Community Forums

radar · 07-17-2021, 05:34 PM

Hi all. This is meant for those of us in BC who are interested in or have already switched to EV tow vehicles. Most of the folks I have talked to who are already towing or are waiting for their vehicles seem to be towing or plan on towing small tear drop type trailers so I'm sure this thread won't have much of an audience here. Most of the conversation seems to be happening on facebook but facebook is not the best place for a reference type database like an RV forum so I'm hoping we can get some of them over here. And this thread is mostly pointed at the BC camper as it involves level 3 infrastructure in the province. Most of the folks going down this road seem to be younger so it might be hard to get them to a forum based public media as opposed to facebook but you never know.

So in the last three weeks 122 new public stations (stalls) have been announced for BC by four separate companies or organizations. All to be completed in the next 18 months. Thats about a 35 percent increase over what we have right now. Fortis, FLO, BC Hydro and Electrify Canada. One of the companies has a habit of constructing trailer friendly stalls (eg pull thru) and another one seems to be heading in that direction from what I can tell from the last few installations we have seen. So that is promising, As well Tesla seems to be coming thru on their intention to double the Supercharger locations from 20 to 40 ish in the province as well so that could be probably another 180 stalls on top of the 240 plus stalls they have now. With Tesla unfortunately usually there is only one or two trailer friendly stalls per location. Meh. We'll take what we can get. Most seem to be towing with model X or model Y Teslas so the increase in Superchargers will be relevant. But Rivian and Ford are also both starting production soon so the non Tesla charge locations are also important as well as the fact that Teslas can also charge at non Tesla charge locations. About 8 of the new Tesla Superchargers are already done or ground has been broken. This one is about 2 blocks from our house and they started yesterday morning. Useless to us as we charge at home but good for those headed into the kootenays from surrounding areas. There are soooo many great camping and hiking spots within an hour or two of here this should open it up a bit for those hauling little trailers or boats behind their EV SUV's. This location will have 16 stalls. 12 will be Tesla only and 4 for the general public with CCS and Chademo plugs. The Tesla connectors will be V3 300 KW stalls. Not sure on the public stalls but if its FLO then probably 150 KW stalls. Tesla is doing the entire install but not providing the equipment for the public sites so no idea what they are.

FLO is one of the companies selecting and constructing trailer friendly locations for their chargers. Hopefully they'll do more locations like this.

Anyway, i hope a few of the early adapters make their way to this forum. Forums are kinda not that popular but there is a good RV knowledge base here. Hopefully we can welcome some new members.

Cheers all and stay safe on the road.

Ray,IN · 07-18-2021, 06:15 PM

Electric vehicles ARE coming, the problem in the states is the lack of generating facilities. Currently the USA has none in the planning stage, with California asking residents to cut back on re-charging EV's and reduce A/C use at home because of lack of generating facilities it's questionable what will actually happen in the near future.

reference: https://www.purdue.edu/discoverypark...fs/History.pdf

radar · 07-18-2021, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray,IN

Electric vehicles ARE coming, the problem in the states is the lack of generating facilities. Currently the USA has none in the planning stage, with CA asking residents to cut back on re-charging EV's and reduce A/C use at home because of lack of generating facilities it's questionable what will actually happen in the near future.

I hear ya. Capacity is not a problem we have up here. But infrastructure is a challenge. Especially in northern BC. But BC hydro is doing a good job of coordinating the various charge chains as well as making progress in covering zone if the more challenging areas. It all takes time but right now it seems progress is being made. The Alcan is probably off limits for a couple or three more years but I’m sure it’ll happen. The gaps are getting smaller.

Cheers.

move on · 07-18-2021, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray,IN

Electric vehicles ARE coming, the problem in the states is the lack of generating facilities. Currently the USA has none in the planning stage, with California asking residents to cut back on re-charging EV's and reduce A/C use at home because of lack of generating facilities it's questionable what will actually happen in the near future.

reference: https://www.purdue.edu/discoverypark...fs/History.pdf

It's not just electricity generation, it's the entire grid that needs to be upgraded and made more reliable. But the real problem is that viable battery technology is not here yet. Batteries are too expensive, too heavy and the materials to make them are too scarce to support widespread EV use. Unless some new unforseen battery breakthrough comes along the EV revolution is destined to fail.

radar · 07-18-2021, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by move on

It's not just electricity generation, it's the entire grid that needs to be upgraded and made more reliable. But the real problem is that viable battery technology is not here yet. Batteries are too expensive, too heavy and the materials to make them are too scarce to support widespread EV use. Unless some new unforseen battery breakthrough comes along the EV revolution is destined to fail.

Meh. Oil was pretty scarce at one time too. Then they started looking for it.

Ray,IN · 07-19-2021, 01:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by move on

It's not just electricity generation, it's the entire grid that needs to be upgraded and made more reliable. But the real problem is that viable battery technology is not here yet. Batteries are too expensive, too heavy and the materials to make them are too scarce to support widespread EV use. Unless some new unforseen battery breakthrough comes along the EV revolution is destined to fail.

Battery technology is advancing rather quickly,
https://www.gridtential.com/
https://webstore.totalbattery.com/category-s/2147.htm