If you want an electric vehicle, there's no better place in Canada to live than Vancouver. The best west coast city is very forward-thinking when it comes to EVs, which not only helps the environment, but these vehicles also save people money on gas and maintenance. It's a win-win for everyone!
I have an electric vehicle myself, which I use in the city. As such, I thought it would be helpful for other EV owners (or people who are considering buying one) to compile a short post with everything you need to know about owning an electric vehicle in magnificent Vancouver, BC.
So, without further ado, let's dive right into the topic!
What Are Electric Vehicles?
If you're reading this post, there's a good chance you already know what electric vehicles are, but here's a quick recap. As the name implies, EVs run on electricity, not gas, like classic cars. Since there's no gas, there's no gas engine, no fumes, and no pollution. They are zero-emission vehicles. It's a very green way to travel!
Historically, electric vehicles have had a limited range, leading to something called "range anxiety." People would fret over how many kilometers away a place was and if there were charging stations along the way.
Those days are long in the past as modern EVs have a vast range. The Tesla Model S, for example, has a 647km range. Put in perspective, that's enough for a round-trip from Maple Ridge to Kamloops. It'd be tight (only ten or so kilometers to spare), but you could, in theory, do it.
Given how far EVs can travel, for day-to-day errands, commuting to work, or taking the family up to Whistler or out to Victoria, most electric vehicles have plenty of power to accommodate those tasks. They do so without the exhaust, pollution, and other nasty things that come with traditional combustion engine cars.
They are, genuinely, the future. That's why BC has banned sales of gas cars from 2040 onward. After BC initiated this ban, California also did so, targeting 2035 instead. So, within the next 20-30 years, it's not inconceivable that the majority of us will be driving zero-emission vehicles.
Why Is Vancouver an Ideal Place for EVs?
Canada, as a whole, is very EV-friendly. Indeed, helping jumpstart the switch to electric vehicles is a core part of the current Liberal government's platform. Therefore, you might think that all of Canada might be an equally stellar place to own an EV. Unfortunately, that's not the case.
There are atmospheric and physical conditions that make Vancouver a uniquely fantastic place to have an EV in Canada.
For starters, EVs perform notoriously poorly in extreme cold. At -20 degrees Celsius, EVs only run at about 50% of their rated capacity. That 647km range we discussed above for the Tesla Model S? Cut that in half to 324km when it's -20C outside. Even at 0 degrees Celsius, EVs operate at 80% of capacity. The same thing happens with EVs in the heat. At 40C and above, these electric vehicles operate at 80% capacity or below. Tesla, is now rolling out vehicles with heat pumps to be even be more efficient in the cold and what better place to have an efficient electric car than in Vancouver.
While much of Canada doesn't get 40 degrees Celsius (you'd probably have to fly south for that), most of Canada does see -20C at some point in time throughout the year. And, the vast majority of the country at least dips below freezing at some point in time. At each of these points, your EV will perform worse and worse.
In January of 2019, Winnipeg was -39.8C and the town of Key Lake, SK, was -47.2C. On March 2, 2019, Calgary was -31 degrees Celsius. In January, Toronto hit -22C.
As for Vancouver, the coldest temperature here was a comparatively balmy -9C. While other major cities would have seen reductions in EV capacity of 50% or more, Vancouverites would still be able to enjoy most of their electric vehicle and not have to worry about range!
The moderate weather in BC means that this city will permit you to get the most out of your electric vehicle at all times of the year!
It's Cost Effective To Own an EV in Vancouver
Love it or hate it, Vancouver has some of the highest gas prices in the country. At the time of this writing, gas prices are at around $1.20 per litre. These prices are in the middle of a pandemic, though, so they are cheaper than average. In previous times, they've been as high as $1.50 or more. Vancouver prices are about 30%-40% more than they are in Calgary ($0.95), Toronto ($0.90), and Montreal ($0.98).
Given that gas is so much here, there's the potential for so much more in savings.
Let's assume that you have the Tesla Model S with the 647km range. The average gasoline car uses 8.9 litres per 100km as per the Canada Energy Regulator. So, going approximately 650km requires about 57.85 litres.
At current gas prices, that would cost:
· $69.42 in Vancouver
· $56.69 in Montreal
· $54.95 in Calgary
· $52.07 in Toronto
As you can see, the cost to travel that 650km is significantly higher in Vancouver using a regular gas car than it is in any other city or province!
The Model S has a 100 kWh battery. According to the latest BC Hydro rates, the cost per kWh is $0.0935 for the first 1,350 kWh. For any kWh above that threshold, the price is $0.1403. Assuming you're in the higher tier, charging your EV to go 650km would cost just $14.03.
That's a $55 saving compared with gas! Furthermore, if you have a solar installation (which does remarkably well in BC even though there are long stretches of cloudy days), your cost of charging the car could be as little as $0. Effectively, your transportation is free! It is worth noting that from a purely environmental perspective, solar energy is not better for the environment in BC because most of our power comes from hydroelectricity, a relatively clean source. However, if you drive a lot and want to save on charging costs, it can be completely worth it.
Even if you don't have a charger in your home and use just public ones, there are plenty in Vancouver. There are also plenty of Tesla Superchargers in the city of Vancouver. Outside of the city, North Vancouver has a Supercharger, Surrey has one, Richmond has one, Abbotsford and there's one in Tsawwassen. If you don’t own a Tesla and have the other EV vehicles like the Nissan Plug, Hyundai Kona or Chevy Bolt, to name a few. There are many charging stations all over town and can be located with an app I recommend called PlugShare. This app will indicate what is available near you. I also recommend, you get a ChargePoint account and set up your phone to use it like a debit card to access the chargers quickly. The other notable company is called FLO. Lastly, gas stations around Canada and in particular Vancouver have now started to roll out fast charging stations , for example, Petro Canada now has setup a network of fast EV charging stations from Victoria all the way to Halifax. In the lower mainland, there are currently 5 stations to charge your car quickly. The cost is 0.27 per min. I have not personally used it but I suspect within 30 mins of charging you should have enough power to get you to a full tank of charge. The amazing part, it will cost $8.10 for 30mins!
Bottom line: You'll find it much easier and more affordable to charge your EV than fill up your tank with gas! If you drive a lot, the savings can add up significantly.
The Government Is Also Supportive of EVs
It's worth noting that both the BC government and the City of Vancouver support electric vehicles. They are doing everything possible to make them more affordable and accessible to people of all socioeconomic classes. Indeed, the City of Vancouver even outlined a comprehensive strategy to create an EV ecosystem that would provide a top-of-the-line experience for anyone who owns an electric car in the city. Some of the initiatives outlined in this document include expanding the public charging network, providing access to charging at work and home, and adding available charging as part of the city planning process.
Like I mentioned earlier, I personally drive the Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus. I have been driving it now for over 1year and half. I have put approx. 50,000 kms on it. The cost of driving this vehicle compares to my old BMW is a savings of about $400 month. I used to pay $500 a month in gas with the BMW , which took premium gas as well. The Tesla, I charge it at home or I got to super charging stations at ¼ of the cost of gas. That was a game changer for me.
The BC government also supports electric vehicles through rebates. The provincial government will kick in $3,000 when you purchase or lease a new electric car. Even if you go with a plug-in hybrid, you'll receive a $1,500 rebate. The government is serious about getting more EVs into people's hands.
Federally, all EVs can get rebates of between $2,500 and $5,000. The entry level Tesla Model 3, for example, receives the full $5,000. Therefore, any new Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus purchase will receive $3,000 back from BC and $5,000 back from the Federal government. Now this incentive will dry up one day but to keep tabs on it, you can visit www.cev4bc.com As of this article, the amount distributed overall is approx. $121 million and around $5 million available as incentives currently. To download the PDF of Eligible CEVforBC™ Vehicles list, please click here.
Only BC and Quebec have rebates above and beyond what the Federal government provides. Therefore, if you want to buy an EV, those two provinces will be the cheapest places to do so!
It's the Best Way To Explore All That Vancouver Has To Offer
There are significant financial considerations for why EVs are much cheaper in the long-term. You don't need to spend as much on fuel (electricity is much less expensive than gas), and the added rebate is a huge perk of living in BC. And, as noted above, the milder weather in Vancouver means that you'll be closer to peak battery capacity in this city more often than practically any other place in Canada.
While these considerations are all fantastic, the real icing on the cake is the access to HOV lanes. Owners of electric cars can apply for a decal that permits access to HOV lanes at any time and with any number of passengers in the vehicle. As anyone who lives in Vancouver knows, traffic here can sometimes be challenging, so being able to get in the HOV lane at any time is a huge positive.
And, if you do get the Tesla, there's nothing quite like driving through Stanley Park or some of our other nearby nature attractions with that giant, gorgeous sunroof. You'll be amazed at how breathtakingly beautiful the sun, trees, and scenery can be in that car.
Given all these perks and advantages, if you want an electric vehicle, move to Vancouver! It's truly the best place in the country to own an EV. If you'd like to look at homes with EV charging or learn more about electric vehicles in this province, please contact me! I'd love to find you the right home to support your electric car! Oh and by the way, don’t forget to use my Tesla Referral Code if you plan to buy a Tesla. This will give you 1500KMS of free supercharging. https://ts.la/solomon30745