While remote routes are the rewards of a road trip, an essential part of planning for an EV trip is making sure your route includes easily accessible charging stations.Tetiana Grypachevska/The Globe and Mail
For new owners of electric vehicles (EVs), planning a road trip presents challenges not encountered with gas-powered cars. My first EV road trip back in 2020 was an epic drive from Vancouver to Jasper National Park, made unforgettable not only by the spectacular scenery but by the bumps and stresses my husband and I encountered along Canada’s early, patchy charging network. Fortunately, the nation’s EV infrastructure has improved since then, which is great news for EV car owners planning seamless, zero-emission road trips.
These trips come with new criteria that are just as important as identifying scenic pullouts and historic sites. Chief among them is identifying when and how to charge your car’s battery. Range anxiety – the fear of running out of power before the opportunity to recharge your electric vehicle – is real. Fortunately, it’s avoidable with good planning.
Mind your distance markers
Jay Kana, an automotive journalist, has been reviewing new cars since 2013. He advises electric vehicle owners err on the conservative side when determining range, and take 20 per cent off the range indicated on the car’s dashboard. “If your EV has a maximum range of 500 km, mentally see it as 400 km, and if you’re travelling through smaller or rural areas, plan your charging stops for every 300 km,” Kana says.
“Weather, cargo weight, number of passengers, hills, excessive speed and even open windows all impact range,” he says. While it may result in one or two extra stops on the journey, “it’s better than the alternative of running out of charge while driving.”
Smartphone apps can help with planning routes and flagging charging opportunities. Apps like A Better Route Planner, PlugShare, ChargeHub, OpenCharge and even Google Maps allow owners to select vehicle type, the starting point and destination, and then map out the route, highlighting the charging stations and types along the way.
A car’s GPS system can locate the closest Electrify Canada, Tesla or BC Hydro charger, but it’s important to know where these chargers are located well ahead of time, and whether your car is compatible with them. If you have a non-Tesla EV, consider investing in a Tesla charging adapter so you can access the company’s extensive proprietary network of charging stations. Check with the dealership if your EV is compatible.
Charge it
As a new EV owner (or renter), one of the first things to familiarize yourself with is the charging system of your vehicle, and how it operates when you’re away from home. You need to know how fast your vehicle can receive a charge, measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh) and kilowatts (kW). For example, a 40-kWh battery using a 150 kW charger will take about half an hour to charge to 80 per cent capacity. The higher your vehicle’s battery capacity, coupled with a high-speed kW charger, the faster the charge. Some vehicles can accept 350 kW, while others are in the 100s.
Apps will help you identify the type of chargers available on your route. Most Level 2 chargers charge up to 50 kWh. Level 3 DC fast chargers can range from 100 to 350 kWh. Because there are various kinds of public charging stations, downloading multiple charging apps to access the chargers can save time on the road.
Think of it as having multiple fuel rewards point cards (Petro Canada, Shell, Esso, etc.) as each charging network uses its own specific app. For example, when looking for a BC Hydro or Ontario’s Ivy Charging Network station, the mobile app indicates the location and availability of the station as well as the kW charging capacity of the charger (50, 100, 350 kW). After plugging in the charger to your vehicle port, use the app to activate and start the charge as well as keep track of the total charge desired for your vehicle.
When planning your trip, you’ll also want to factor in the time you’ll spend charging. A fuel stop for a gas-powered card can take less than five minutes. But, when it comes to powering an electric vehicle, plan to add in charge times of 30-60 minutes along the route.
The necessity to stop and recharge presents an excellent opportunity to explore a new destination. We choose charging locations near cafes, restaurants and restroom facilities, a practical strategy that has added the joy of discovery to our journey. We’ve stumbled on great cups of java in Hope, B.C., savoured excellent samosas with fresh peach chutney in rural Cawston in the Similkameen Valley, and enjoyed the chance to stretch legs and walk the dog for a spell.
Other rules of the road
While in the petrol world it may be easy to skip a gas bar and arrive at the next one on fumes, with electric vehicles, “not all charging stations may have all charging bays operational,” says Kana, so err on the side of caution.
Remember your charging etiquette, the EV world’s unwritten rule. “Charge to what you need, unplug and carry on by moving your vehicle to a regular parking spot or continuing on your journey,” says Kana. Because charging stations can be limited in some places, freeing up a spot is simply good manners.
Finally, check roadside assistance programs/subscriptions to see if it includes being towed to the nearest charging station. CAA offers this service; call for all the details before starting your trip.
