Can electric vehicles survive the harsh Saskatchewan cold?

Curtis Bloom is an EV owner from the rural Shellbrook area and said that number is more of a safeguard or guideline to follow.

“In these cold, cold temperatures, (the range is) probably about 40 per cent,” he said noting his car does lose some range when the mercury drops this much.

“You use a bit more range in the winter just to heat the battery and the cab. There’s no issues because I can make it to wherever I go usually.”

Other electric vehicle owners in the province could relate. Members of the SaskEV Facebook group weighed in on their experiences with the bitter cold, saying the range does decrease from 40 to 50 per cent. Some members said it’s not an issue for those living in or close to cities with charging stations but if you’re travelling long distances, that could pose a problem.

Responses to a Facebook post on EVs in extreme cold. (SaskEV/Facebook)

Many drivers who responded say they typically don’t drive in extreme cold, in either gas or electric powered vehicles, to avoid the possibility of any breakdowns.

Anthony Penner is another EV user who constantly travels from Warman to Prince Albert and James Smith Cree Nation. He agrees the downside to cold weather is the reduction in range but thankfully, he can charge in different cities and get to his destinations without any problems.

He did, however, touch on the lack of charging stations during his commute.

“It would be nice to have some in the smaller communities, the smaller cities,” Penner said. “There’s not enough fast chargers. The one in Prince Albert was a huge game-changer for people. That made a big difference for people heading north through the gateway.”

In a statement to paNOW, Lake Country Co-op which operates the charging station in Prince Albert, said they have no concerns with the terminals.

“The EV charging facility located at our Prince Albert food store is fully functional in cold temperatures and is equipped to charge both Tesla and other brands of electric vehicles,” the statement reads.

According to ChargeHub which provides a directory of EV chargers around the world, only 18 communities are listed in Saskatchewan including Prince Albert, North Battleford and Humboldt. The Petro-Canada electric highway only crosses the far south of the province to cities like Swift Current, Moose Jaw and Regina.

paNOW reached out to Suncor Energy which owns Petro-Canada to ask if any fast-charging stations will be built in central and north-central Saskatchewan and is awaiting a response.

At the end of the day, cold weather isn’t going to stop many drivers from enjoying their electric vehicles.

“I love my EV, I definitely would never go back to a gas car or truck,” Bloom said. “I like them in the winter especially because you can leave the heat on and it’s not an issue; they’re not running or anything. I love it.”

“It works just like any other vehicle,” Penner added. “I get to my destination just like everybody else.”

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derek.craddock@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @PA_Craddock

by Derek Craddock

Can electric vehicles survive the harsh Saskatchewan cold?

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