very practical
- Tesla Model 3 — the island’s single most popular EV, great value, great range
- Tesla Model Y — right behind the 3, ideal for families needing more space
- Volkswagen e-Golf — cult following, great for around town (Motorize often has one with a lineup of people looking at it)
- Kia and Hyundai EVs — popular due to strong dealer networks and good product push
Julian’s observation about the buyer progression is fascinating: “A lot of people choose a Leaf as their first EV, a Model 3 as their second, and inevitably graduate to a Model Y after they’ve had the 3.”
How has charging infrastructure improved?
A lot.
Julian remembers looking at Japan’s charging map on PlugShare in 2012 — the entire island chain covered in DC fast charge logos — while Canada had maybe three fast charge stations nationally.
Now? British Columbia has seen massive investment, both public and private. DC fast chargers at 10–12+ locations in the Victoria area alone. BC Hydro fast chargers in Port Hardy, Port Alice, Port McNeil, Port Renfrew, and beyond. Tofino, Ucluelet, Campbell River — even Seabird Island has had DC fast chargers since 2017.
“Pretty much anywhere in BC where there’s any amount of population, you can comfortably access in any EV with range of 200 km or more,” Julian says.
If you bought an EV 5–8 years ago vs. today — what changed?
Two big things: safety and cost.
Modern EVs can essentially drive themselves, and their collision-avoidance systems are dramatically better than what existed five to seven years ago. That older tech isn’t just outdated — it’s obsolete by comparison.
And the price? “We were paying a lot of money for cars that didn’t have a lot of range,” Julian says of the earlier era. “Now everything’s much less costly, and batteries overall go a lot further.”
Smart Used EV Buying: What Julian Actually Looks For
What to check — and what to watch out for
Julian’s advice here is straightforward: buying a used EV is like buying any quality used item. Observe actual condition. Get the Carfax report. But don’t stop there.
“If something is advertised at a really low price online, you might wanna have that checked out first,” he says. “Usually the deals that seem too good to be true are.”
Key things to assess on any used EV:
- Battery health — especially on vehicles 3–4+ years old. The method for checking varies by brand, so ask the team at Motorize
- Suspension and tires — older EVs have likely either recently had maintenance done or will need it soon
- The small stuff — door hinges, windshield wiper motors, seat belt buckles, trunk releases, headlights. EVs age just like any car on the non-electric bits
- Warranty remaining — many used EVs still carry factory coverage on the battery, drivetrain, or both
And then: does it look and drive the way it should for the price you’re paying?
Which EVs hold their value best?
Julian’s take is nuanced here.
“EV values are relative to gas prices,” he explains. “When demand is up and gas prices are up, EVs are worth a little more. When gas gets cheap, they’re worth a little bit less.”
But looking further ahead, he’s clear: cars that can drive themselves will hold long-term value much better than cars that can’t.
For general value retention, his top picks are Tesla products and the Nissan Leaf. The Leaf, interestingly, seems to bottom out at around $5,000–$6,000 even with 200,000+ km — because even at end of life, the parts are worth that much.
The most underrated EV on the market right now
Julian doesn’t hesitate: any Tesla running Hardware 3 or Hardware 4 — the onboard computer that enables full self-driving capability.
“There is a clear distinction in value and performance between cars that can drive themselves and those that can’t,” he says. “Someone can go out with $20,000 and buy a used Model 3 right here at Motorize, subscribe to Full Self-Drive for $99/month, and get a car that drives itself. There’s not a single other car in that price range that comes anywhere close.”
Julian’s Personal Opinions (He Held Back on These — We Made Him Share)
If he were buying his first EV today
Julian’s four factors: reliability, build quality, autonomous driving capability, and the pleasure factor.
That last one matters more than people expect. “How much does the vehicle please me when I get in it and drive it?” he says.
For Julian, Tesla’s product lineup hits all four. Simple, clean, efficient, great thermal management, a best-in-class app experience, and the best self-driving software available. “That’s the well-rounded package that makes the car relevant into the future.”
The app matters more than you’d think
Pretty much every modern car is a connected car. But there’s a massive gap between manufacturers when it comes to how well their apps actually work.
Julian’s comparison: setting up a Tesla in the app takes about 30 seconds and transfers ownership digitally with a tap. He tried the same thing with a Jaguar I-Pace and ended up in a support rabbit hole that involved downloading the wrong app (one designed to let gas-car drivers imagine owning an electric Jaguar), followed by a trip to the dealer with physical documentation.
“Tesla’s app is very good,” he says. “I haven’t seen another good app for any car. Ever.”
Best EV for a family? For commuters? For road trips?
For commuting: Almost anything works. Just match the car to your parking situation and charging setup.
For families and road trips: You want DC fast charging capability — 150 kilowatts or higher. Older Tesla Model S/X can hit 150 kW; newer Teslas and the Hyundai/Kia platforms go up to 250 kW and beyond. That means picking up a lot of charge in a short stop, which matters enormously on road trips.
“As long as it can access the Tesla Supercharger network and it’s a modern EV, you’ll be happy doing road trips,” Julian says.
For a first EV: Still the Nissan Leaf. “It’s the easiest way to get your foot in the door — a reliable hatchback with room for a family.”
Looking Ahead: Future-Proofing Your EV Purchase
How EVs will change in the next five years
Julian’s framework here is crisp: software-defined vehicles vs. hardware-defined vehicles.
A software-defined vehicle — think Tesla, Lucid, or some of the upcoming Chinese domestic brands entering the Canadian market — can update over time. New capabilities, new performance, new features. Just like your phone getting smarter with every OS update.
A hardware-defined vehicle is essentially static. What it does on day one is what it does in year eight.
“If you’re buying for the future and you expect the car to grow with you,” Julian says, “you want a software-defined vehicle. Otherwise you’ll be sitting on an expensive paperweight.”
Julian’s Top Three Recommendations for EV Buyers Today
After 16 years, here’s what Julian would tell you:
1. Think about what cars will be doing for people in the future.
Choose a software-defined vehicle that will update and improve over time, not one that’s frozen at purchase. The gap between these two types of cars will only widen.
2. Don’t be afraid to use your EV for everything — including road trips.
A lot of first-timers plan to keep a gas vehicle “for the long drives.” Julian says skip it. Buy the EV that fits all your driving, charge up and go. Range anxiety doesn’t have to be your reality if you choose the right car.
3. Put good tires on your EV.
This one might surprise you — but Julian is serious. EVs are heavy and have instant torque, which means they’re genuinely hard on tires. “Every EV always needs tires,” he says. “If you buy a car from us, it’s probably gonna have new ones on it. But if you buy a used EV elsewhere, come and see us.”
Want to Try Before You Buy? Motorize Offers Overnight Test Drives
Here’s something most dealerships don’t offer: at Motorize in Sidney, you can take a vehicle home overnight — or for two days — at no cost.
All you need is a copy of your driver’s licence. They’ll put a dealer plate on the car, set you up with charging access, and even lend you a Level 1 charger if you don’t have charging at home yet. If it’s a Tesla, they’ll send you a digital key so you get the full app ownership experience.
“You really wanna test the vehicle,” Julian says. “A vehicle is a big purchase. Take it to Costco. Charge it at home. See how the headlights work at night. Then you’ll know for sure.”
Motorize is open Tuesday to Saturday in Sidney, BC. Whether you’re buying your first EV or trading up to your third, the team is there to help you figure out exactly what you need — before you ever look at a price tag.
📍 #203 – 2031 Malaview Ave, Sidney, BC
📞 1-250-655-3534
