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A family company based in Saskatoon Suncatcher Solar Systems has been supplying and installing solar energy systems since 2003; they are Saskatoon's most established solar provider. Their Solar and electrical team designs, supplies and installs solar power systems and designs passive solar homes, they shared this article about electric vehicles as a viable option with our Saskatchewan winters.

Suncatcher Solar & Electric Your Trusted Saskatoon Electricians and Solar Experts.

Are electric vehicles a viable option with Saskatchewan winters?

THE BATTERY IS UNRELIABLE

As with a vehicle with an internal combustion engine (ICE), it does take more energy to run an EV in the colder months, although Keyser noted that the battery powering her Tesla Model S is much more reliable in winter than the battery needed to start an ICE vehicle.

Cruickshank added that the engine in his Chevrolet Bolt kicks in automatically to keep the battery warm. Another plus is the fact that the 12-volt starter battery will never die because it's constantly being charged — whether plugged in or not, he said.

“A lot of people compare these batteries to their cellphones. But those batteries are designed for different operating conditions — it's not designed for cooler temperatures; there is nothing in there to try to keep the battery warm or conditioned."

COLD REDUCES THE EV'S RANGE

Keyser admits her Model S doesn't make it quite as far in the winter months as it does in the summer — about 25 percent less, according to her observations — but ICE vehicles also consume more fuel when idling or powering heaters and other electronics. For her, it's simply a matter of shifting her thinking to how she can drive to better extend the battery's range.

When she has used her car on a long road trip, the charging stops gave her a chance to discover different communities where she would never have stopped otherwise, she added.

CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE IS LACKING

While there is some truth to this, Keyser said it's simply a downfall of being a pioneer of the continuously growing industry. Both Keyser and Cruickshank admit Saskatchewan is significantly behind the rest of Canada in this aspect.

“When motorized vehicles first came along, there weren't gas stations everywhere," Keyser noted.

Most EV owners don't use public charging stations for full charges, opting instead to plug into a regular wall outlet overnight or at work, Cruickshank said. As long as they aren't on a long trip, finding a public charger isn't required unless they want to top up their battery while out and about.  

CHARGING TAKES TOO LONG

When it's cold, no one wants to have to stop for hours to recharge a vehicle — But unless you are travelling a long distance, you generally don't tend to completely drain the battery.

Cruickshank said it can take about eight hours to fully charge his Bolt using a standard plug — fine for an overnight charge, but he admits it's not ideal when travelling long distances.

However, the technology is advancing quickly and more quick charge stations are popping up that can take a battery from zero to 80 percent in less than 45 minutes.

EV IS SIMILAR IN EFFICIENCY TO AN ICE VEHICLE

Even in Saskatchewan, where the majority of electricity comes from burning coal, EVs are about twice as efficient compared to their gas-burning counterparts.

Plugndrive.ca estimates every 20,000 kilometres Keyser drives her Model S in Saskatchewan costs roughly $570 and outputs 2,495 kg of carbon dioxide. Those numbers jump significantly, to $2,490 and 4,880 kg of carbon dioxide, when calculated for an ICE vehicle. 

Cruickshank's Bolt performs even better, costing only $490 and outputting only 2,160 kg of carbon dioxide. 

In provinces like Quebec and Manitoba, where electricity is mainly created at hydroelectric generating stations, the amount of carbon dioxide emitted drops to roughly 30 to40 kg for every 20,000 kilometres driven.

Suncatcher Solar and electric are your TRUSTED SASKATOON SOLAR AND ELECTRICAL EXPERTS!