Tesla Model S Is Top-Selling Electric In Canada Every Month This Year

I track most of the “large” electric car markets and write up monthly sales reports here on EV Obsession, but I don’t track Canada… since it’s quite small. That said, it’s interesting to find out that the Tesla Model S has been the top-selling electric car in Canada every month of 2015 so far.

The finding comes from FleetCarma (via the TMC forum), which created this nifty graph of monthly Tesla Model S, Nissan LEAF, and Chevy Volt:

FleetCarma’s Matthew Stevens puts the story in some useful context, though. He notes that the Chevy Volt is the best-selling electric vehicle in Canada by far (cumulative sales), but its 2015 numbers are surely deflated as people await the 2016 model, which will be much better (40% more electric range, a 5th seat, and a number of other improvements) for $105 less.

And how about this for some perspective on why the “high-priced” Tesla Model S is so popular:

What might surprise some is that plug-ins are becoming a key part of the supercar segment.  The reason is simple; if you want to build a really, really fast car you need the instant torque of an electric motor.

While they have limited EV range, at the top of the pack are the McLaren P1 and the Porsche 918 Spyder. In Canada there are currently 8 McLaren P1s and 18 Porsche 918 Spyders registered.  With base price tags of US$1,350,000 and US$847,000 these are not for the price conscious.  We are fairly sure Dragons Den’s Wekerle’s Spyder is in that list even though it died a fiery death (because gasoline poured onto the exhaust – nothing to do with the electric/battery side).

It is still crazy to me that a Tesla Model S can be almost as quick to 60 mph as a McLaren P1 or Porsche 918 Spyder.