Energy Conservation

 Why electric vehicles (EV's)?

 How do EVs work?

 How much does and EV cost to buy and run? 

• Electric vehicles start from as low as $27,000 and most sell for $35,000 to $45,000. Electric vehicles come in different sizes from compact to midsize to SUV, with more than 35 makes and models currently available, and more being announced every year. The average Canadian driver, travelling 20,000 km each year, can save as much as $2,000 per year on fuel alone.
• EVs are also much cheaper to operate and maintain than gas cars, saving EV owners thousands of dollars over the EV's lifespan. For example, battery-electric EVs cost up to 75% less to drive than a gas car, saving the typical EV driver $1,500-$2,000 every year on fuel.

 Are there any incentives?

• As of May 1, 2019, Transport Canada offers an incentive of up to $5,000 for eligible new zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs). The incentive, offered through the iZEV Program, is available for newly purchased or leased vehicles and is applied directly on the bill of sale or lease agreement at the dealership or online.
• Incentives are available for new battery-electric, hydrogen fuel cell, and hybrid electric vehicles purchased or leased in Canada from a licensed dealer.
• Battery-electric, hydrogen fuel cell, and longer range plug-in hybrid vehicles are eligible for an incentive of $5,000
• Shorter range plug-in hybrid electric vehicles are eligible for an incentive of $2,500

 Note: Pre-owned vehicles are not eligible. Some restrictions apply, including vehicle eligibility. More information is available here.

 How much could you save?

According to Ontario's Ministry of Transportation:

• On average, a typical battery EV will cost less than $300 per year, or about $0.78 a day to charge at night
• A typical plug-in hybrid EV will cost about $700 per year, or $1.92 a day for fuel (including gasoline and electricity costs
• Comparable gasoline cars can cost between $1,000 and $2,500 annually to fuel or up to eight times more money daily than an EV

 How will my EV handle the winter?

While charging overnight, EVs use electricity from the grid to warm and condition the battery so EVs start like a charm in cold weather. But extreme cold, –20⁰C or colder, can drop the range an EV can drive without charging, by 40 per cent because the EV must draw power to keep the battery warm and heat the car's interior.  Nevertheless, that's still enough EV driving range on a single charge to meet the daily driving needs of most Canadians.

EVs must pass the same rigorous safety tests as gas cars and are fully licensed to drive on Canada's roads and highways. EVs also offer the same comfort options in winter that gas cars do, such as heated seats and heated steering wheels.

  What do I need to know about getting an EV Charging Station installed in my home?

• You must hire a Licensed Electrical Contractor to install the charging station and to ensure that the installation complies with all regulations under the Ontario Electrical Safety Code.(link to ESA)
• You should make sure that the installer takes out a permit with the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) before starting the installation of your EV charging station.
• You should confirm that all the installed equipment is certified for use in Canada by a nationally recognized certification agency – CSA, cUL, cETL – or displays other certification marks approved by the ESA.
• You and/or your contractor will receive a Certificate of Inspection from the ESA once the installation is deemed in compliance with the Ontario Electrical Safety Code.

For more information about EV charging station installation, visit Electrical Safety Authority.

To find out more about EVs, visit Plug ‘n drive. This non-profit organization is a trusted and unbiased source of information on electric cars and charging stations.

 How far can an EV run on one charge? 

Note that EVs don't run out of charge unexpectedly. As with gas vehicles, a dashboard display indicates the level of charge and the estimated driving range. EVs also perform more efficiently at stoplights or in traffic jams. When an EV stops, its electric motor doesn't draw energy from the battery, but gas engines continue to burn fuel even when stopped.

 Charging at home?

Level 2 charging stations use a 240-volt system (similar to a clothes dryer or stove plug) and can fully charge a battery electric vehicle in about 4 to 8 hours and a plugin hybrid in about 1 to 4 hours.

  Charging in public?

In addition to recharging at home, you can recharge your EV at publicly available charging stations. There are more than 500 Level 2 (240 volt) and a growing number of fast-charging Level 3 stations in Ontario today. Level 3 stations can charge fully charge an EV battery in about 20 to 30 minutes. That's at least eight times faster than a Level 2 charging station.

Under the Electric Vehicle Chargers Ontario (EVCO) program, more than 140 Level 3 charging stations and almost 200 Level 2 stations have been installed across Ontario and more deployments are planned. Peterborough currently has nine Level 3 stations and six Level 2 stations installed, with more coming soon.

Throughout the province, charging stations are typically located in or close to major attractions, restaurants, shopping mall parking lots, businesses and municipal properties for in-city travel. The Level 3 or fast-charging stations are generally located along highways and other major roadways to ease inter-city travel for EV drivers.

  How do I find a place to charge up?

Across Canada, there are almost 7,000 public charging stations, many of which are Level 3 fast-chargers. To find a public charging station in Ottawa, other cities or along your route, visit:

• Plug Share 
• Charge Hub 
• CAA (Canadian Automobile Association)