Post ARYZ722z2DcNvhjZMu by chrisale@mstdn.ca
(DIR) More posts by chrisale@mstdn.ca
(DIR) Post #ARYUP1PykHwEW9Cba4 by chrisale@mstdn.ca
2023-01-10T19:54:39Z
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0/ #EVCrossCanada Since we’re into the January Doldrums, I thought I’d start a multi-day thread looking back at our family trip. I’ll post about every charging stop (over 100!) between Vancouver Island and PEI.I’ll talk about each one, the good, bad, its surroundings. There might be some useful info, and hopefully nice pictures of 🇨🇦. Not sure how long this will be. :)This is an addition to my blog about the trip:“Saving CO2 on a Cross Country EV Journey”https://chrisalemany.ca/2022/08/15/saving-co2-on-a-cross-country-ev-journey/
(DIR) Post #ARYUP1xej4sQCaxV4a by chrisale@mstdn.ca
2023-01-10T20:10:17Z
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1/ We start, of course, at home. #PortAlberni July 10, 2022We bought our 2019 Hyundai Kona in July 2019. We charged it using the included 120V plug for the first 1.5 years, then we invested (thanks to some Gov rebates) in a Level 2 charger. (You can see both in the first pic)Of course, we charged to 100% in preparation for our 4AM start the next morning. The car has a 64kWh battery. Approximately 250-300km range with the trailer. We only charged to 99-100% ten times on the entire journey.
(DIR) Post #ARYUP2gK30bcR7rAh6 by chrisale@mstdn.ca
2023-01-10T20:16:44Z
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2/ I’ll use this post for tags for the benefit of searching and categorization. If you do not want to see this thread you should be able to filter for the hashtag #EVCrossCanada and that should remove it from your timeline. If you have any questions or comments feel free to reply anywhere.Thank you for coming along for the ride. #EV #Cars #Travel #RoadTrip #CarCharging #EVCharging #ClimateChange #CO2 #ClimateAction #ElectricVehicles #Electric #Driving #Family #Vacations
(DIR) Post #ARYUP3MVWALkXxarRo by chrisale@mstdn.ca
2023-01-10T20:41:29Z
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3/ First stop, July 11. Hope, BC.We used Electrify Canada for the first time. I wasn’t yet in the habit of taking a pic of the charger itself, sorry.EC was a good network. Fast chargers (often >50KW), used an RFID card often, but also sometimes expensive. Here we struggled to get the station to activate. This location was not great: small, cramped little parking lot off a side street. We managed to squeeze in, saw Rambo, and had lunch while we charged from 28%-95%. (1h 9min)#EVCrossCanada
(DIR) Post #ARYUP3sPbXs28uWLB2 by chrisale@mstdn.ca
2023-01-10T22:04:51Z
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4/ Second stop on Day 1 was Kamloops, BC.Nearly 500km (260km + 220km).This was the first time we removed the trailer from the car b4 charging. Many Electrify Canada stations seem to be in the parking lots of Canadian Tire right in the midst of the rows. It’s not ideal when towing things. The lot was fairly empty when we arrived so we probably could have kept the trailer on, but we didn’t want to be “Those People”. Quick charge: 64%-78%Spent the night in beautiful Barriere, BC#EVCrossCanada
(DIR) Post #ARYUP4Offbftkxc6SW by chrisale@mstdn.ca
2023-01-10T22:22:52Z
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5/ Day 2 had us head toward Alberta with a breakfast stop at Little Fort, BC. This was a #BCHydro station. As it was isolated and not on the network, it was free! BCH was always reliable. Get the RFID card. Always works!In fact I don’t think one of their stations ever failed us. They were not the fastest, 50KW max, but good enough and reliability matters. It was in a VERY buggy little rest stop. Thankfully there was a diner across the hwy! Charge time: 1hr 15m (55%-100%)#EVCrossCanada
(DIR) Post #ARYUP4xlZ7kPVo28A4 by chrisale@mstdn.ca
2023-01-10T22:47:13Z
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6/ We continued across BC, topped-up at a BCH in Blue River (17min 75%-80%), ironically drove along the #TMX oil pipeline route before getting to Mt. Robson on the AB/BC border. Semi-fast (25KW) charger failed, so we used a FLO 8kW Level 2 charger (1.5hrs 44%-50%) to get over the hump and into Jasper. RFID card saved us again. No network no problem.Lots of tourists. They had a LOT of questions about this family charging an EV with a trailer! Long stop, but the scenery was OK. #EVCrossCanada
(DIR) Post #ARYUP5Rtl5qn1G8C80 by chrisale@mstdn.ca
2023-01-10T23:21:28Z
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7/ Bill asked a super fundamental Q: “The time at stations changed from minutes to a percentage. What is the time frame for percentages?”The (unsatisfying) answer is it depends. The higher the KW from the charger the faster the %. The EC charger in Hope added 60% in 69min. BCH in Little Fort added 45% in 75min. That’s a 70-80KW charger vs 40-50KW charger. Also, the car throttles charging after 80% to protect the battery so you will get much more %/min before 80% than after.#EVCrossCanada
(DIR) Post #ARYUP60dfvdil0NwHI by chrisale@mstdn.ca
2023-01-11T01:08:34Z
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8/ By the end of Day 2 we made it 900km+ to our first National Park Jasper, Alberta. It was the first and only time a stop featured a mass bank of Tesla chargers (only work with Teslas!) next to non-Tesla (FLO) fast chargers. We didn’t know it yet but this would be the largest concentration of chargers in one place we found in *all Alberta*. Had a few hiccups, big long charge. 21%-98% took 1hr 42min+ but actually longer. Had to last a few days of camping/ sightseeing in Glacier NP #EVCrossCanada
(DIR) Post #ARYUP6anVUYyZ9Iodc by chrisale@mstdn.ca
2023-01-11T01:38:31Z
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9/ Jasper’s chargers were FLO, the most common/reliable ntwrk on #EVCrossCanada. We charged (1hr 22min 45-100%) the night before, then went down the 240km Icefields Parkway. This was our first nail-biter, pushing the limits of the range of the car+trailer. Had to slow-drive up a couple hills but the sunrise scenery made it worth it. Coasted into Lake Louise. No Fast chargers. Used a 6KW 30min 18%-20% and 8KW 30min 19%-35%. Should have just stayed at the first at the Lake but we had no food. 😆
(DIR) Post #ARYUP75depEW6njRi4 by chrisale@mstdn.ca
2023-01-11T01:48:14Z
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10/ Charged just enough in Lake Louise to make it to the FLO fast charge in Canmore. Here we experienced our first EV-comraderie and also drama when a nice lady cut her charge short when she realized how long we had to go. The charger was in a little lot just off Main Street. It was a tight fit, and while we were parking the trailer someone else tried to slide in to our spot but the nice lady held it so we could charge up. EV people are mostly nice. Mostly. 😂 (51min 18%-80%) #EVCrossCanada
(DIR) Post #ARYUP7f5X1abskJkxs by chrisale@mstdn.ca
2023-01-11T02:13:40Z
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11/ That was our first “efficient” charge, ie. stopping at 80% before it slows down. When you need to do 1000km in a day, it’s important! Next to Strathmore near Calgary. Well placed big parking lot. A little slow. (FLO, 50min 44-80%). 490km so far and 475km to go! Charged in Brooks (FLO 51m 28-80%). Totally don’t remember it and Medicine Hat (Petro Can 55m 15-94%) I didn’t snap pics! Latter had a McDs. We got kicked out because it was too late. Sad! Got to Swift Current laaate. #EVCrossCanada
(DIR) Post #ARYUP85JxUZbC6ahqy by chrisale@mstdn.ca
2023-01-11T02:31:39Z
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12/ Swift Current was special, not just cuz we got their late but also because for the first time we got to plug-in overnight into a 120V plug at our door! Sweet! I think this is thanks to people needing them for block heaters in winter. Well now they are bonus EV chargers! Regular plugs aren’t fast, but they’re free and when you’re sleeping, who cares! (1.4KW 5hr 40min 18-24%), charged the rest at a finicky Petro Canada down the street in the morning (12KW and 70KW 61min 24-91%)#EVCrossCanada
(DIR) Post #ARYUP8cHyuwcqM12Ey by chrisale@mstdn.ca
2023-01-11T03:00:16Z
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13/ We struck out across the Prairie through Saskatchewan. Thought we would rely on Petro Canada’s “Electric Highway” but it quickly became clear there was a problem with that idea. This held true the entire trip. First stop, Moose Jaw, took two tries to get the charger going (60KW 51min 39-80%). I don’t have a picture but I see from PlugShare tonight that it’s again under repair… oh PetroCan! Also, that’s a big bird!#EVCrossCanada
(DIR) Post #ARYUP9788FcAO0RfJQ by chrisale@mstdn.ca
2023-01-11T03:18:15Z
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14/ We had to try two chargers in Regina (after visiting Mosaic Stadium of course!) the Petro Can (48KW 51min 23-72%) was being finicky again and didn’t charge at full speed plus it died halfway through so we went over to a CoOp across the street… (45KW 28min 72-92%) All this switching eats up travel time, as we were beginning to understand, but we had not yet really gotten comfortable enough to just use PlugShare. Thankfully, when in doubt and time must be wasted, eat. So we did.#EVCrossCanada
(DIR) Post #ARYUP9jPpuEuIkMEzI by chrisale@mstdn.ca
2023-01-11T03:33:10Z
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15/ Our last eastward Sask stop was a Petro Can in Whitewood. (48KW 51min 28-78%). We stopped at this one on the way there and back. Very windy both times! As you can see, space is not a problem. The prairies are great for that. 😂 Next, into Manitoba, Virden (45KW 15m 25-60%) then a CoOp in Brandon at sundown (45KW 27m 15-50%). CoOps were very reliable. We got to Riding Mountain NP in the dark in a thunderstorm! I have a picture of a frog. If only I could photograph mosquitoes! #EVCrossCanada
(DIR) Post #ARYUPAEbxvC1rUx9c0 by chrisale@mstdn.ca
2023-01-11T03:54:49Z
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16/ We stayed at Wasagaming/RMNP for a couple days. We got a “powered” campsite with a 120V plug, fancy! Good for the EV and other electronics. (First night 1.4KW 15hr 15-25%) No fast chargers near the campground as it is a few hundred km north of Winnipeg but there were L2 chargers where we charged once (7KW 3hr 30min 25-70%) at the park office in “town”. We just needed enough between them over a couple days to get to Portage La Prairie. (Last camp night 1.4KW 9hr 70-86%)#EVCrossCanada
(DIR) Post #ARYUPAi2CWjFKkieTQ by chrisale@mstdn.ca
2023-01-11T04:20:04Z
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17/ We’re now 3000km and more than 20 charges into the journey! Next, all the way to Thunder Bay! We had to stop near Portage La Prairie, another Petro Can and near a “The Big Can!” (48KW 21m 39-56%), then a long charge at a FLO outside Winnipeg (45KW 1hr 17min 18-92%). The prairies were surprisingly hard for fuel efficiency I believe because of the high speed highways and lack of up and down for recharge. Thankfully that resolved almost exactly at the Ontario border! #EVCrossCanada
(DIR) Post #ARYUPBFiBJfR1CTXxw by chrisale@mstdn.ca
2023-01-11T04:31:49Z
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18/ As we started into the vastness of Ontario we discovered a charging network called “Ivy”. We preordered an RFID card before we left home. Glad we did. They have spread 50KW chargers on major routes across ON but you need the RFID to activate them reliably. Some of were busted, it seemed due to the harsh weather conditions. But what really slowed us down was needing to charge to over 90% to get to the next stop. That last 10% is slow. Welcome to Kenora! (45KW 1hr 15min 20-92%) #EVCrossCanada
(DIR) Post #ARYUPBqvwvRQsdtGz2 by chrisale@mstdn.ca
2023-01-11T04:43:05Z
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19/ We’re getting late in the day now since starting at dawn from Manitoba! Last stop before Thunder Bay was Ignace, ON. Very small town with a PetroCan. (48KW 1hr 9m 25-90%). One station was busted. Crucial link. The gaps between towns are big now! There was a big bank of Tesla chargers across the street/highway but no Teslas! In fact, outside BC we saw very few Teslas at all! Made it to TB late again! Went and saw Terry on the way the next morning. #EVCrossCanada
(DIR) Post #ARYUPDQ47n8bjtKqNk by chrisale@mstdn.ca
2023-01-11T04:52:51Z
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20/ We drove into TB on “fumes” again but we’ll call that good planning! Thankfully it’s downhill for much of the last stretch. I managed to find a 120V at the Inn in Thunder Bay so we got a bit of free juice (1.4KW 5hr 30m 15-26%) but not nearly enough overnight so off to the nearest Ivy at a fancier hotel (45KW 1hr 5m 25-90%) There was a faster PetroCan but it was BROKEN. We were starting to trust Plugshare’s reports about where and where not to go. #EVCrossCanada
(DIR) Post #ARYUPFMwsLphmntNnk by chrisale@mstdn.ca
2023-01-11T05:16:51Z
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21/ That’s all for today. More tomorrow. Thanks for following along so far :) #EVCrossCanada
(DIR) Post #ARYUPGxUxwfCiS05PU by chrisale@mstdn.ca
2023-01-11T05:29:00Z
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22/ Oh one last one to answer Ivan who asked what kind of mileage/efficiency I got. On average on the whole trip it was around 4.8km/kWh (20.8kWh/100km) but it varied by province. Here is the chart I had in my blog post. https://chrisalemany.ca/2022/08/15/saving-co2-on-a-cross-country-ev-journey/#EVCrossCanada
(DIR) Post #ARYUPIbErg2vnzbKzY by chrisale@mstdn.ca
2023-01-11T15:00:50Z
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23/ #EVCrossCanada Ontario is BIG. Charging infrastructure isn’t the only thing that is sparse, so are towns. We didn’t need to stop in Nipigon and PlugShare said the PetroCan (surprise!) was broken, but we tried anyway and were rewarded with a free fast charge! (70KW 22min 56%-79%). That saved us some time in the long run as it was the only >50KW charger of the day. One charger stand was totally dead. And one EV spot had a big FF truck in it! Bad Karma. (Closeup is actually on the return trip)
(DIR) Post #ARYUPKJwSxOn8vWYJE by chrisale@mstdn.ca
2023-01-11T17:46:25Z
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24/ You might think the relatively frequent charging would get tedious, and sometimes it was, but for the most part all the stop did was give us an excuse to wander around, eat or just enjoy the view. Like in Terrace Bay, Ontario. If we had driven our gas car with 1000km “range” we probably wouldn’t have stopped here at all. It was foggy when we first pulled up to the chargers (Ivy, 45KW 1h2m 50-92%), which were in a dirt lot of a motel. Then the fog cleared! #EVCrossCanada
(DIR) Post #ARYUPMGpDW5tBq55jE by chrisale@mstdn.ca
2023-01-11T17:49:54Z
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25/ We were a week into our trip. July 18. The goal was to get around Lake Superior so the next day we could take the ferry to Tobermory. Only Ivy and PetroCan had chargers and were it not for the Ivys in Terrace Bay and White River (Winnie the Pooh!) we wld not have been able to make it. Had a nice chat with an older gentleman in White River (45KW 15m 30-57%). He saw us from his old truck, turned around, and came to the charger. He informed me there was a big hill before Wawa. #EVCrossCanada
(DIR) Post #ARYUPPm8BZv03nkdRQ by chrisale@mstdn.ca
2023-01-11T17:52:09Z
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26/ He was right, but so was our “A Better Route Planner” (ABRP) app which we used to estimate charging needed at each to minimize stop time and maximize efficiency. It took into account elevation changes and such. We made it to Wawa just fine for a big charge at another half-working PetroCan. It was working well enough to charge us $19 though. (70KW 56m 29-92%) Happy to get such a big boost in under an hour! We did make an extra stop at the giant goose, for a profile pic mostly. #EVCrossCanada
(DIR) Post #ARYUPTOshxhJIqu7l2 by chrisale@mstdn.ca
2023-01-11T17:56:28Z
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27/ The final stops of the day were in Sault Ste. Marie. Another PetroCan, this time fully functional and super fast (71KW 36m 22-74%). That’s what charging should be like. And in the middle of what seemed at this point like a giant City considering we hadn’t seen a city since Winnipeg. We made it to the Inn at Blind River after sundown, I charged (Ivy, 43KW 1h 9m 30-94%) outside the Tims where the biggest concern was being eaten by swarms of mosquitoes. 1 hour, 8 mosquito bites. #EVCrossCanada
(DIR) Post #ARYUPVVKsw35pRwJ60 by chrisale@mstdn.ca
2023-01-11T18:00:08Z
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28/ For the 5th night in a row we had a place with a 120V plug to use overnight! (1.4KW 4hr 94%-100%) So we got to top up to a rare 100% which was good because we weren’t getting the mileage we had hoped and the next morning in Espanola the PetroCan was only half working (but free!) again. (58KW 15m 73-84%) We needed every electron to get all the way to Owen Sound after a trip across the Lake on the beautiful Chi-Cheemaun! #EVCrossCanada
(DIR) Post #ARYUPY6dDF4PthP7VQ by chrisale@mstdn.ca
2023-01-11T18:02:53Z
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29/ We were on our way to Southern Ontario! We stopped at the most awkward stop on the whole trip, Owen Sound. It featured “futuristic” looking Ivy chargers (that means made of plastic, with slightly bulbous ports and lots of Blinky Lights) but it was in a weird, isolated motel parking lot, on a hill, in a cramped little back corner of a crumbling parking lot with essentially nothing around. Really odd choices. Dropped off the fam elsewhere. (47KW 50m 19%-80%). Next “CWood”!#EVCrossCanada
(DIR) Post #ARYUPZyuEw4xiJnyk4 by chrisale@mstdn.ca
2023-01-11T18:08:12Z
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30/ If you’re wondering, by now we had spent about $368 in electricity to come 5200km. Our final stop of the day was in Collingwood. There was a Flo fast charge with L2 charger beside it so we charged fast until the car stopped at 92% (45KW 38m 64%-92%) and then topped up to 100% (twice in one day!) with the L2 (8KW 28m 92-100%). A quite efficient stop! Had to pay for parking though, which was kind of uncool when you’re already charging IMO, and a rarity. #EVCrossCanada
(DIR) Post #ARYUPcwtCtFSuvsuW0 by chrisale@mstdn.ca
2023-01-11T18:22:02Z
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31/ Phew! All caught up and reconnected to the first part of the thread. I deleted the disjointed parts so my apologies if you had liked/boosted them. Onward! Uhoh! Hood’s up!? What’s up? Headlight out. After charging on our first “down day” (FLO 45KW 25m 43-60%) ie. sleeping in and doing only what we wanted. I changed a lightbulb. I chose not to charge while changing it. A few too many electrons nearby for my liking! Then, we went places and drove through an almost-tornado. #EVCrossCanada
(DIR) Post #ARYUPhF7F4CkEcRWTo by chrisale@mstdn.ca
2023-01-11T19:39:13Z
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32/ You know what we learned about EVs while in Southern Ontario? EVs are cars. They get stuck in 6 lanes of traffic AND you can still forget your keys at the hotel and not realize until your next charging stop! So we charged at this Electrify Canada (which is only in BC and ON) at an outlet mall near Toronto twice with a (high-speed) 200km return trip in between! (84KW 31m 34%-78% and 38m 27-81%) Instead of taking advantage of the extremely fast charge, we lost 1.5hrs. Big Sad!😆 #EVCrossCanada
(DIR) Post #ARYUPjZOadcBS5wkMq by chrisale@mstdn.ca
2023-01-11T19:52:27Z
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33/ On the way to Ottawa we charged in Peterborough but I have absolutely no recollection, nor any pictures, only stats (Ivy 45KW 35m 30-80%)… ooooh. It’s coming back to me now that I’m looking at a Google Map. It was beside a Timmy’s and we parked across a bunch of spots with the trailer because there was nowhere to easily drop the trailer without causing a traffic jam and the charger was right beside the drive-thru exit. Chargers near food: Good In a tight parking lot: Bad. #EVCrossCanada
(DIR) Post #ARYUPlT5X3l3L70joW by chrisale@mstdn.ca
2023-01-11T20:07:58Z
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34/ Last before Ottawa was Carleton Place — just another pit stop on the Trans Canada (Hwy7) but at least this one had plenty of room. (Ivy 48KW 39m 15-59%). Only had to get as far as the campground as it had a 120V plug and Ottawa had a big bank of EC chargers (84KW 39m 23-79%) we used a few times cuz it was near Laundry! And hey, it was a Kona party! 3 Konas charging at the same time :) We left a couple days later at 99%. Yay old 120V plug!Hint: Put chargers near laundromats #EVCrossCanada
(DIR) Post #ARYUPnNqPWkfHQZZuy by chrisale@mstdn.ca
2023-01-11T20:29:45Z
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35/ Next big travel day was Ottawa-Fredericton! This meant 3 charges through Quebec (inc doing a U-Turn in Montreal weee) and a new network called “Electric Circuit” by Hydro Quebec (HQ). Excellent, many fast chargers, well placed. A lot of EV drivers in QC! I helped one shy lady who was terrified she’d run out of juice between Montreal and Q City. She was stunned we were from BC! Highway rest-stops in QC are amazing!(HQ 83KW 27m 45-80%)(HQ 73KW 40m 22-81%)(HQ 48KW 42m 37-80%)#EVCrossCanada
(DIR) Post #ARYUPp91ra5ak3em6S by chrisale@mstdn.ca
2023-01-11T20:47:06Z
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36/ We had only planned one stop in New Brunswick before getting to Fredericton, but sometimes you make a plan and it doesn’t work out. Like when you pull up to the *only charger in all of Canada that was at a legit traditional Irving “Truck Stop”… and the restaurant is closed due to lack of staff! So we unplugged (FLO 33KW 15m 15-23%) and went down the road to one with a Subway… and a friend! (FLO 45KW 59m 12-70%)#EVCrossCanada
(DIR) Post #ARYUPr1erxNiZmDutM by chrisale@mstdn.ca
2023-01-11T20:58:55Z
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37/ Rolled in late, as usual. Didn’t get to see much of Fredericton except for this slightly sketchy lot… but it worked and that’s all that mattered. (49KW 59m 15-81%) NB chargers were just FLO, so it was nice and easy. Always reliable. Used one in Sussex the next day too beside a Shoppers Drug Mart. (FLO 48KW 28m 44-73%) Notice we’re running the battery down more now because we’re more comfortable gauging distance and only charging what we need. This speeds everything up. #EVCrossCanada
(DIR) Post #ARYUPsocDQ8Y7u8Wq8 by chrisale@mstdn.ca
2023-01-11T21:10:18Z
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38/ One last charge in a giant shopping mall parking lot in Moncton (FLO 37KW 57m 24-80%) and it was across the Confederation Bridge and onto Prince Edward Island! We made it! No 120V plug at this campsite, but we traded that for an amazing beachfront view!! The next morning we caught a small charge at an L2 courtesy of Parks Canada and Anne of Green Gables (8KW 35m 38-50%). We spent a few days wandering around PEI. It was pretty great. No trailer needed, so a little extra range.#EVCrossCanada
(DIR) Post #ARYUPue3PesRnjD7ei by chrisale@mstdn.ca
2023-01-11T21:23:48Z
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39/ That’s as far East as we went in #EVCrossCanada. We explored a good chunk of PEI and even got to charge using only the power of the wind at the lighthouse on the north tip! (7KW 33m 40-50%) It’s a shame there wasn’t one at the south tip as well because it definitely had wind! PEI was pretty good for chargers. Nothing is very far, so there were enough fast chargers (all Flo) to go around.
(DIR) Post #ARYUPwM33Zf96Snlrs by chrisale@mstdn.ca
2023-01-11T21:48:08Z
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40/ I’ll leave it there for today. To the campground in PEI our stats from BC were:8629km driven1739kWh charged4d 11hr charging341kg CO2 emitted (mostly AB/SK/NB)$565 spentOh and about 7 National Parks! We have an amazing country.Tomorrow I’ll tell you about the way back. It won’t be this long. But… we do have stories :)Note: These pictures are not of the same beach, truly coast to coast. :)#EVCrossCanada #LongBeach #Cavendish
(DIR) Post #ARYVo8mOc238XiEGrw by saskboy@mastodon.cc
2023-01-12T04:26:04Z
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@chrisale I recognized the plane. I did a similar vacation and slideshow a few months ago, a few weeks after your longer trip. In same brand of car.https://twitter.com/saskboy/status/1586932764498083842?t=tK9tJqHgem36hIGLan0Csg&s=19
(DIR) Post #ARYZ722z2DcNvhjZMu by chrisale@mstdn.ca
2023-01-12T05:03:04Z
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@saskboy awesome! Great photo log. And lots of familiar places!
(DIR) Post #ARZonqO7x2Nih0SLE8 by chrisale@mstdn.ca
2023-01-12T17:30:27Z
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41/ Let’s continue! #EVCrossCanadaThis thread focuses on the challenges of a family road trip across Canada in an EV pulling a trailer. We are now heading west, homeward. We started July 11 on Vancouver Island, it’s now July 30 and we’re leaving amazing PEI (with its quite adequate EV charging infrastructure!) behind. The goal today: Quebec City. It won’t be without challenge but we’re pretty confident now in our ability to gauge distance, charge, and time.We start of course, at sunrise.
(DIR) Post #ARZons3zirSvt93I7k by chrisale@mstdn.ca
2023-01-12T18:02:12Z
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42/ With no power at the campsite in Cavendish, we couldn’t top up overnight. We had done plenty of sightseeing so the car was at 50%. Not quite enough to get to the nearest off-Island charger in Shediac NB 80km away. Nearest fast charger was 40km away in Borden (at the bridge) so we could charge on the way in the morning but we would rather get more km in, so I went to Borden (a perfect charging location btw) before bed (FLO 45KW 42m 35%-80%) and back. We left with 72%, enough. #EVCrossCanada
(DIR) Post #ARZonu1aQmjByFwOeG by chrisale@mstdn.ca
2023-01-12T18:10:34Z
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43/ Shediac was cool. It’s got the biggest lobster in Canada, so how could it not be cool? Charger was right downtown and well placed in a parking lot. Near a park with public bathrooms! Reminded me of Hope, but earlier in the morning and better. (Flo 45kw 30m 25-80%). Were it not for some major road/bridge construction we would have been able to properly explore while charging but as it turned out we visited the giant lobster after charging, which set us back on time a little. #EVCrossCanada
(DIR) Post #ARZonvnposurUBWRUW by chrisale@mstdn.ca
2023-01-12T18:25:49Z
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44/ Now let's get to the drama of the day! We have family around Miramichi, NB so we made a point of heading north along the coast to that town. The charger was in a HUGE, hot, mall parking lot.. with nothing else around. Yuck. There was only one fast and one L2 port. The fast was busy. So we used the L2 first (FLO 7KW 22m 28-35%). I waited at the car so I could plug the fast plug in as soon as the other person returned. #EVCrossCanada
(DIR) Post #ARZonx9qmW7XgkpXRg by chrisale@mstdn.ca
2023-01-12T18:29:15Z
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45/ When the (Quebecois) lady finally returned she had a story about a recent time at a charger in Quebec when she had plugged in, she left while it charged, and when she came back someone had UNPLUGGED her car BEFORE it was done and plugged in theirs! Apparently they didn’t even apologize, they just finished their charge and left. RUDE! So… I’m sure that’ll be a thing when we are all driving EVs. 😬 #EVCrossCanada
(DIR) Post #ARZonyXzcF1hzv8KiO by chrisale@mstdn.ca
2023-01-12T18:36:43Z
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46/ It turned out there was quite a lineup at this charger. While we were charging another Quebec couple pulled up and waited for us. Unfortunately we needed every electron we could to make it across the Province to Grand Falls (the Irving truck stop!) and the Trans Canada! The car stopped charging at 93%. Should be enough. (FLO 45KW 1h 14m 35-93%). We spent almost two hours at this stop. That’s a lot. Mainly because there was only one fast port. #EVCrossCanada
(DIR) Post #ARZonykkqnEcdV6Wbg by chrisale@mstdn.ca
2023-01-12T19:24:10Z
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46/ Next up… the famous (in New Brunswick anyway) Plaster Rock road. A 150km stretch of rough pavement and gravel connecting the coast to the interior. 213km between EV chargers. After visiting family and seeing their old cabin on the Miramichi, we struck out. No cell service and no electricity was a little intimidating but no trouble. We rolled into the same Irving Station truck stop in Grand Falls, and this time the restaurant was open! (43KW 1h 4m 24-81%) #EVCrossCanada
(DIR) Post #ARZp2DKNSXnZtOYQaG by Crispius@mstdn.ca
2023-01-12T00:55:43Z
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@chrisale really enjoying this thread, thank you!We’re going to take delivery of our second EV (Volkswagen ID.4) after having owned our trusty LEAF for the last 3 years. Looking forward to making some longer trips (maybe even cross-country) in the future.
(DIR) Post #ARZp2Do9fpcNNkUCzw by chrisale@mstdn.ca
2023-01-12T02:58:33Z
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@Crispius awesome! Glad you’re enjoying it. It’s a pretty big jump in capabilities I think from the first/second gen LEAF and like cars to now. Things are changing and the cars are improving very fast!
(DIR) Post #ARZp2EIdqU0KuIkYW8 by Crispius@mstdn.ca
2023-01-12T14:12:18Z
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@chrisale the LEAF has been an amazing car, for the purpose that I bought it for: as a commuter/grocery getter—even in the harsh winters conditions of northern BC. I’m excited for the capability to shift an even greater amount of our travel to electric with the extended range of the new wheels.
(DIR) Post #ARZp2EjEFdGuElBmxU by Yup_Its_Holly@mstdn.ca
2023-01-12T15:26:05Z
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@Crispius @chrisale I’m so glad to hear this. I want my next car to be an EV, but the sales people at the Toyota dealership are trying to talk me out of it. They say that a hybrid would be better bc of winter. I don’t commute and only use my car for groceries and as a dog Uber. I think they may be fos.
(DIR) Post #ARZp2FGCH3dvt0c7LU by saskboy@mastodon.cc
2023-01-12T19:36:12Z
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@Yup_Its_Holly Toyota is going out of business this decade, don't listen to their bad advice. Most people can function on a fully electric vehicle, then you don't need oil changes and more components in your car to break.
(DIR) Post #ARZpC35aNgPz2AKEDY by chrisale@mstdn.ca
2023-01-12T15:28:57Z
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@Crispius @Yup_Its_Holly don’t listen to them! I am a long time Toyota owner, our Prius C is now our second car (240k), but they are only saying this because Toyota has inexplicably failed to move into the EV space. For a company that was a pioneer with batteries and hybrids and makes excellent cars, I think it will be seen in time as one of the greatest blunders in Toyota’s history.
(DIR) Post #ARZpC3XwgF6SS7asQC by TheBierFrau@mstdn.ca
2023-01-12T15:34:24Z
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@chrisale @Crispius @Yup_Its_Holly it's because they bet hard on hydrogen, which has some merit, but public opinion went toward EVs.
(DIR) Post #ARZpC3yB6i5RlTrpJI by saskboy@mastodon.cc
2023-01-12T19:37:59Z
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@TheBierFrau @chrisale @Crispius @Yup_Its_Holly And there are 5 H2 filling stations in Canada today, but already hundreds of thousands of places to plug in EVs.
(DIR) Post #ARZpC67T78hsQsEH4K by chrisale@mstdn.ca
2023-01-12T15:31:47Z
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@Crispius @Yup_Its_Holly and if you really want to challenge their narrative, ask them if their Prius hybrids get worse mileage in the winter because of cold batteries. No? Hmmm. So why the concern on EVs? ;)
(DIR) Post #ARa0mCbJaom4SGblnE by Yup_Its_Holly@mstdn.ca
2023-01-12T21:47:47Z
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@saskboy That’s sad. My Corolla is such a good, dependable car. I was so hoping that Toyota would come out with an EV version as a replacement when it finally dies. ☹️