Dubuc Motors Gearing Up to Become Canada’s First Electric Carmaker

Dubuc Motors, an electric car company based out of Quebec City, is priming to become Canada’s first electric car manufacturer.

The car, called the Tomahawk, is the creation of Mario Dubuc, the company’s director of engineering and Mike Kakogiannakis, director of marketing. Dubuc Motors says it will be producing an electric car by 2016.

Could a small Canadian company really become the next great electric carmaker? Moreover, can this one survive in an economy that still views electric cars as, well, weaker vehicles?

“Nothing is impossible,” Kakogiannakis told CJAD800’s Barry Morgan show Monday. “People have a misconception that electric vehicles are not as good. They’re even better than conventional vehicles.”

This new electric car has been labeled a “cross between a Lotus and a Porsche,” and possesses twin electric motors produced by TM4, a Hydro Quebec-owned firm that develops and markets production-ready electric and hybrid powertrain systems. 

It’s a fully-connected vehicle with all wheel drive, adjustable air suspension, its exterior is made of all aluminum, and its “scissor doors” move at a 95 degree angle, much like several Lamborghini designs. It’ll retail at a pricey $90,000.

The company has already received accolades for its creation, as Dubuc was the regional winner of the 2014 Quebec Entrepreneurship Contest.

Dubuc has a significant task ahead of it: despite having already created the car, the company lacks the riches to go into full-scale, immediate production. Besides that, there’s also the obvious challenges in creating a product that directly challenges existing automakers, as well as the oil and gas industry in Canada.

Kakogiannakis said North American automakers play a huge role in Canada’s economy. Still, Dubuc is lobbying the Quebec government to adopt a law similar to California’s Zero Emission Law, which promotes electric cars.

Currently, Dubuc is stuck playing the waiting game as the company works through red tape. Before it can start producing the car for the several people who have already expressed interest, Dubuc needs to sort through regulatory hoops for various auto manufacturing certifications within North America.

Still, Kakogiannakis did reveal that “millions of dollars” in subsidies are offered from both the Quebec and federal government for Dubuc.

As for anyone looking out the window, dreaming of driving the Tomahawk, it won’t happen in this weather. Kakogiannakis told the radio station that while we’ll soon see an all-weather electric vehicle from the likes of Tesla, the Tomahawk will be for warm climates only.