Featured Turning down the dial on cold weather anxiety for EVs in Canada

Having seen first-hand the world-leading adoption rate (though not yet near today's 90%) of EVs while traveling in Norway five years ago, I couldn't put much stock in the recent media FUD here.

I've finally joined the plug-in world (just PHEV, not pure EV), this afternoon installing and testing an L2 EVSE in the garage to support the full charge rate of my new (4 days ago) RAV4 Prime. The branch circuit was installed two years ago, in hopes of soon joining the EV world (and piggy-back the work on top of another electric addition project), so the remaining installation work today was quick and easy. But it took until last week for the regional supply of the desired vehicle to increase and dealer mark-ups to decrease to my threshold.

Now, if only the member profile vehicle choice menu could be updated to adequately reflect my new ride.

 

On the fighting FUD front.

Was 2023 an Awful Year for EV Sales? They Grew 46% over 2022
https://www.autoweek.com/news/a46463036/2023-ev-sales-growth-cox-gm-ford/

 

Was 2023 a Really Bad Year for EV Sales? They Grew 46% over 2022 (autoweek.com)

"The auto industry ended 2023 with EV inventory of 113 days, compared with (a more common) 69 days for internal-combustion-powered vehicles, including hybrids."

"Last year American consumers discovered the shortcomings of electric vehicles, letting them pile up on dealers’ lots as many turned their purchase intentions toward hybrids and plug-in hybrids."

"As the initial wave, powered by tech-savvy ‘early adopters’ has become saturated, automakers and dealers need to turn their attention to more reluctant consumers,” Fiorani said.

"Nevertheless, GM’s 76k EVs sold last year fell far below the company’s expectations, and Barra, who has led the company’s EV push for pretty much all of her decade as its CEO, is the subject of industry speculation that the shortfall could cost her the job."

"The greatest obstacle to converting the US auto fleet from internal combustion to battery-electric might be cultural, political, and economic forces, culminating in failure by the COP 28 conference in Dubai last December to sign a commitment to phase out—or even phase down—fossil fuels."

“There is a growing undercurrent of anti-EV buyers, companies, and politicians,” said AFS’s Fiorani. “Misinformation and a simple lack of information are fueling these groups to dig their heels in and not make the conversion.”

"EV registration fees were raised to $200 per year in Texas last September, Politico reported Aug. 18, and a new registration in the state would cost EV buyers $400. Washington, Wyoming, Ohio, West Virginia, Arkansas, Alaska, and Georgia were already at $200 or more annually, according to the report"

 

More fud. The only reason ev inventory is higher is because everything on the lots is loaded and pricey, or it is in the wrong location geographically .

 

Over excited Execs and observers were also expecting the even higher growth rates of earlier years to continue unabated. Even with the slow down and lack of affordable models, EVs are the fastest growing segment.

 

Or has the "wrong" fast charging connector.

Mike

 

I've sat in a GM PHEV and Ford Mach-E. Both felt like I was sitting in a foxhole. In contrast, Prius and my two EVs feel closer to a 'bubble canopy.'

Bob Wilson

 

that's how the bolt is. we really like the ride height, cabin room and ease of getting in and out.

 

I'm one of those from Québec with an EV (Model 3 SR+). I did several long trip in winter and never had any issue. Last one was last month doing a back&forth Ottawa-Montréal to go get my son from the airport at -17°C and had zero problems. Charged once in Montréal (while waiting for his plane to land) and once in Casselman on my way back (we stopped for a bite as well so didn't waste any time).

 

Individual owner's anecdotes are interesting but they don't really tell the whole story.

Was the car parked outside and for how long? What was the temperature when parked and when the start was attempted? If in a garage, what was the temperature difference between the outside temperature and the garage? How old were the batteries? Was the car pre-heated while on a charger before start was attempted?

I imagine the results might vary.

 

The Osborne Effect might also be playing a role lately. With every car company that sells EV's in North America having already announced that their charging ports will be the NACS in the 2025 model year, might many prospective buyers be waiting a little longer? This isn't an unreal possibility. And yet, EV adoption is still increasing, regardless.