The highs, the lows, and the misconceptions of travelling from one province to another and back in an electric vehicle.
The New Car Dealers Association of BC (NCDA) is regularly asked questions and provides public comment on any number of auto-related issues, including the adoption of electric vehicles. At the same time, our association has an active partnership with government on policy matters that is helping to fuel this transition through our management of the vehicle purchase incentive program, CEVforBC™.
Through public surveys and other means of feedback, consumers have expressed clearly that the cost of EVs, range anxiety, and convenient access to fast-charging stations continue to influence their car-buying decisions.
During the month of September, National Drive Electric Week coincided with the Western Canada Dealers Summit in Banff, Alta. So, what better way to put some of these concerns to the test than to make the trek from our association’s home base in Langley, B.C. to Banff, Alta. and back — a return trip of some 1,600 kilometres through some very steep terrain and the Rocky Mountains — in an electric vehicle?
At the outset, it’s important to note that this trip would not have been possible even a few months ago. BC Hydro has installed a number of DC “fast” chargers along the Coquihalla and TransCanada Highway to make EV travel more of a possibility today.
The first leg of the trip was to Kelowna to meet with members and we chose to take the CEVforBC™-branded Chevy Bolt to help promote the program. Only one stop to charge was required, at the Coquihalla Summit, where there were two Level 3 “fast chargers” and a couple of Level 2 stations. The fact that there are multiple charging options at this location was fortunate, as another EV was already in the process of charging, upon our arrival.
On day two, I took a cautious approach and stopped several times on the remaining eight-hour journey, simply because I wasn’t sure of the impact of the cold, rain and steep terrain and didn’t want to risk running out of battery while making my way through a national park, after dark. However, after charges in Malawka (just past Sicamous), Revelstoke, Golden, and at Field in Yoho National Park, we arrived at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel.
Having made the initial trip to Banff, I now had a better sense of the terrain, charging options and the vehicle’s capabilities, so I used the Plugshare app to help plan the return trip to Langley. As a result, I selected three charging locations, at Rogers Pass, Salmon Arm and Merritt.
The only challenge on the return trip was the BC Hydro Level 3 DC charger at Rogers Pass. As with most charging stations, a swipe card is required. After several unsuccessful attempts, I was lucky to have cell service in order to call a toll-free number where a very helpful lady at AddEnergie in Quebec managed a system reboot that enabled charging access.
Taking this road trip across B.C. was a terrific learning experience, and I was pleased to share details of my journey through social media (follow me on twitter @BlairQualey). There were also some important takeaways, most notably that there is a growing network of DC chargers that allow EVs to take longer trips.
However, there is an expectation from a number of people I have spoken to that a “fast” charge is less than 30 minutes, and that expectation did not prove to be accurate. Charging times that provide 80 per cent of battery power more often than not averaged 60 mins. I also learned just how indispensable apps are that allow an EV driver to determine a route and available charging station given some of the variables, such as speed, elevation, temperature and rainfall — all of which can impact the range of an electric vehicle.
During my EV road trip, I found that travelling in an electric vehicle does take some additional time and thoughtful planning. However, it was terrific to travel to Banff and back without having to pay for gas, and only modest costs associated with accessing charging stations. All factors considered, it was an electrifying experience.Z
