Article – Gas pumps across Montreal flashed numbers that made me wince this morning. Nearly two dollars per litre. I watched drivers shake their heads as they filled their tanks. The Middle East crisis has sent fuel costs soaring again. But some Montrealers are smiling through it all.
Carl Bromwich doesn’t even glance at those numbers anymore. He drives a Hyundai Ioniq electric vehicle. His commute takes him across the island daily. He racks up tens of thousands of kilometres every year. The recent price spike barely registers on his radar.
“I am aware of the increase in the price of gas,” Bromwich told me. “But I haven’t been watching closely because I don’t have to.”
His story reflects a growing sentiment in our city. More drivers are questioning their relationship with gasoline. The volatility feels exhausting. Every international crisis sends prices jumping. Every weekend could bring a new shock at the pump.
Daniel Breton leads Electric Mobility Canada, an industry association. He sees this moment as a wake-up call for Montreal drivers. The organization tracks trends across the country. They watch how global events affect local choices.
“The message is that it is time for people to realize that their choices have an impact,” Breton explained. “The price of oil is very volatile and it’s always been volatile.”
He contrasted that with electricity costs in Quebec. Our hydro rates remain remarkably stable. They don’t swing wildly with international tensions. Breton pointed out another factor that surprised me during our conversation.
“More than 70 per cent of the oil sands are owned by foreign companies,” he said. “The vast majority of electricity production is owned by Canadian utilities.”
That’s a compelling argument for keeping dollars local. Quebec’s hydroelectric system is largely provincially owned. When you charge an electric vehicle here, you’re essentially buying from Hydro-Québec. The money stays closer to home.
I’ve covered enough consumer stories to know the counterarguments though. Critics worry about ripple effects from high oil prices. Dan McTeague analyzes gas prices professionally. He warns that fuel costs touch everything in our economy.
“Even if you don’t drive a car, even if you drive an EV, you are going to feel it,” McTeague cautioned. “It is going to impact the cost of pretty much everything, including the building of those EVs.”
He has a point. Manufacturing plants need energy. Shipping components requires fuel. Higher oil prices can push up the cost of producing electric vehicles. That’s particularly frustrating when EV prices already stretch many budgets.
Walking through Montreal neighbourhoods, I’ve heard plenty of debate lately. Should the provincial government step in with rebates? McTeague calculated that governments currently collect substantial revenue from high gas prices.
“The federal and provincial governments in Quebec are picking up 14.975 per cent of the additional costs,” he noted. “That is what I call ill-gotten gains given that this could go on for some time.”
The political dimension fascinates me as a journalist. Gas prices always become political quickly. Everyone has an opinion. Everyone feels the impact differently. Our bilingual city adds another layer to these conversations.
Federal rebates for electric vehicles returned last month after a pause. The timing couldn’t be more interesting given current fuel prices. Statistics Canada revealed something striking about that gap in incentives. EV sales dropped 36 per cent from December 2024 to January 2025 when rebates disappeared.
Breton told me the response to renewed rebates was immediate. A colleague who installs charging stations reported something remarkable. Business didn’t gradually pick up over weeks. It surged within hours of the announcement.
“That message from the federal government has made a difference,” Breton emphasized.
I met Gilbert Bourque at a charging station near Parc La Fontaine last week. He bought his electric vehicle before the recent oil crisis. His decision wasn’t primarily about fuel prices. But the current situation has validated his choice in unexpected ways.
“At one point, I wasn’t really sure whether it was worth it or not,” Bourque admitted. “But for the price of gas now, I guess it could be worth it.”
His uncertainty reflects conversations I hear constantly in Montreal. Electric vehicles represent significant upfront costs. The long-term savings calculation depends on many factors. Fuel prices matter, but so do charging infrastructure and winter performance.
Quebec winters test electric vehicles uniquely. Cold weather reduces battery range. Heating the cabin draws significant power. I’ve watched friends debate whether EVs make sense given our climate. The fuel price argument adds weight to one side.
Charging infrastructure continues expanding across Montreal. I’ve noticed new stations appearing in parking lots throughout the city. Apartment buildings are slowly adding options for residents. The convenience factor keeps improving.
But barriers remain for many Montrealers. Renters often lack charging access at home. Condo boards sometimes resist installation costs. Street parking makes overnight charging impossible. These practical challenges persist regardless of gas prices.
The environmental argument for electric vehicles extends beyond personal savings. Quebec’s hydroelectric power produces minimal emissions compared to gasoline. Switching to EVs here creates genuine climate benefits. That matters to many drivers I’ve interviewed.
How long will current oil prices last? Nobody knows for certain. Middle East tensions remain unpredictable. Supply disruptions could continue or ease suddenly. That uncertainty itself makes the case for electric alternatives.
Montreal dealerships are reporting increased interest in electric models. Test drives are up. Questions about range and charging have multiplied. The current crisis has focused attention like few other factors could.
Whether this translates into sustained sales growth remains unclear. Economic uncertainty makes major purchases daunting. Interest rates affect financing costs. The full picture involves more than just fuel prices.
But standing at that gas station this morning, watching the numbers climb, I understood the appeal. Predictability has value. Stability matters. Quebec electricity rates offer both in ways petroleum never has.
