AUTOMOTIVE
The EV Charging Experience in Canada
To encourage the adoption of EVs, Canada is investing in public fast-charging infrastructure.
By Matt Bubbers | Illustration by Tom Froese
Wondering how electric vehicle (EV) charging works? You’re not alone. For drivers accustomed to filling up at the gas station, switching to a battery-powered car can seem like a leap into the unknown. The good news? Charging up an EV is easier than you might think.
Ninety-eight percent of EV drivers surveyed by CAA said they wouldn’t consider buying a new gas or diesel car in the future. The same national survey found EV owners are happy with their vehicle, and they reported much lower costs for driving and maintenance.
Before making the leap, however, many drivers understandably have questions about charging.
After range anxiety — the fear that the battery could run out of power — and purchase price, the lack of public charging infrastructure was the third most commonly cited barrier to EV adoption in Canada, according to the most recent consumer survey from industry analysts JD Power.
“Before I bought my first hybrid in 2001, 25 years ago, I was extremely nervous,” said Kurt Sampson, Zero Emissions Vehicle Advocate for CAA Atlantic. “So I can relate.” Since then, he’s owned five EVs.
“People often approach EV ownership with significant concerns, perceived barriers usually exaggerated by social media. Over and over, I’ve witnessed new EV owners being pleasantly surprised as their concerns fade away through their ownership experience.”
When it comes to public EV charging, Sampson explained, most non-EV drivers would probably be surprised by how much infrastructure is already out there. “You don’t see them until you need to find them,” Sampson said. Last year, Canada added 1,925 new fast-charging ports, bringing the total to 8,804 ports nationwide, according to Paren, an EV data analytics firm. Even better, apps are easily found online to help you locate them.
Still, CAA’s latest national survey found 13 percent of EV owners reported a “serious” problem with finding chargers on a long road trip. And seven percent reported a “serious” problem with range anxiety. (An international survey by the Global EV Alliance found broadly similar results.) Even with those issues, Sampson noted, nearly all EV owners said they wouldn’t buy a new combustion engine vehicle.
There are two solutions to these charging issues. The first involves raising awareness about existing charging options, and the second is going out and building more chargers. In February, the federal government committed $1.5B to spur the private sector to build out this infrastructure faster. Meantime, for the majority of EV owners, who charge at home, “charge anxiety” is not an issue.
If you are considering making the switch to an EV, look for models with a NACS (North American Charging Standard) plug that can use Tesla’s ubiquitous Supercharger network. EVs with plug-and-charge capability and an 800-volt architecture help make charging easier and faster.
“People often approach EV ownership with significant concerns, perceived barriers usually exaggerated by social media,” said Sampson. “Over and over, I’ve witnessed new EV owners being pleasantly surprised as their concerns fade away through their ownership experience.”
In other words, once drivers actually live with an EV, they happily leave the combustion-engine era in the rearview. CAA