FAQs

• A fuller wallet: By filling up with electricity instead of gas, you could save $1,200 a year - and that isn’t even including maintenance savings!
• Less maintenance: Since an EV has no engine, it has much fewer moving parts. This means comparatively little maintenance overall - no oil changes or maintenance costs for exhaust systems. 
• Better drive: No gas engine means no noise and no gears means instant acceleration - get ready to belt out some tunes and glide down some scenic highways.
• Adventures! Whether you are in search of mountains, trails, or rivers, the BC charging station network will connect you to your favorite spots - north, east, south, west.

Myth 1: There is nowhere to charge an EV.

A robust EV charging station network will soon connect south with a growing Level 2 /3 network throughout the region, you can soon travel with quick stops to top up, or longer stops to enjoy a town. Charging infrastructure is also growing rapidly across BC, in Alberta and throughout the USA.

Myth 2: Leaving an EV plugged in all night will be really expensive.

Charging an EV at home will cost you about $2.40 per 100km. For many people, even in rural areas, a day’s worth of driving is less than 100km, so an average charge overnight may be even less.

Myth 3: EVs don’t work well on mountain highways.

On the contrary! If you’ve ever enjoyed the vistas along a mountain highway, imagine the experience when there is no engine or acceleration noise to interrupt! A couple other reasons your EV is meant for rural highways: No gears = instant acceleration Regenerative braking = less use of brakes during descents

Myth 4: EVs are luxury cars.

While that may have been true a couple years ago, the retail price of EVs are dropping rapidly, as are the variety of models available. With annual savings in fuel and maintenance, the overall cost of an EV is much lower. Check out PlugInBC.ca to find the latest information on rebates and incentives for EVs in BC.

Myth 5: Electric vehicles don’t work in cold weather.

EVs work fine in cold weather. It’s true that because the drive battery is used to heat and cool the cabin, your EV’s range will be reduced in very cold or very hot weather. However, there are several ways to mitigate the loss of driving range in extreme cold. For example, you can preheat your vehicle while it is plugged into the grid. You can also equip your EV with snow/stud tires just like your gas car. EV station locations network will be planned with local geography and climate in mind.

Myth 6: Charging with electricity is inconvenient.

Plug in at night, just like you do your cell phone, and you’ll be charged and ready each morning. Most EV drivers say their electric car is significantly more convenient to use than their gas cars.

Myth 7: Chargers are outdated.

General Motors follows Ford and switches from the Combined Charging System (CCS1) charging connector to the Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) charging connector. Some experts believed that the main outcome for the electric vehicle industry in the United States (and in North America) is that the three companies - Tesla, Ford, and General Motors - basically killed the Combined Charging System (CCS1) charging connector within just two weeks. However, it is going to take more than just Ford and GM fully change the charging market. If more car makers start following, we may see a major shift in the current charging standard in North America.

In the short term, the use of an adapter will be the band aid solution. Today whenever you purchase a new Tesla you receive a SAE J1772 Charging Adapter with your vehicle. Also, in the US Tesla is beginning to offer supercharging for people with a CCS1 port via use of an adapter. In the long term if more car makers announce the shift to the NACS port, existing charging stations can be retrofitted with a charging cable to the new NACS standard. 

Something to also consider is that by the time they roll off the line in large quantities it may be in 2026 and beyond. If other car makers follow the changeover, we have the band aid adapter solution to solve short term issues.