Electric Vehicles and Daily Driving in BC

With battery capacity of new vehicles rising, and charging infrastructure building up rapidly, the notion of range anxiety is fading away in British Columbia. But you don’t need the latest high kWh battery to go electric. The fact is that even older electric cars or new “commuter” vehicles with smaller ranges will cover most daily drivers just fine. So, if you are researching an electric vehicle purchase, keep in mind that used EVs or lower range models will still probably get you where you are going.

Here are some sources to consider:

• In 2017, Transport Canada indicated that most Canadians drive about 50km in a day.
• In B.C. specifically, a more recent BC Hydro report finds that the average daily drive is only 20km.

If you happen to have a really long commute, a higher range EV will pay off fast with big fuel and maintenance savings. For example, see Andrew’s story about long distance commuting in the Kootenays.

Want to know more about EV makes and models in B.C.? See the brochure on EmotiveBC.ca.