A recent survey shows not all Canadians are ready to make the switch to an electric vehicle as they have concerns about charging stations, cold weather and battery life.
A recent survey shows not all Canadians are ready to make the switch to an electric vehicle as they have concerns about charging stations, cold weather and battery life.
…you are aware that battery efficiency drops drastically in cold weather right?
That doesn’t magically get fixed by preheating the car, the batteries are not well insulated enough to stay at optimal running temperature at -30°C while going 100km/h, even if they have a dedicated heat pump, as heat pumps also lose efficiency below -20°C or so.
Gas engines needing to be plugged in or they don’t start isn’t relevant to why I can’t trust an EV in the winter, it’s the 25% loss of range at -8°C, and not wanting to get a hotel and stay somewhere overnight so that I may have the privilege of spending up to $0.41per minute to charge my car overnight so that I can make it home in winter, vs my current hybrid, where it takes 5 minutes total to stop at a gas station to top up my fuel.
And actually, the Government of Canada states that most consumer heat pumps tend to need supplemental heat around -15°C to -25°C, with only the most expensive “cold weather” variants managing anything colder.
See screenshot as I can’t hyperlink to the exact line in question stating that.
I will admit, looking io charging times, half an hour isn’t so bad, now that BC hydro has put in/activated their level 3 charging stations.
When I purchased my current vehicle, there was not any non-tesla lvl 3 stations available, and even then there was only 1.
That being said, the available lvl 3 stations aren’t near an amenity I would normally stop at, and would add nearly an hour to my current 12 hour round trip.
And again, my biggest problem with full electric vehicles in my situation is the charge time and charger availability, if the chargers available weren’t for any reason, I would be SOL - and charger availability is a lot lower than gas stations even at the best of times
That being said, the available lvl 3 stations aren’t near an amenity I would normally stop at, and would add nearly an hour to my current 12 hour round trip.
Going to become more common than gas stations eventually which as for “next vehicle” is relevant
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So you have your car (block heater) plugged in anyway for these cold snaps
But the Ford Escape doesn’t have that range on a single tank in ideal conditions, let alone -30 where gas engines lose efficiency
Then use your stockpile and go when the weather clears like everyone else
…you are aware that battery efficiency drops drastically in cold weather right?
That doesn’t magically get fixed by preheating the car, the batteries are not well insulated enough to stay at optimal running temperature at -30°C while going 100km/h, even if they have a dedicated heat pump, as heat pumps also lose efficiency below -20°C or so.
That’s why I pointed out that gas engines do as well and don’t even start in the cold
-35 but it’s irrelevant to the conversation
Gas engines needing to be plugged in or they don’t start isn’t relevant to why I can’t trust an EV in the winter, it’s the 25% loss of range at -8°C, and not wanting to get a hotel and stay somewhere overnight so that I may have the privilege of spending up to $0.41 per minute to charge my car overnight so that I can make it home in winter, vs my current hybrid, where it takes 5 minutes total to stop at a gas station to top up my fuel.
And actually, the Government of Canada states that most consumer heat pumps tend to need supplemental heat around -15°C to -25°C, with only the most expensive “cold weather” variants managing anything colder.
See screenshot as I can’t hyperlink to the exact line in question stating that.
Gas engines lose 15% at -7
https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/coldweather.shtml
The point is every complaint you have to say you can never use electric already exists and if they mattered to you then you wouldn’t buy a gas vehicle
You don’t need to charge overnight, plug in and charge while you are eating or pissing them get in and go
I will admit, looking io charging times, half an hour isn’t so bad, now that BC hydro has put in/activated their level 3 charging stations.
When I purchased my current vehicle, there was not any non-tesla lvl 3 stations available, and even then there was only 1.
That being said, the available lvl 3 stations aren’t near an amenity I would normally stop at, and would add nearly an hour to my current 12 hour round trip.
And again, my biggest problem with full electric vehicles in my situation is the charge time and charger availability, if the chargers available weren’t for any reason, I would be SOL - and charger availability is a lot lower than gas stations even at the best of times
Going to become more common than gas stations eventually which as for “next vehicle” is relevant
It’s just a “whatever” thing