• The pilot project recently took place at Hyundai Electrifié Gabriel, in downtown Montréal
• These sessions aim to expand the public’s general knowledge of electric vehicles.
• Three EV experts in different areas were on-site to discuss the benefits of going electric, while dispelling common misconceptions about electric vehicles

On July 3^rd, Hyundai Auto Canada launched the first edition of a conference aimed at improving public knowledge of electric vehicles (EVs), while deconstructing common myths regarding their benefits and the overall EV ownership experience.

For this first edition of Hyundai Total Electric Vehicle (TEV) Talks, the presentation took place at Hyundai Electrifié Gabriel, the first dealership dedicated to electric vehicles in North America from a mass market automobile manufacturer. A panel of three experts conducted presentations, including: Patrick Lefebvre, senior product planner, Hyundai Auto Canada; Daniel Breton, president of Electric Mobility Canada; and Mr. Patrick Nadeau, owner of a Hyundai IONIQ 5 that was driven from Québec to Mexico in 2022.

Don Romano, president and CEO of Hyundai Auto Canada, was also on-site to partake in the event. “Hyundai firmly believes that the future of our industry lies in electrification. Despite the phenomenal progress of this technology, there are still several persistent myths and false information about EVs, and we believe that there is still a lot of work to be done to educate people about all the benefits that come with purchasing an electric vehicle,” says Romano.

A journey through EV ownership in three parts

First addressing the history of electric vehicles, which dates to the 19th century, Patrick Lefebvre explained how the technology has evolved over time to get to where it is today, brushing aside the argument that it is still a new technology that has not yet been proven.

Daniel Breton provided clarity on five common myths about electric vehicles:

-EVs do not work in winter

-There are not enough charging stations

-EVs are too expensive

-EVs are not fun to drive

For each of these arguments that are often put forward to disparage electric vehicles, Mr. Breton had clear and precise explanations, with supporting figures, demonstrating that a tremendous amount of information in the public eyes conveyed about EVs is false.

Afterwards, the presentation moved from theory to practice with Mr. Patrick Nadeau, who enthusiastically recounted his journey from Québec to Mexico aboard his Hyundai IONIQ 5. Co-owner of a virtual reality experience creation company, Mr. Nadeau took advantage of his trip to stop in numerous national parks in the United States to create new content, before joining his wife and their three children in Puerto Vallarta. After his presentation, participants were able to put on virtual reality headsets to experience the places visited by Mr. Nadeau during this journey of more than 15,000 kilometers with his 2022 IONIQ 5 Preferred Long Range.

The first of many TEV Talks

For this pilot project, two presentations were held during the day at the Hyundai Electrifié Gabriel dealership, located in the heart of downtown Montréal. Families were invited to participate in the first session with a more informal tone. In the evening, the same speakers welcomed consumers and members of the media interested in learning more about electric vehicles.

Throughout the presentation, guests were encouraged to ask questions, the idea being to have open dialogue with the audience, not a one-way presentation. To encourage discussion, groups were limited to approximately 25 people. Food was offered on site, as well as the opportunity for guests to see Hyundai’s latest electric vehicles up close, and even test drive them around the dealership.

Given the great interest in the TEV Talks pilot project, Hyundai Auto Canada now aims to repeat the experience in other cities across the country, with the support of some of its dealers.