Frequently Asked Questions

Electric vehicles (often abbreviated to EVs) are cars or trucks that get their power from electricity instead of gas. Instead of filling up the tank they can be recharged by being plugged into an external source of electricity, such as a wall socket.

Some EVs are 100% powered by electricity. Others, called plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs), have both a gas-powered engine and an electric motor and can switch between gas and electric modes

There are many benefits to owning an EV.

-EVs are cheaper to drive: powering your car with electricity can save as much as three times more than a gas-powered car.

-EVs are cheaper to maintain: EVs have thousands fewer moving parts than conventional cars. Oil filters? Spark plugs? Alternators? Clutches? Those parts don’t exist in an EV, which means less of your time and money spent on maintenance.

-EVs are convenient: You plug them in at night and wake up to a full battery each day. No more having to find a gas station on your way to work!

-EVs are performance driven: More agile than conventional gas vehicles, EVs are better suited to handle tricky driving conditions. Also, when you brake in an EV, the electric motor helps you slow down and recharges the battery by doing so. This helps you drive further on every charge. It also means your brake pads don’t get worn out as quickly and don’t have to be replaced as often – another saving!

-EVs are quiet: without a noisy internal combustion engine EVs are whisper-quiet and help cut down on noise pollution.

-EVs are good for the environment and public health: While gasoline combustion in a conventional vehicle produces greenhouse gases (like carbon dioxide) and particulate pollutants that contribute to smog, EVs produce no tailpipe emissions.

This is a common question, but one that’s a bit of a hold-over from the world of gas-powered cars. When you need to leave home to find a gas station to fuel up, it makes sense to think in terms of how far you can drive before you have to find another gas station.

But having an EV means that your fueling station is as close as your nearest wall socket. In this way, EVs are more like cellphones than gas-powered cars. We typically don’t ask how long a cellphone can go on a single charge. Sure, it needs enough battery life to get you through a typical day, but whether it has 25% or 50% charge left once you get back home doesn’t really matter.

Many EVs available in Canada have ranges over 300 km on a full charge. But if your regular commute to and from work (with maybe a stop for groceries and a school pick-up thrown in the mix) is less than this, you wouldn’t need a fully-charged battery to start your day.

We all know that bitter cold Canadian winters can be hard on regular car batteries, but what about EVs? Because plugging your EV in at night means that electricity is keeping your battery warm, EVs don’t have the same issues that some gas-powered vehicles do with failing to start in frigid temperatures.

However, very cold temperatures (-20°C or colder) can reduce an EV’s range by as much as 40%. This is because the battery is not only powering the car, it’s working harder to heat the car’s interior as well as running the motor. (Gas-powered cars also become less efficient in the cold, but the decrease is less noticeable.)

To minimize the effects of temperatures extremes on range try these tips:
-Warm up (cool down) the cabin air before unplugging your EV from the charger.
-In cold weather, schedule charging so that it finishes just before you leave.  Charging warms the battery.
-In hot weather, park your car in the shade or other cool spot.

Internal combustion engines produce by-products from burning gas that can harm the environment and air quality. Burning gasoline produces greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide that contribute to climate change.

Burning gas or diesel also produces particulate hydrocarbons that contribute smog and poor air quality, all of which negatively impact lung health. EVs have no tailpipe emissions (although, like gas-powered vehicles, there are emissions created in their production, transportation and end-of-life).

Road trips do require a little preparation.

-Plan your charging stops in advance. Plugshare.com and abetterrouterplanner.com are both excellent sources of charger location and availability. If you expect wet or snowy roads or a strong head wind then expect to use more energy between chargers.

-To reduce charging costs, book your overnight stays at places with chargers or at least an available 120 volt outlet.

-Preheat (precool) your EV before unplugging. Once the cabin has been heated it takes much less energy to keep it heated. Also, note that using heated seats to help stay warm uses far less power than heating the cabin.

-For safety and the best range, check your tire pressure for the recommended level.

-When you are on the highway and you notice that the charge level is going down faster than you expected then here are a few things to try.

-Slow down. Even driving 5 km/h slower makes a significant difference at any speed above 90 km/h.

-Reduce the amount of cabin heating. Use your heated seats more/instead.

-Check to see if there is a closer charger. Even a level 2 charger should be able to quickly add enough charge to get you to the next fast charger.

These days there are plenty of EV models to choose from. You can find a full list of electric vehicles models available in Canada from the Canadian Automobile Association.

The “EV Match” tool from Plug ‘n Drive can help you choose a model that is right for your lifestyle and budget. You can also use the tool to compare various EVs to you gas vehicle, showing the savings in charging.

Following the links on our Rebates page will help you identify which models quality for the federal and provincial rebates.

Talking to local EV owners may also give you the information you need to ease concerns about owning electric in your area. You can find local groups under the FAQ question below: “Where can I find a Community of EV Owners?”

-There are some free public chargers, where you only need to drive up and plug in!

-You can use either an app or a physical card to activate the charger. Best to have both!

-The Electric Circuit account enables you to use all ChargePoint, Flo, and Electric Circuit stations.

-Use online maps like plugshare.com to find chargers around the world, where you can also map out your travel routes and the chargers along the way.

Yes, you can recharge your EV by plugging it into a regular wall outlet (level 1). The charge cable comes standard with all EVs. A typical EV will recharge at a rate of around 7-9 kilometres of range per hour plugged in to a wall outlet. This rate of charge fits many Canadian’s driving needs as their vehicle is regularly parked in their driveway or garage overnight and they don’t have a long daily commute. Many manufacturers warn against using an extension cord when charging an EV because the cords can overheat when charging for extended periods. For this reason, we do not recommend using a standard home extension cord to charge your EV.

For those who want a faster charge, you can install a level 2 charging station. Level 2 chargers require the same type of electrical outlet as your kitchen stove or dryer. Level 2 recharge rates are around 30 kilometres of range per hour. This is the most common type of public charger, often found at community centers or in public parking lots.

Some provinces offer financial support for the purchase of level 2 chargers, find out more at our Rebates page.

Lastly, there are high powered fast chargers that are publically available that can charge EVs at rapid speeds. The newest installations can charge EVs from 0% to 80% in less than 15 minutes (the North American average time spent at gas stations).

-Level 1: This is free! All EVs on the market today come with a charging cord that you can use with a regular home outlet. If you have a regular 120 volt power outlet in your garage or near your driveway, you can charge your vehicle with no infrastructure costs. This charging option takes an average of 10 hours to charge from 0 to a 100% charge.

-Level 2: The costs range from $400-$1200 for a level 2 charging system. Depending on the system and what you already have wired, you may need to budget a few hundred dollars to pay an electrician to install it.

-Fast Charging: It is uncommon to have these installed in a home.

If you do run out of charge while driving, you can call a tow truck to get towed to the nearest public charging station. For EV drivers who are CAA members, you can call the Roadside Assistance line (1-800-222-4357) to get a tow to a charging station. Depending on your membership level, your tow could be free.

Without an internal combustion engine and its moving parts, EVs require much less maintenance than gas-powered cars. So, forget about oil changes, transmission fluid top-ups, replacing spark plugs, mufflers, etc.

EVs do need some TLC. Wiper blades and washer fluid need to be changed out and topped up regularly. The tires should be rotated and cabin air filters replaced according to the manufacturers’ guidelines. The brakes need to be kept up, but an EV’s regenerative brakes don’t wear down like conventional brakes do.

The big cost for an EV comes when its battery needs replacement, but there is warranty coverage that comes standard with all EVs available in Canada.

For all the wear and tear components like suspension, brakes, windshield wipers, and tires EVs are no different than a gasoline vehicle and your mechanic could service your EV.

On the other hand, the EV’s battery and propulsion system works on different principles from an internal combustion engine, and the mechanic who serviced your gas-powered car may not have been trained how to diagnose and fix EV issues. In addition, servicing an EV requires specialized equipment that is not yet commonly found outside dealerships that sell EVs.

Because of this, it’s generally recommended to go to the dealer for service. Although EV owners can go to their preferred mechanic if they’re experienced working on EVs. Below are a list of mechanics and dealerships certified to work on EVs.

-Several Steele Auto Shops in Atlantic Canada

-Coast Tire : NB, NS, PEI

-All EV Canada

-Capital Auto Group in NL; Hyundai, Mitsubishi, BMW Mini (St John’s)

-Ask your local dealership if they will work on EVs

-Do you know a place in Atlantic Canada that an EV can be serviced? Let us know!

-Modern Battery Warranty: Eight yrs or 160,000km / OR / 5 yrs or 100,000km

-For Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles, transmission warranties range from 100,000-160,000km

EV batteries in Canada come with a standard 8 year / 160,000 km warranty. Because EVs are still relatively new, there’s not yet a reliable prediction for battery life. However, recent advances in battery cell chemistry and thermal management mean that batteries in new EV models lose only about 1-2% in range per year. This means that most EV owners will have finished their leases, re-sold or traded in their vehicles well before range loss becomes an issue. Anecdotally, many Tesla owners have reported less than 10% total range degradation over 250,000kms.

Unlike aging components in gas-powered cars, there’s no harm to the EV that comes with driving with an older battery. The biggest downside is loss of range. It’s been estimated that an EV’s battery may have lost as much as 20% of its range by 160,000 km.

Telematics company Geotab has created a publicly accessible EV battery degradation tool that does a great job visualizing what this loss looks like.

Did you know Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia is home to one of the world’s leading experts on Lithium-Ion batteries? Professor Jeff Dahn’s battery research lab holds an exclusive research partnership with Tesla Motors. They are collaborating on the development of batteries that are cheaper, more powerful and longer lasting.

-After taxes for all existing federal and provincial rebates

Some insurance companies offer a green vehicle discount while others don’t distinguish between the type of vehicle. Insurance companies take several factors into account when deciding on premiums, including your driving history, the level of coverage you’ve selected, and the type of car you are driving. Because EVs are more expensive than comparable gas-powered cars, this can result in an increase in premium.

When looking to insure your EV, we recommend shopping around or using the services of an insurance broker to get the best rates.

Having regenerative brakes means that an EV can slow down, or come to a full and complete stop, without having to use its brake pads and recharge the battery.

How? When the driver takes their foot off of the accelerator, the tires begin turning the vehicle’s electric motor using the momentum of the vehicle, generating electricity. The force required to turn the electric motor is so great that the vehicle slows down or comes to a stop with the electricity captured in the battery. Not only does this reduce wear and tear on your brake pads, it also extends how far you can drive on a single charge, especially with city driving!

An electric bicycle (e-bike) is a bicycle with an integrated electric motor that can be used to assist propulsion. E-bikes can be operated solely on human power or with varying degrees of assistance from the electric motor.

Atlantic Canada: Electric Vehicle Association of Atlantic Canada

New Brunswick: New Brunswick EV Owners Facebook Group

Prince Edward Island: PEI Electric Vehicle Association

Newfoundland and Labrador: Drive Electric NL Facebook Group

Nova Scotia: Electric Vehicle Association of Atlantic Canada is based out of NS, and is the province’s primary EV community

-Check out our Owner Profile page for more insight from EV Owners, and a great FAQ video from our friends at A for Adventure!

-Contact us today!