Local EV drivers have no regrets switching from gas-powered vehicles, finding the benefits far outweigh any drawbacks.
Martin Kruus owns a 2020 Hyundai Ioniq 2. In the summer, it can go as far as 300 kilometres, while in the winter it can get to 250 km.
“The chemical reaction in the battery happens slower at a lower temperature, so that's the reason batteries are weaker in the cold,” Kruus said, noting that 250 km is still plenty.
Some cold weather adaptations are useful, such as using the seat-warmer system that prevents the battery from draining as quickly as it could if one just ran the heater or fan.
Other variables that can affect the range include how one drives and whether the trip is uphill.
He often uses a regular household socket or Level 1 charging system at home for overnight charges. Having a net-meter solar power system to supplement his hydro usage also helps with his energy bills.
“The difference between the hydro rate that you pay when you charge at home and the gas that you're paying for at a gas station is substantially different,” he said.
Level 2 and 3 charges work a lot quicker. A Level 2 charges four times the rate as a Level 1 and takes Kruus between four and five hours to charge, if the battery was quite low. However, keeping the battery topped up and not waiting until it gets low means less time to charge. A Level 3 charger can be even faster.
The reduction in environmental impacts of using an electric vehicle over a gas or diesel vehicle is substantial. An EV produces zero emissions when being driven, important for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality. Plus, they’re quiet, which is an extra benefit in residential neighbourhoods.
“There are people biking, people with their windows down, shopping or walking. Why wouldn't I cut my emissions and my noise if I could,” asks Kruus.
Electric vehicles can come under environmental scrutiny due to the how they’re produced, with lithium needing to be mined for the batteries.
However, Kruus explained that technology continues to improve, with more steps being taken to reduce impacts.
Rodger Hamilton has a 2019 Hyundai Kona Electric that has a 400 km-plus range.
“We have about 54,000 km on it and our experience has been very positive,” Hamilton said. “I can’t imagine going back to a gas burner.”
He said he can charge at home for 11 cents per kilowatt hour, so his costs are about 10 per cent of what he had paid to run a gas vehicle. Using the higher-level fast chargers is more expensive, at about 36 cents per kwh, though the cost can range – he uses an app to locate the best options.
“The regenerative braking feature on electric vehicles is one of the cooler benefits,” Hamilton said. “I get a charge out of converting kinetic energy to chemical energy in the battery when going down hills, probably a big reason why they are so incredibly efficient.”
When temperatures plummet to the -35C range, the vehicle can lose up to 35 per cent due to the electricity needed to heat the cab, therefore dropping from180 miles per gallon equivalent in the summer to the 120 MPGe in winter.
“It works fine in the winter,” he noted. “We generally keep it plugged in so we can preheat the cabin on household current before leaving home.”
Road trips can take longer, however, due to needing to stop to charge, but that doesn’t bother Hamilton.
“It seems like a minor inconvenience for us to avoid the 2.3 kg of CO2 emitted for every litre of gasoline burned,” he said.
Lisa Buhler has two electric vehicles, a 2013 Nissan LEAF and a 2022 Volkswagen ID.4.
“We haven't been able to truly test the VW in the super cold weather, but we drove it in about -20 or-25, and it’s just night and day compared to the LEAF because it has a much bigger range and a heat pump in it,” said Buhler, who lives about 25 kilometres from Williams Lake.
Being newer, the Volkswagen has a much bigger range and handles cold weather better than the LEAF.
In the winter, the LEAF can get between 50 to 80 kilometers in a charge, whereas in summer it’s around 100 to 120. By contrast, the Volkswagen gets closer to 300 kilometers in a charge in winter and 500 kilometers in the summer.
“We’ve probably saved somewhere between $20,000 and $25,000 over the last 10 years, between both the fuel costs and maintenance of the vehicles,” she said, adding oil changes and other major engine repairs that their past diesel and gas vehicles required haven’t been necessary with the electrics.
For her, the main reason for choosing an EV was to reduce environmental impacts, especially since most electricity in B.C. comes from hydro, though the money savings have been a bonus.
“It’s transformed how we travel and made it into a more relaxed and thoughtful experience, rather than just getting from A to B as quickly as possible,” she said, adding that stopping to charge gets them out to explore areas along the way.
Brian Davidson has a 2020 Tesla that has a range up to 400 km.
“When I first started driving longer distances, I’d have anxiety about having enough charge to get where I want to go,” he said. “Having driven for some time now (including a road trip to Quebec City) I rely on the built-in software connected to GPS/Google Maps that provides me with information about what the final state of charge will be upon arriving at the next scheduled charging point.”
The software also provides information on best routes, which chargers to stop at, and how to keep the trips efficient. On long trips, he said he rarely stops longer than 30 minutes, stopping every two to three hours. That, he said, forces him to get out for a stretch, grab some food, and enjoy the journey.
Erin Hitchcock is an Air Aware educator with Scout Island Nature Centre. Visit our website at breatheasywilliamslake.org and follow us on Facebook at Air Aware Williams Lake. We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of BC through the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy.
