Owners love EVs, but this is what irritates them

A new survey reveals that while B.C. electric vehicle owners appreciate the cost savings of EVs, they are frustrated by the lack of reliable public charging options.

According to a survey of more than 5,100 EV owners in British Columbia, commissioned by the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) in partnership with BCAA, almost all (97 per cent) say the cost of fuelling their EV is better. Furthermore, 90 per cent say the cost of maintenance is better than their previous gas-powered vehicles.

Despite these benefits, seven in ten EV owners in B.C. are less than satisfied with the number of public fast chargers available.

When planning longer, winter journeys, close to 60 per cent of EV drivers in B.C. prefer to drive their gas vehicle in extremely cold weather due to concerns about lower battery range.

“Our survey shows that people are happy with their EV because they are cheaper to operate and easier to maintain than their previous gas-powered vehicles,” says Shawn Pettipas, director of corporate purpose and mobility marketing at BCAA. “But it also shows there’s room for improvement when it comes to accessing public fast chargers and increasing confidence with battery range in the cold.”

While public DC fast chargers remain a pain point, EV owners in B.C. do the majority of their charging at home. The vast majority, (83 per cent) report having a fast charger at home, with most of their travel within 100 km of their home, a distance significantly less than the average range of an EV, which is more than 400 km.

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