EV Frequently Asked Questions

EVs that are 100 per cent powered by electricity are called Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs). Others, called plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs), have both a gas-powered engine and an electric motor and can switch between gas and electric modes.

There are many benefits to owning an EV. 

EVs are cheaper to drive: powering your car with electricity can save as much as three times more than a gas-powered car.

EVs are cheaper to maintain: EVs have thousands fewer moving parts than conventional cars. Oil filters? Spark plugs? Alternators? Clutches? Those parts don’t exist in an EV, which means less of your time and money spent on maintenance.

EVs are convenient: You plug them in at night and wake up to a full battery each day. No more having to find a gas station on your way to work!

EVs are performance driven: More agile than convential gas vehicles, EVs are better suited to handle tricky driving conditions. Also, when you brake in an EV, the electric motor helps you slow down and recharges the battery by doing so. This helps you drive further on every charge. It also means your brake pads don’t get worn out as quickly and don’t have to be replaced as often – another saving!

EVs are quiet: without a noisy internal combustion engine EVs are whisper-quiet and help cut down on noise pollution.

Last on our list, EVs are good for the environment and public health: While gasoline combustion in a conventional vehicle produces greenhouse gases (like carbon dioxide) and particulate pollutants that contribute to smog, EVs produce no tailpipe emissions.

While e-bikes are convenient in that they can be charged with a regular wall outlet, they don’t yet have the same charging safety standards as electric vehicles. There is also significant variance in build quality between models. Unlike EVs, itis possible to overcharge an e-bike battery, potentially leading to a fire hazard.

For safety, it’s recommended not to:
– store the battery in extreme temperatures;
– charge the battery near water or fire hazards;
– charge the battery overnight or longer than 8 hours; and
– to use a timed outlet to avoid overcharging.

Learn more at https://epiccycles.ca/charge-e-bike/

Many manufacturers warn against using an extension cord when charging an EV because the cords can overheat when charging for extended periods. For this reason, we do not recommend using a standard home extension cord to charge your EV.

Most EVs come standard with a Level 1 charger that can be plugged into a regular wall outlet. You could also purchase a Level 2 charger separately or use a publicly available charging station.

Charging time varies according to several factors—the model of your EV, how much charge it has remaining when you plug it in, the ambient temperature and the level of charging station you are using (Level 1, 2 or 3).

The rate of recharge for a Level 1 charger is about 7-9 kilometres per hour. Level 2 stations charge at a rate of roughly 30-40 kilometres per hour. Level 3 or “fast charging” stations can charge your EV anywhere between 250 kms to 1000 kms per hour!

Please note, PHEVs have greatly varying recharge times on Level 1 and Level 2 charges and most cannot use Level 3.

No. All EVs have built-in safeguards that prevent overcharging.

Currently, Tesla chargers do not work with any other make of EVs. Tesla EVs require an adapter to use either Level 2 or Level 3 charging stations.

Please note, most PHEVs do not have the ability to use Level 3 charging stations—check with your dealer before purchasing.

The easiest way to find a charging station near you is to visit Plugshare.com which shows all public charging stations on a map that is being continually updated. Plugshare allows you to see all the public charging available for all EV models.

Many public Level 2 chargers are completely free to use!

When fees are charged, they are often displayed by price per hour and billed by the minute. Level 2 chargers will typically cost $1-$5 per hour, while a Level 3 fast charger could cost $10 – $25 per hour. These transactions sometimes require apps and/or memberships, or a credit/debit card.

You should consult a licensed electrician to find out if you need to do any preliminary work to accommodate the installation of a home charger.

A typical Level 2 station will cost between $500 and $1,500. The parts and labour to complete the installation will often cost an additional $500 to $1,500, assuming you don’t have to upgrade your electrical service or panel.

Residents of multi-units that don’t have a charger available on site may have to use public Level 2 or Level 3 charging stations.

If you are looking to speak to your building manager or condo board about installing a charger in your building, we recommend reading the following helpful and informative guidebook produced by https://murbly.com/en/learn/. 

Most Nova Scotians pay the same price for electricity regardless of the time of day, so there’s no price advantage to charging at one time or another.

If you have installed a qualifying electric-based space heating system and have access to Time-of-Day (TOD) rates with Nova Scotia Power, then charging your EV during off-peak hours can shave even more money off the cost of driving.

If you do run out of charge while driving, you can call a tow truck to get towed to the nearest public charging station. For EV drivers who are CAA members, you can call the Roadside Assistance line (1-800-222-4357) to get a tow to a charging station. Depending on your membership level, your tow could be free. 

Bi-directional charging is an emerging electric vehicle feature. An EV equipped with this technology is hardwired to be able to supply power back into devices, appliances or the power grid, depending on EV model and home electrical set-up.

See our model list for currently available models that are capable of bi-directional charging.

There is a misconception that unless the electricity grid that powers your EV is 100% renewable, the EV is no better than a gas-powered car. This is not true. Numerous studies agree that even if the electricity that powered it is 100 per cent coal-fired, a BEV will still produce fewer emissions than an equivalent gasoline vehicle. Click here for more information on the life cycle analysis of EVs.

After your EV’s battery predicted lifespan of 500,000 – 600,000 kms is over, it can be reused in other less-demanding applications such as storing electricity from solar panels and wind farms or as back-ups at home or in the grid. When the batteries no longer work, the raw materials that went into the battery can be recovered.

Dalhousie University has a Renewable Energy Storage Laboratory that is working on repurposing EV batteries for grid energy storage. Click here to find out more.

The lifecycle benefits of driving an EV more than pay back the damage done from battery mineral extraction, especially when compared to oil extraction. Batteries powering EVs continue to improve, and many have either reduced or entirely cut out the need for unethically sourced materials. The water used to harvest enough lithium for an EV battery is equivalent to the water used to grow 11 avocadoes.

Warranties will vary depending on each manufacturer, but most offer a bumper-to-bumper warranty of three years / 60,000 kms. In Canada, the minimum warranty of electric vehicle motors and batteries is eight years / 160,000 kms.

Right now, the replacement cost for a battery ranges from around $7,500 for the Nissan Leaf to around $14,000 for the Chevy Bolt, and about $25,000 for the Tesla Model X. That is a lot of money, but there are 3 important caveats to understand:

EV batteries aren’t like your cell phone battery; they last. With recent advances in battery cell chemistry and thermal management, batteries in new EV models lose only about 1-2% in range per year. This means that most EV owners will have finished their leases, re-sold or traded in their vehicles well before range loss becomes an issue. And the standard 8 year / 160,000 km warranty on an EV battery means that in the rare cases where batteries lose excessive range or fail outright, you’re fully covered.

The price of batteries is going down drastically. For example, the price of a battery pack comparable to the Tesla’s Model 3’s has dropped more than 70% in the 6 years between 2010 and 2016. This trend is expected to continue through to 2030. But given the longevity of EV batteries, this decrease in price will likely matter more to consumers because it will help reduce EV sticker prices at the time of purchase, rather than because you will ever need to replace a battery in your vehicle.

Lastly, some EV manufacturers are starting to offer re-furbished battery packs at reduced costs.

Unlike phone or tablet batteries, EV batteries use advanced technology and temperature management to greatly extend their lifespan. EV batteries generally lose only about one-to-two per cent of their range per year. Current expectations mean that most EV bodies will rust away before the battery degrades significantly.

For all the wear-and-tear components like suspension, brakes, windshield wipers and tires, EVs are no different than a gasoline vehicle and your usual mechanic could service your EV.

Any dealership that is certified to sell new EVs is required to train mechanical staff and offer full EV maintenance service. A full list of certified dealerships can be found here.

Some insurance companies offer a green vehicle discount while others don’t distinguish between the type of vehicle. Insurance companies take many factors into account when deciding on premiums.

When looking to purchase insurance for your EV, we recommend shopping around, or using the services of an insurance broker, to get the best rates.

No. The costs for vehicle permits for passenger vehicles in Nova Scotia are determined according to the weight of the vehicle. A permit for both an EV and a gas-powered car in the same weight category would cost the same.

BEVs are less prone to fires than gasoline vehicles, though when they catch on fire, they can be difficult to extinguish.

By placing the main battery in the lowest point in the vehicle, often under the floor, will result in a road-hugging feel and lower centre of gravity. This, coupled with the electric motor’s precise and responsive nature, means the vehicle handles exceptionally well.

Bitter, cold Canadian winters are known to be hard on regular car batteries. EV batteries can maintain their own temperature, so they don’t have the same issues that some gas-powered vehicles do with failing to start in frigid temperatures.

However, as the ambient temperature drops below 0°C, heat production for you and your battery will cost some range. Very cold temperatures, -20°C or colder, can reduce an EV’s range by as much as 40 per cent. This is because the battery is not only powering the car, but also heating the car’s interior and battery.

However, very cold temperatures (-20°C or colder) can reduce an EV’s range by as much as 40%. This is because the battery is not only powering the car, it’s working harder to heat the car’s interior as well as running the motor. (Gas-powered cars also become less efficient in the cold, but the decrease is less noticeable.)

One trick to minimize the efficiency loss in the cold is to pre-condition your EV’s battery. Many models offer the option pre-programming a departure time, often through a cell phone app, and the EV will begin to warm up the battery and interior cabin before you leave. Because a warm battery is more efficient than a cold one, this can help preserve range. Another tip is to put your car in eco mode on very cold days. This primes your car to work more efficiently. It may feel a bit more sluggish, but it will be preserving battery power. One final trick is to rely on your heated seats rather than the vehicle’s air conditioning system to keep warm, which will reduce the drain on the battery.

And did you know Norway, a Nordic country, has one of the highest EV ownership rates in the world?

Having regenerative brakes means that an EV can slow down, or come to a full and complete stop, without having to use its brake pads and recharge the battery.

When the driver takes their foot off the accelerator, the vehicle’s electric motor converts the momentum of the vehicle into battery charge. Not only does this reduce wear and tear on your brake pads, but it also extends how far you can drive on a single charge, especially in urban driving.

Vehicle to Load (V2L) is when a battery electric vehicle, or a plug-in hybrid vehicle, uses its battery to power external devices such as fridges, freezers, hair dryers, coffee makers, or other small appliances. It can be used in many situations where there is little to no power supply.

Not all vehicles have V2L capabilities, so check your ownership manual to confirm and to determine the safety protocols to follow when operating—every electric vehicle is different!

Vehicle-to-load (V2L) is often the simplest V2X operating mode, as many compatible vehicles are equipped with embedded outlets around the vehicle body or use a simple optional adapter.

Vehicle-to-home (V2H) or vehicle-to-building (V2B), and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) are two more ways electric vehicles can discharge their batteries to make use of the stored energy. When paired with the right kind of bidirectional charging equipment, certain EVs can feed power back into a home or building, or even to a power grid’s distribution system. V2H/V2B and V2G are much more complex than V2L and require more complex equipment, interconnection agreements with the utility, and may even require consulting or notifying your insurance provider. 

Both V2H and V2G offer more options to vehicle owners than V2L. For example, V2H setups connect directly into a home’s electrical wiring to provide automatic home backup in the case of a power outage, avoiding extension cables or moving appliances closer to their parked vehicles. V2G setups, which will require agreements between power utilities and the vehicle owners, can be used to manage high energy demand on the grid and store excess renewable energy for use later. 

Simply put, with vehicle-to-load, just about anything that you plug into a wall socket in your house, you can power with your electric vehicle! Many popular EVs can operate power tools, heaters, electric stoves, computers, and much more. Just like at home outlets, some V2L outlets are capable of providing more power than others, so be sure to consult your vehicle’s manual.

Yes! You can use your electric vehicle with vehicle-to-load (V2L) capabilities to help charge another EV using the other vehicle’s mobile charging adaptor.

Simply put, with vehicle-to-load, just about anything that you plug into a wall socket in your house, you can power with your electric vehicle! Many popular EVs can operate power tools, heaters, electric stoves, computers, and much more. Just like at home outlets, some V2L outlets are capable of providing more power than others, so be sure to consult your vehicle’s manual.

Current models with vehicle-to-load capability:

• Nissan Leaf EV
• Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
• Ford F-150 Lightning
• GMC Hummer EV
• Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6
• Kia EV6 and EV 9
• Tesla Cybertruck
• Chevrolet Silverado EV

Current models with vehicle-to-home capable:

• Nissan Leaf EV*
• Ford F-150 Lightning*
• Chevrolet Silverado EV*
• Tesla Cybertruck

*Compatible home equipment not available yet in Canada.

Before operating the vehicle-to-load function, please first consult your vehicle’s operating manual and review the safety practices recommended. Pay attention to not overload your vehicle’s rated power capabilities—household appliances will have their power requirements listed on them.

For both vehicle-to-home/-to-building and vehicle-to-grid, ensure that you use a qualified electrician and get an electrical permit and inspection. When operating the vehicle, make sure to do so within the safety protocols given to you by qualified installers and as labelled on the associated equipment.  

And remember, when using extension cords to connect your appliances to your vehicle, choosing the right cord and inspecting regularly for damage is important to keep you safe! 

The length of time your car can power external devices will depend largely on the size of the battery and the draw of your appliances. The smallest battery (the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV) would only power a small or medium sized appliance for a short time before it would need to be recharged.  However, a bidirectional charging battery electric vehicle like the Ford F-150 Lightning would have enough energy to keep an average Canadian home powered for three whole days. 

Chargers that allow electric vehicles to power a home or send power to a grid will start to become more common place. Purchasing from a reputable charger manufacturer that is certified as compatible with your EV, as well as using a certified and experienced electrician to install your home charger are two ways to ensure safety and warranty concerns. Check with your home insurance provider to ensure they allow vehicle-to-home or -to-grid before beginning the process of installing these systems.