A new reports finds that the major worry most consumers in B.C. have about switching to an electric vehicle is the lack of public charging stations in the province.
The data is part a new BC Hydro study called “Old habits drive hard: How British Columbians’ fueling habits are driving misconceptions about EV charging.”
The report reveals that nearly 70 per cent of those surveyed who don’t own an electric vehicle say the lack of charging stations is their main reason not to switch to one.
It also finds that almost the same number say the gas-up once per week, which BC Hydro says could be fueling misconceptions about how charging works.
“This approach to fueling a gas-powered vehicle may be leading to a misconception that charging an EV at a public charging station must be done as frequently as getting gas,” said BC Hydro.
“The majority of EV owners do the majority of charging at home or at work, and use public chargers as a supplement to this.”
There are more than 120 electric vehicle charging stations on Vancouver Island.
Consumers surveyed also say they are worried about switching to an electric vehicle will drive up home electricity bills as well, but the utility argues that the costs are a fraction of what most drivers pay for gasoline every month.
BC Hydro says that while individual factors do come into play, the average cost is between $700 and $2000 to install a level 2 home charger, and there are rebates available from the province and the utility.
The NDP government introduced legislation in the spring mandating that all light-duty cars and trucks sold in British Columbia would have to be zero-emission by 2040.
At the time, Energy Minister Michelle Mungall said the Zero Emission Vehicles Act aims to fight climate change by phasing out gas-powered vehicles.
She says the legislation would set target dates of 10 per cent zero-emission sales by 2025, 30 per cent by 2030, and 100 per cent by 2040.
The legislation would apply to new vehicles for sale or lease.
CHEK News
