this post was submitted on 23 Apr 2024
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Less than half of Canadians say they will buy an electric vehicle as their next car: survey (toronto.ctvnews.ca)
submitted 6 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
85 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

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.

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (2 children)

as I need a vehicle that can travel 700km in a single charge at -30°C before they are viable

Seems like you need to move closer to wherever you’re going or plan better

Difficult to find non-electric cars that can do that

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Seems like you need to move closer to wherever you’re going

Not every job is conveniently located beside a bus stop...

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

I don’t think the person lives 350km+ away from wherever they are going just so they can catch the bus there

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I own my home and am as happy as I can be at my current job, why would I decide to move 350km away where I would have a rent/mortgage, need to find new work for my spouse and I, and live in a city that literally reeks of sewage constantly?

As for "planning better", cold snaps can happen at any time from late October to early April around here, and if one happens when I plan to do some shopping for necessities where its 20%+ cheaper? Oh well, at least the roads will be more likely to be clear.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

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

here, and if one happens when I plan to do some shopping for necessities where its 20%+ cheaper?

Then use your stockpile and go when the weather clears like everyone else

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

...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.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 6 months ago (1 children)

you are aware that battery efficiency drops drastically in cold weather right?

That’s why I pointed out that gas engines do as well and don’t even start in the cold

even if they have a dedicated heat pump, as heat pumps also lose efficiency below -20°C or so.

-35 but it’s irrelevant to the conversation

[–] [email protected] -1 points 6 months ago (1 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 months ago (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] -1 points 6 months ago (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

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

It’s just a “whatever” thing