Can an Electric Vehicle Be Your Main Family Car?

by Connie Peters

First off, I think we need to clear the myth that you need a special outlet to own a plug-in EV (electric vehicle). You don't. You can plug in an EV into your household outlet, which most people have inside their garage, or on the side of the house. If you're in a parking garage situation, you'll need to check your complex to see if you can use the outlets in the garage or if there is one close enough to your parking spot.

You may want to consider updating your home with a Level 2 charger if you're buying a fully electric car. Some people are lucky enough to have Level 2 charging stations at their place of work and only need to charge during the time they're at the office. This being said, I think the bottom line about whether or not an EV or plug-in hybrid vehicle can fit your lifestyle is having a look at the resources and logistics around you. Is your city EV friendly with local stations? Ask your friends who may already have an EV in your community about their experiences, or do some local research before deciding if an EV is right for you.

We’re lucky here in BC to have the infrastructure in place with plenty of charging stations available to charge at grocery stores, malls, offices and hotels for travelling. If you’re considering an electric vehicle as your main family car, here are some things to consider.

GET TO KNOW YOUR EVS

There are a few different types of electric vehicles - plug-in hybrid electric, and pure battery-electric, so know the difference when you shop. A plug-in hybrid (PHEV) electric has a gas-powered back-up. A battery-electric (BEV or EV) has just the battery.

HOW WILL YOU CHARGE YOUR CAR?

Charging times can vary depending on things like temperature, your current level of battery charge, and your battery capacity. You have three options to choose from when it comes to charging:

HOUSEHOLD

Your typical 110v outlet works to charge a car. It's slower than other levels, but it works. We own a Tesla and my husband charges at home or at the office on a Level 2. We have only used Supercharging when traveling to the Okanagan, and even those are available in many BC towns and cities.

LEVEL 2

208v/240v charging can be installed at home or you can use them at local stations, just check plugshare.com for stations near you. Plug-in hybrid vehicles take 1-4 hours to be fully charged on Level 2. Battery EVs take 4-8 hours to be fully charged (from 0 to 100%) on Level 2. Many stations are free to use or just require a BC Hydro account.

DC FAST CHARGING

DC Fast Charging stations (not including Tesla Supercharging) are slowly being offered for a charge as they are significantly more costly to build and set up. They charge a fee for charging but can charge up to 80% of a battery charge in approximately 20 minutes. Across North America, these are becoming more common at fuel stations. There are plenty of mobile apps that will help you locate your nearest charging station.

WILL IT FIT YOUR LIFESTYLE?

Here are some ways to determine if an EV is a fit for your family:

WE'RE JUST DRIVING AROUND THE CITY

An electric car is ideal for city driving and commuting, but planning road trips gets a little more complicated. For example, a trip to the Okanagan from the Lower Mainland will require two fast charging stops along the way for most routes and cars.

If you are a one-vehicle household but will take occasional longer road trips, you can always rent something for your trip if you have range anxiety, but charging stations are becoming more commonplace and new ones are continually popping up.

I HAVE A HIGH-SPEED CHARGER UP THE STREET

Check plugshare.com to see where your local Level 2 charging stations are located. Depending on your city, you may be surprised how readily available they are. If you're considering a Tesla, those are different charging stations, so search for Superchargers in your area to see how accessible it would be for you to use one. Teslas can also use regular local Level 2 charging stations with an adapter.

THE RANGE CAN BE SIGNIFICANT

I've heard it on social media and from friends, people want longer range, they're worried about cold winters affecting charging and range (it does) and taking a simple road trip to the cabin.

Maybe a PHEV is the solution for you - you can get some models in a PHEV (plug-in electric) version with a backup gas motor with up to about a 850km range. Keep in mind that these only have a small battery range, meaning if you're doing longer trips you'll need to pay for gas, but you have the benefit of the overall range. The battery-only range averages about 42km depending on the car.

WILL IT SAVE YOU MONEY?

Who doesn't want to save money? The cost of charging an electric vehicle versus using gas fuel is approximately half!

YOU'LL GET REBATES

Yes, that means you'll save even more money. In BC, you are eligible for Provincial and Federal rebates. In Canada, there is a $5,000 federal rebate plus a $3,000 BC Provincial rebate depending on the model and price of the EV you’re buying. Plus, in BC you may apply for a rebate to install a Level 2 charger in your home. Check out https://goelectricbc. gov.bc.ca/#rebates for more information.

REGENERATIVE BRAKING HELPS CHARGE YOUR BATTERY WHILE YOU DRIVE

When you apply the brakes, you capture the kinetic energy of deceleration to charge your battery on the go. Plus, steering wheelmounted paddles in some models allow you to adjust regenerative braking levels meaning if you use the paddle while slowing, you are charging more.

Travelling downhill also recharges your battery while driving. On our drive to Kelowna recently, the battery in our Tesla was charging and extending its range while we were driving the downhill slope of the Coquihalla connector.

YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT THERE ARE STILL MAINTENANCE EXPENSES

You may have heard, "no oil changes, no service appointments", but the truth is, you'll still need to replace your tires every few years and have other regular maintenance costs like checkups with your manufacturer.

Electric vehicles do cost more than gas, because of the technology, but over the long term cost less in the overall maintenance and charging versus gas.