Adoption of Electric Vehicles (EVs) represents an important step we must take as a Province to move towards a sustainable future. EVs realize many advantages over their internal combustion engine (ICE) counterparts including: lower total carbon footprint, virtually silent operation, much lower "fueling" costs, virtually no maintenance requirements, smooth ride, and instant torque.

 

Presently the biggest barrier to widespread adoption of EVs is cost. As an emerging technology there is a higher MSRP at the time of purchase over a comparable ICE car. The higher upfront cost makes purchasing an EV a difficult choice for Albertans despite the lower fueling and maintenance costs during the lifetime of the vehicle. Within Canada, the Provinces of BC, Ontario and Quebec have implemented Provincial incentives ranging from $5000-$8500 and consequently have the highest rates of Electric Vehicle adoption. Unsurprisingly, the benefits include lower overall CO2 emissions, better air quality, quieter cities, and an accelerated transition to sustainable transport.

 

Throughout Alberta there is a lack of rapid charging infrastructure which can make some electric vehicles less practical for longer distance journeys throughout the province. The majority of EV charging takes place overnight through Level 1 (typical wall socket) or Level 2 (240V) chargers. Overnight charging coincides with the lowest electricity demand and utility excess supply, which allows users to start each day with a full charge. Typically, the average person drives less than 100 km per day, making Level 1 and 2 chargers practical for daily use. However, for long distance journeys over 100 km, these chargers are impractical as charging the battery would take hours. Level 3, or DC charging infrastructure, uses high voltage, direct current that enables up to 80% charge in as little as 30 minutes. The rapid charging capability of Level 3 chargers makes them essential to long distance EV travel, allowing for inexpensive, clean and practical transport throughout Alberta.

 

 

The Electric Vehicle Association of Alberta (EEVA) was founded on Earth Day 2014 to encourage adoption of electric vehicles and charging infrastructure within Alberta. We urge the Government of Alberta to implement a Provincial Electric Vehicle Incentive/Tax credit to remove the cost barrier preventing many Albertans from making the switch to sustainable transport. We also urge the Government to deploy Level 3 Rapid Charging infrastructure throughout major Alberta routes for practical long distance EV travel.

 

Together, implementation of a Provincial Electric Vehicle Incentive and  Fast Charging Network will result in a brighter and cleaner future for all Albertans!

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Common EV Myths:

1/ Doesn't the majority of electricity in Alberta come from fossil fuels? Doesn't that make EVs dirty?

Even in Alberta without access to vast hydroelectric reserves, EVs come out on top environmentally. Numerous comprehensive life cycle assessment studies looking at a overall well-to-wheels emissions found that even on a 100% fossil fuel electricity grid, EVs match the most fuel efficient Internal Combustion Engines (ICEs). In Alberta approximately 15% of our power comes from renewable sources making EVs a better choice which will only become cleaner as Alberta shifts to mostly renewable energy such as wind and solar power over the coming decades.

Alberta crude from the oil sands, however, has 4 times the greenhouse gas emissions of conventional crude, in large part due to the fact that 13 kWh of electricity is needed to extract and process one gallon. 13 kWh is enough electricity to propel an electric car 65 km whereas one gallon of gasoline in an ICE will take the average car 40 km. Therefore it seems to make little sense to use the same mostly "dirty" Alberta electricity to produce 1 gallon of fuel and burn it in an ICE creating more emissions while only going 61.5% as far.

 

2/ I've heard about "Range Anxiety." Will my EV get me where I need to go?

First generation pure electric cars have a typical range of anywhere from 120 km to 425 km. Since most Canadians drive a total of less than 100 km a day, current EVs are more than capable of meeting the majority of Canadians' daily driving needs. EV technology is advancing quickly which will lead to even more range, lower cost, and decreased charge times. It is estimated that, on average, battery technology increases range by 7-10% per year while simultaneously decreasing costs 7-10% per year. Most EV owners will agree that "range anxiety", or fear of running out of charge, quickly dissipates as one gets more comfortable with the capacity of their vehicle. Increased public and workplace charging infrastructure increases driver confidence and eliminates range anxiety, allowing one to charge their EV while freely going about their day uninterrupted.

3/ Isn't Canada too cold for EVs? Will my EV start in -40 Celsius?

Many Canadians have experienced a car that won't start in cold weather due to a 12V lead acid battery that has lost its capacity in the extreme cold and therefore cannot start a frigid engine. This leads most people to believe the same will be true for the batteries found within an electric vehicle. The truth is EVs can operate in virtually any condition without preheating or warming up. The electric powertrain is incredibly resistant to the harshest conditions, allowing the user to simply push to start and begin driving. Another advantage is that electric heat comes on instantly as it would in an electric space heater. When the climate control is used for extended period of time during excessively hot or cold weather, the range of the vehicle will decrease. This is not unlike a traiditional gas powered car where use of climate control in extreme weather will also impact the total fuel economy. The amount of decrease in range depends on the temperature difference between the inside and outside of the cabin and the duration of use. In a worst case scenario with maximum heating used continuously on -40°C in a hilly city such as Calgary, the range could drop as much as 1/3. With 120-425 km range, depending on the EV model, this will still allow the majority of Canadians to perform their total daily driving any day of the year. Robust public and workplace charging would provide an additional safety net to EV users, similar to Canadians plugging in their blockheaters.

 

4/ Will the battery capacity significantly diminish in 2-3 years like my cell phone? Will the battery cost me as much as new car to replace?

EVs utilize the latest lithium ion battery technology and special automative grade chemistries to maximize life and charging cycles. EV batteries are designed to keep usable range for the anticipated life of the vehicle or roughly 10-15 years. Most electric vehicles manufactures will guarantee the battery pack will retain at least 80% capacity after 8 years or 160,000 km. In real life, the first few Tesla Roadsters, Nissan Leafs, and Chevy Volts to reach 160,000 km have not only met but exceeded this guarantee. Given the improvements over the last decades battery technology seems to be steadily improving at 7-10% range increase while costs fall by the same margin. Using these figures at the earliest point that a pack may need to be replaced, 10 years, one should expect double the range at half the cost. These are conservative estimates that do not account for potential battery breakthroughs that would improve range and decrease costs even sooner. In summary, if and when an electric vehicle requires battery replacement, the new battery will provide substantially more range at a fraction of the cost!

 

5/ Aren't lithium ion batteries toxic and bad for the environment? What do you do with them after they lose over 80% capacity?

Even after they have exceeded their lifespan of over 10 years in automobiles, lithium ion batteries have tremendous potential in second life applications such as stationary electricity storage where they can be used to store excess renewable energy to deploy on demand.

While it is true there is a slightly higher carbon footprint in the initial manufacturing of the lithium ion cells versus a typical ICE vehicle, this is quickly overcome by the drastic reduction in emissions which make up the majority of an ICE vehicle's lifetime environmental footprint. Fortunately the components of the batteries such as lithium, nickel, manganese, copper, cobalt, aluminum, and iron can be separated and reclaimed into raw materials for battery packs and countless other products which substantially lessens the environmental impact. Lithium ion batteries are RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) compliant and do not contain Lead, Mercury, or Cadmium contrary to popular belief. 

 

6/ “EVs are impractical. Don't they take hours to charge?”

As mentioned previously, the bulk of EV charging takes place overnight. In the evening, the user simply plugs the car in and unplugs it the following morning, a process which takes 10 seconds total. Contrast this with the need to fuel an ICE vehicle which involves taking a detour to a gas station and waiting for a pump, not to mention paying for fuel which is constantly changing in price. By the time it’s finally your turn to fill up, you have to step outside into the ever variable weather of Alberta which is cold 25-50% of the year depending where you live!

For longer distance travels, most EVs are equipped with Level 3 or direct current charging ports enabling up to 80% charge in 30 minutes. Tesla is a leader in this area by rapidly expanding its North American supercharger network, which delivers 275-350 km of range in the time it takes to use the restroom and grab a quick bite to eat.

Unfortunately, in 2014-2015, Tesla's Canadian plans are limited to corridors such as Vancouver to Edmonton and Windsor to Quebec City, highlighting the important role provinces can play in deploying rapid charging infrastructure for ubiquitous travel. BC and Quebec are already in the process of undertaking Province wide rapid charging networks and with support from our Government this too can take place in our Province of Alberta!