2 mo. ago • 91%

Are electric vehicles only for city dwellers? | The Narwhal

thenarwhal.ca Are electric vehicles only for city dwellers? | The Narwhal

First Nations have long endured infrastructure challenges, from boil-water advisories to fragiles electricity grids to winter-only roads. But that’s not stopping some from looking to pivot to electric vehicles

47 comments

"Are EVs only for 80+ percent of the population?"

25
No, because a lot of city people live in places where they can't charge cars, and--at least in Canada where we kiss the boots of landlords--no one's forcing charging infrastructure multi-unit dwellings.

Electric cars aren't for city dwellers, they're for suburban homeowners.

17
- Most, if not all, of the new apartment complexes in my area heavily advertise they have EV charging on site. Problem is they usually only install 1 or 2 chargers for a complex that has parking for 50-100 cars. That sort of ratio is fine anywhere else, but it's not a reliable option if you and your neighbours (who were also sold by that promise) all need to get to work in the morning.
  
  8
- Yeah, honestly the infrastructure is the most of the problem. Even in crazy cold, battery life drops but doesn't disappear.
  
  3
How often do you have to refill your gas tank? If it's damn near daily, then your ability to rely on an EV is going to be much more limited than if it's closer to once or twice a week.

If you have an outlet at home that can be used to charge an EV, and you don't regularly drive hundreds of miles in a day, an EV is likely a viable replacement for an ICE car. If you do make long distance trips regularly enough for that to be a concern, you will probably be more dependent on the availability of charging infrastructure in your area.

15
- But on the flip side, if you're rarely filling your tank because you drive so little, does an EV really make a lot of sense? The people who will see the biggest impact (financially and environmentally) are the ones who use most of their EV's range every day.
  
  2
Nha, city dwellers could use bicycles most of the times

11
- Or the electrified transit we should be building
  
  3
  
  Bus driver here. Our transit commission finally got it's first EV bus to start the transition to the electric system! But we still need to build the charging stations for it and other EVs to use, not to mention the bureaucracy and other normalities that go in certifying any vehicle for the road, plus our one garage did kinda burn down, so that has set things back a wee bit...
  
  It's coming, but do expect it to take a long-ass time.
  
  2
  
  Too, yes. Under 10kms all can and will be bike with good infrastructure. Anything beyond that can be public transportation, again, with good infrastructure
  
  1
- Depends how "city" you're talking. If you're in a large core, sure, but Canadian cities are sprawling enough you really need something faster in many urban areas (like public transit).
  
  2
  
  That's why I said most of the times. Anything under 10km can easily be done by bike, especially once you get used to it.
  
  I ride my bike to work every day and I do the ~5km on bike faster than by car, every single time
  
  3
  
  We should also address how wasteful and poorly planned our cities are
  
  2
Maybe with today’s batteries, but that can/should change.

There is also the whole North American train phobia.

5
If you can charge overnight, the convenience of EV is something you can never come back from.

Imagine getting up every morning, driving as far as you need all day, coming home, and getting up again the next day to do it again—without EVER hitting a gas station.

I work 50 km away. In my gas guzzler, I frequently push my luck on a low tank because I am running late—often because I rushed home without stopping the night before. Having to fill-up with gas gives me frequent range anxiety. It seems that I am always having to stop.

My wife has an EV. When I drive it, the most striking difference is the complete lack of having to worry about fuel. Going 250 km in a day is normal for us but day-to-day life never stresses the 400+ km range that the EV starts each day with.

The only time we have to think about charging is on trips longer than 500 km. Even then, it has never been a big deal. One time on Vancouver Island we almost had an issue and did have to stop for dinner longer than normal. The fact that this has only happened once in 3 years ( and only because we did not even bother to check if it would be a problem ) really dives home what a non-issue it is.

1
- Which EV?
  
  1
Not really as it is a more sustainable compromise between car infrastructure and cleaner transport.

-2
You simply cant long-haul an electric reliably yet. As of right now its a great SECOND car...

-4
- How often do you "long haul"? I'd argue an EV (with all of the perks of never going to a gas station again) is a great primary car and an ICE might make a decent SECOND car if you need to drive longer distances and if the charging infrastructure in your area is lacking.
  
  16
  
  It's also like these people have never heard of rentals.
  
  3
  
  Yeah, people can and do roadtrip in EVs. If you're on a 4 hour trip a 20 minute charge is a minor inconvenience at worst, and a needed break at best.
  
  3
  
  What exactly qualifies as long haul? Average EV range is almost 300km which is pretty damn far before you need a charge-up. I live in a small town and my PHEV only goes 40km on a charge and I still only have to charge every other day most of the time.
  
  2
- ... in north America.
  
  My experience in Europe where the EV infrastructure is more developed, long trip are not an issue. I don't even plan my trip, I just go and charge when I need it.
  
  4
  
  Edit, wording
  
  Still a 8h driving day will require more charging time than gas refill time, regardless of how many chargers there are.
  
  Acknowledged on your planning point, that's a huge improvement.
  
  2
- What is long haul?
  
  We have done quite a few trips over 2000 km — often with young children. Stopping for 20 - 30 minutes every 3 - 4 hours to grab a bite and hit the bathroom does not seem much of a burden. We did one last summer that included three North American countries. We did not even think about it. We just pulled out of the driveway, drove, and stopped when it made sense. Great trip.
  
  1
  
  you're the exception, not the norm. When I have to take the worktruck to BC its 12hr days stopping once for 200L. 3-4 day drive depending on the weather and borders. Simply can't do that in an electric and itll be a long time before the infrastructure is ready for it. Think thats an extreme circumstance? How about Ottawa from Toronto in 6hrs? thats a STRETCH with modern long range electrics. Quebec City, the Sue, Halifax? All one day drives with gas currently. Until that problem is solved; electric is a great city runner and not much more.
  
  1
- guess I hallucinated that trip from Seattle to Vegas and back, huh
  
  i was sure I saw myself in the battlebots audience last season, but I guess I hallucinated that too
  
  i must be going crazy (or you're wrong)
  
  1
  
  I never said you cant do it, but its going to suck and take forever.
  
  1
The rare time where a headline asks a question and the answer is yes.

-6
- Funny… last I heard, farm equipment was going electric in a serious way.
  
  Not all rural vehicles need to be long-haul.
  
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  And unless you need to go like 4 hours between possible stops EVs can long-hual. Even in the road-having parts of the North that's not usually the situation, which is it sounds like the point of this article, which I will now read.
  
  2
  
  Not really, there's a few manufacturers but none of the big ones have made a serious push for it. Farmers are extremely conservative and wary of things they can't repair themselves, there's a reason why you still see them using 70s and 80s tractors on the daily and they're still able to repair them.
  
  1
- Why do you think that? The whole article was on how the only barrier to long trips in rural Canada was being overcome and on how heavily the First Nations and other inhabitants of the far north have been pushing for access.
  
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