Our AI writing assistant, WriteUp, can assist you in easily writing any text. Click here to experience its capabilities.
In the city, my EV is perfect. When I hit the open road, as I did crossing Canada, life gets complicated
Summary
Paul Adams, a retired professor and former Globe and Mail reporter, experienced first-hand the difficulties of travelling long distances in an electric vehicle (EV) when he drove from Ottawa to Victoria and back. Although EVs are becoming more popular, with Canada mandating that 60 per cent of new car sales be EVs by 2030 and 100 per cent by 2035, the fast-charging network is not yet nearly as robust as it needs to be. As Adams encountered, there are not enough chargers in enough places and many of them don't work well or don't work at all. Additionally, fast-charging can be time consuming and mentally exhausting. Adams suggests that before taking a road trip in an EV, one should map out their route using the PlugShare app and have a plan A, B, and C. He also suggests downloading the apps for any charging companies one may encounter and setting them up for payment prior to leaving home.
Q&As
What challenges do electric vehicles face in North America as the push to reduce emissions continues?
Electric vehicles face challenges such as a lack of chargers in enough places, and too many of them not working well or not working at all.
What are the benefits of owning an electric vehicle compared to a gas-guzzling vehicle?
Benefits of owning an electric vehicle compared to a gas-guzzling vehicle include a lower cost, spending less money to fuel the car, and reducing air travel for environmental reasons.
How can mapping out a route ahead of a road trip help electric vehicle owners?
Mapping out a route ahead of a road trip can help electric vehicle owners identify the fast-chargers available to them and plan for a Plan A, Plan B, and possibly a Plan C in case something goes wrong.
What are the considerations when using a fast-charger to charge an electric vehicle?
Considerations when using a fast-charger to charge an electric vehicle include the time it takes to charge, the mental exhaustion of constantly planning where to charge, and the possibility of the battery overheating.
How are hotels, malls, parking lots and other public buildings responding to the need for electric vehicle charging stations?
Hotels, malls, parking lots and other public buildings are responding to the need for electric vehicle charging stations by providing Level 2 chargers that will charge the car overnight.
AI Comments
👍 This article gives a great insight into the challenges of road-tripping in an EV, and provides helpful tips for EV drivers in preparation for a road-trip.
👎 This article paints a bleak picture of the current state of EV fast-charging infrastructure, which might discourage people from investing in an electric vehicle.
AI Discussion
Me: It's about a retired professor and former Globe and Mail reporter's journey across Canada and the United States in his electric vehicle, a Nissan Leaf. He talks about the pros and cons of driving an electric vehicle on a longer road trip and how the infrastructure isn't quite there yet to facilitate longer journeys.
Friend: That's interesting. What are some of the implications of the article?
Me: Well, the article highlights some of the challenges associated with electric vehicles on long-distance trips. For example, the lack of fast-charging stations in rural areas and the difficulty of getting an app to accept a Canadian credit card. It also points out that there is a lack of synchronization between the number of chargers and the number of electric vehicles, which could lead to line-ups at chargers. The article also offers some advice to electric vehicle owners on how to plan ahead for their road trips, such as mapping out the route and downloading apps for any charging companies that they might encounter.
Action items
- Research the PlugShare app and other similar apps to map out your route and locate Level 2 chargers.
- Download the apps for any charging companies you expect to encounter and set them up for payment before you leave home.
- Make sure to have a Plan A, Plan B, and Plan C in case of any charging issues.
Technical terms
- EV
- Electric Vehicle
- EVs
- Electric Vehicles
- Hydro One
- A Canadian electricity company
- Ontario Power Generation
- A Canadian electricity company
- Ivy Charging Network
- A joint venture of Hydro One and Ontario Power Generation
- Level 2 charger
- A type of charger that will fill the battery overnight on 240 volts
- PlugShare app
- An app used to identify charger locations
- ChargePoint chargers
- A type of charger
- Electrify America chargers
- A type of charger
- Tesla-owning friends
- Friends who own Tesla cars