Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in Ottawa-Gatineau

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by Truenorth00

Where exactly is that?

I assume it’s the one at the Canadian Tre that I took a picture of a couple weeks ago. It sure went up fast.

[Truenorth00]

Originally Posted by roger1818

I assume it’s the one at the Canadian Tre that I took a picture of a couple weeks ago. It sure went up fast.

Tesla is buying chargers at Canadian Tire too? What is wrong with these people?

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by Truenorth00

Tesla is buying chargers at Canadian Tire too? What is wrong with these people?

That was indicated in this map I posted earlier. At least this location is adjacent to a Tim Hortons and across the street from a McDonald’s.

Originally Posted by roger1818

A map of Canadian electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and the Canadian Tire charging network Canadian Tire

[le calmar]

I get that it is hard to be excited over a charger located in a Canadian Tire parking lot, but this is not your typical suburban CT located in the middle of nowhere. There is a lot of amenities located within 3 min walk of this location.

[CanadaGoose]

It takes a massive load of work to get these charging stations built.

Gotta find the land, gotta contact the owners, make sure local hydro is on board, hire contractors, etc, etc.

I assume its easier for Tesla to call a corporately owned nation wide brand and make a deal to expand their locations fast. Canadian Tire seems like a great fit because they have nationwide coverage.

They did it with Cadillac Fairview. Majority (if not all) CF properties have FLO and/or Tesla super chargers.

Also a small note:
- Tesla cars are able to charge up to 250KW and are able to charge from empty to 80% in about 30 mins.
- I assume people will be on the property only to charge for 15 min or so.
- A lot of other electric cars still only support up to 50KW or 100KW.

[Catenary]

Originally Posted by le calmar

I get that it is hard to be excited over a charger located in a Canadian Tire parking lot, but this is not your typical suburban CT located in the middle of nowhere. There is a lot of amenities located within 3 min walk of this location.

There are only a couple of Superchargers on CT's list, and I'm guessing they're all in places where Tesla saw them as good fits. North Bay and Deep River both got theirs almost a year ago. Deep River doesn't have much to start with, but it's right off the highway, next to the CT gas bar and a short walk from the Tims. North Bay is a couple off of highways 11 and 17 where they split, but in an area with a number of traveler amenities, including a nearby Wendy's, Tim's, shopping and hotels.

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by Truenorth00

Could be a km away and it'd be kinda pointless. No fast charger station is going to have the same amenities as an OnRoute. There's a lot to be said for a facility that is right off the highway, has everything you need and is publicly accessible.

What must have amenities are you talking about? Most of Petro Canada's "Electric Highway" locations have both a convenience store and an A&W attached, and are near many other amenities.

If you are going up to the cottage, why would you need a fast charger? You park the car when you get there and plug in.

If it is far enough away that you can't get there on one charge. I agree that becomes less of an issue if you have a longer range car.

Got to love it how cherry picked the weakest of my examples and completely ignored the ones that you have no defence against.

You could also give them the same advice you give those who live in condos:

Do you mean your advice that en-route you make a 2 hours stop for groceries using a level 2 charger?

One could argue that PHEVs are perfect for such cases. As opposed to prioritizing infrastructure dollars on marginal cases.

It is a temporary solution to buy time for the infrastructure to be built.

Effectively, this is about where a ton of apartment and condo dwellers are in Canada.

I would argue that most people, who own cars, in apartment and condos have access to off street parking. There are few older communities where the homes were built before people owned cars and thus don't have driveways or parking lots (forcing everyone to park on the street), but that isn't as common here as it is in Europe.

I get the feeling that you are so consumed with your own issues that you refuse to admit that anyone could have it worse than you.

I am saying that we won't see 30% of apartments and condos having a charging capability on site by 2030.

Why 30%? That is the projected rate of new car sales. The number of ZEVs on the road will be much lower (I would guess under 10%).

The parking spot is deeded when you buy a condo. It's not a pooled asset. So it would be very difficult for most condos to do something like this.

I realize that. That is why it would require new legislation.

Also, keep in mind that most buildings have residents park in an underground garage while visitors park in an outside lot.

Yes, though I am not sure how having outdoor visitor parking prevents you from installing charging systems underground.

I would suggest this is part of why you don't really understand the obstacles that condo and apartment dwellers face. And why it's easy to be dismissive of them.

I am not "dismissive of them." I just don't believe you when you say that condos can't have EV charging so we need to have them charge elsewhere. I'm not saying it will be easy, but we have time.

This is not a small matter either. Nearly a quarter of the country stays in some kind of multi-unit dwelling. No substantive solution means that your effective market for EVs is 75% of the population. The condo boom could make these numbers worse.

I agree. That is why it is important to work towards a solution. I am trying to help you, but it seems like you don't want help but instead just want a forum to vent.

Bought the condo 13 years ago. At the time, plugins of any kind weren't anything more than an exotic fascination. I bought a new car in 2013. At the time, again plug-ins were still expensive. And there was no real guidance on installing chargers at condos. I inquired and even had some preliminary discussions with several board members. Nobody was really opposed. They just didn't want to have the board incur costs for something that would benefit one resident.

That is certainly understandable. It wouldn't be reasonable to expect your neighbours to pay for something that only benefits you. Back then it also wasn't clear what the future of EVs would be.

At last year's board meeting, it was brought up again. And the condo management company mentioned that they are drawing up a plan with options and costs. That won't be presented till this Fall. And who knows what will be supported.

Keep us updated. That sounds very promising and more inline with what I have been hearing from other condo owners.

That stat is pretty misleading. I think a lot of that includes fleets and company sponsored vehicles. But more to the point, the average length of new car ownership being 3 years has no bearing on what the fleet mix in a condo would be.

That is quite possible. Regardless, many people who buy new cars replace them before they reach the end of their useful life.

Exactly. This is history. And irrelevant at this point. But let's say you weren't able to travel cross-country, would this really be relevant to EV adoption at all? Is not being able to drive cross-country really going to be barrier to buying an EV for most people?

Maybe not driving across Canada, but my point is if you have a country with double the population an 1/40 the land area, it will be much easier to build out infrastructure and get better EV adoption.

IMHO, Norway is the country we should be looking at. Their climate is closer to ours, as is their population density (though it is still denser), yet per capita, they have by far the best EV sales in the world. In the first half of 2020, 48% of cars sold were BEVs and 68% have a plug (so BEVs and PHEVs but not HEVs or ICEVs) and as of April 2020, 10% of their vehicles on the road are electric. Oh, and, like Canada, they are an oil producing nation.

[CanadaGoose]

Should also note if you go into Montreal, they have EV chargers on the municipal roads (just on the side of the street), municipal parks and etc.

Here’s an old article:
https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/montreal-unveils-electric-car-charging-network

That could be what condo and apartment dwellers need in urban areas.
Charge 1.50 hour on top of the regular parking rates.

Consider maybe building them when the city plans to rip out a street like Rideau or Elgin (again), assuming that subsidies for the city are available to use.

[Truenorth00]

Originally Posted by roger1818

What must have amenities are you talking about? Most of Petro Canada's "Electric Highway" locations have both a convenience store and an A&W attached, and are near many other amenities.

Still doesn't compare to the consistency provided by the OnRoutes at every location. And again, the expressways are there for a reason. The government intends for you to drive on them and not clog up local or thru roads all over the place. What you are suggesting here is not scalable beyond any reasonable level of EV adoption. Just imagine 10% of the traffic from 401 diverting to Hwy 7. What do you think would happen to Hwy 7?

That said, kudos to PetroCanada. It's the closest thing that comes to being a reasonable substitute. Charge speed are high. Rates are reasonable. Maybe they should be asked to service cottage country.

Originally Posted by roger1818

Do you mean your advice that en-route you make a 2 hours stop for groceries using a level 2 charger?

Where did I ever suggest a Level 2 charger be used en route?

Originally Posted by roger1818

If it is far enough away that you can't get there on one charge. I agree that becomes less of an issue if you have a longer range car.

Got to love it how cherry picked the weakest of my examples and completely ignored the ones that you have no defence against. [

Originally Posted by roger1818

It is a temporary solution to buy time for the infrastructure to be built.

Indeed. So let them get PHEVs to get up to their occasionally used cottages while taxpayer dollars are focused on maximum utility by ensuring maximum charging access along the most travelled routes and near/at most of the public's homes and workplaces.

Originally Posted by roger1818

I get the feeling that you are so consumed with your own issues that you refuse to admit that anyone could have it worse than you.

And I get the feeling that since you got your EV and live in a house, you have zero sympathy for anybody else's issues. The very fact that you think somebody going to a cottage should be given the same attention/priority as the challenges we have with multi-unit dwellings for people who would use their car daily, says it all.

Originally Posted by roger1818

I am not "dismissive of them."

You say that. And follow up with this:

Originally Posted by roger1818

I just don't believe you when you say that condos can't have EV charging so we need to have them charge elsewhere.

Seriously?

Originally Posted by roger1818

Yes, though I am not sure how having outdoor visitor parking prevents you from installing charging systems underground.

Have you ever looked at the cost of wiring up an underground parking structure?

Originally Posted by roger1818

I agree. That is why it is important to work towards a solution. I am trying to help you, but it seems like you don't want help but instead just want a forum to vent.

There's really not much help to be had here. I appreciate that you're suggesting some resources. But for most of us, it really comes down to what the board does. Not everybody is willing to become a full time EV advocate. Maybe if I was retired....

Originally Posted by roger1818

Keep us updated. That sounds very promising and more inline with what I have been hearing from other condo owners.

There's not too many boards that have substantial opposition that I've heard of. Rather the issue is cost and allocation of said cost. This is where incentives and also support from utilities could help a lot. The frustration here is that new buildings have clear guidance, right from construction. Older buildings rely far too much on legislation that still puts a very heavy burden on whomever is the first EV buyer in the building. Incidentally we have a Tesla owner in the building. He charges at work though.

Originally Posted by roger1818

Maybe not driving across Canada, but my point is if you have a country with double the population an 1/40 the land area, it will be much easier to build out infrastructure and get better EV adoption.

This is like the argument that cellphone plans in Canada are expensive because we're a big country. It's really misleading. The bulk of the population stays in a handful of corridors. Cover those and you cover most of the population. This is as true for cars as it is for mobile devices. By definition, travel outside those areas are edge cases. Most people will never drive cross-country in their lifetimes. EV or otherwise. For those edge cases where travel outside the covered areas is a priority, they should be the last to convert to BEVs. Or should be encourage to use PHEVs in the interim. Or heck, just rent a gas car for that trip. You don't target edge cases before the bulk of the problem.

Originally Posted by roger1818

IMHO, Norway is the country we should be looking at. Their climate is closer to ours, as is their population density (though it is still denser), yet per capita, they have by far the best EV sales in the world.

You really should look at Norway. Unlike Canada, they didn't prioritize vacation or northern travel, ahead of building out their urban and suburban charging networks. They were heavily focused on making charging possible for urban and suburban residents as part of routine activities early on. They even had free charging in some cities. The Oslo metro area has a population that is only slightly larger than Ottawa-Gatineau. It has 1300 public chargers. Nobody staying in a flat has to worry about not having access to a charger.

[Truenorth00]

Originally Posted by CyrusKafaiwu

Should also note if you go into Montreal, they have EV chargers on the municipal roads (just on the side of the street), municipal parks and etc.
...
Consider maybe building them when the city plans to rip out a street like Rideau or Elgin (again), assuming that subsidies for the city are available to use.

I'd go one better. Have Hydro Ottawa get into the business of charging using street lamps:

• Video Link

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by Truenorth00

I'd go one better. Have Hydro Ottawa get into the business of charging using street lamps:

• Video Link

While that can work in certain circumstances, it is by no means a magic bullet. It would only work where the lamp post is close to the curb and between intersections. Many lamp posts are set back from the road and having a charging cord running across the sidewall would be a tripping hazard. Also, many lamp posts are near intersections and it isn't safe (or legal) to park close to them (you can't "park within nine metres of an intersection or within 15 metres if it is controlled by traffic lights").

You also have to consider the structural integrity of the lamp post and will it be significantly weakened by drilling a new hole in it (the existing holes are reinforced). Its hard to tell, but it looks like the lamp posts in the video are straight with the lamp directly above the post's centre of gravity. Ours are usually cantilevered to allow the lamp to be above the road. That adds stress to the pole. Once again, there are exceptions.

In many older neighbourhoods, the lamps are attached to the existing hydro poles, which means there is no electricity at ground level. You could run wires down the pole, but that could be done at any pole (assuming it meets the conditions above).

One other thing you will notice is they are having the user provide their own charging cable that has a "Type 2" EV connector on the supply end. It is quite common in Europe for both public and home AC charging points to be "tetherless" and require you to provide your own cable (they standardized on the Type 2 connector on the supply end as it allows for both single and three phase charging). As a result, most vehicles come with a charging cable that will adapt this to the type needed (Type 1, Type 2 or Tesla) in addition to the "Granny Lead" (similar to what vehicles here come with, but for 240V).

[Truenorth00]

It's not a perfect solution. But it can scale quickly. And any utility could simply implement it as part of their normal infrastructure renewal cycle.

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by Truenorth00

Still doesn't compare to the consistency provided by the OnRoutes at every location.

I don't disagree. The point is we already have parallel infrastructure.

And again, the expressways are there for a reason. The government intends for you to drive on them and not clog up local or thru roads all over the place. What you are suggesting here is not scalable beyond any reasonable level of EV adoption. Just imagine 10% of the traffic from 401 diverting to Hwy 7. What do you think would happen to Hwy 7?

That is a valid point. Given that the 407 has been extended to the 115, which is a 4 lane highway to Hwy 7, I figure it is a matter of time until it is extended to Carleton Place.

My hope is HFR can take some of the strain off of the highways, but that my be a pipe dream.

That said, kudos to PetroCanada. It's the closest thing that comes to being a reasonable substitute. Charge speed are high. Rates are reasonable. Maybe they should be asked to service cottage country.

I have already requested that they add DCFCs to their Sharbot Lake location. By no means optimal, but the best location Petro-Canada has on Hwy 7. Kaladar would be better and there is a Shell (with attached Subway) at the intersection with Hwy 41.

And I get the feeling that since you got your EV and live in a house, you have zero sympathy for anybody else's issues.

I am sorry you feel that way. It isn't how I feel.

The very fact that you think somebody going to a cottage should be given the same attention/priority as the challenges we have with multi-unit dwellings for people who would use their car daily, says it all.

I was strictly relaying what I heard from someone once. The fact that cottage was only one of several examples I listed yet you completely ignored the others says a lot to me.

You say that. And follow up with this:

Seriously?

I was just paraphrasing what you are saying. I don't agree with you. Unlike you, I believe condos can and should have EV charging facilities.

Have you ever looked at the cost of wiring up an underground parking structure?

It is expensive, I know. But what does that have to do with outdoor visitor parking?

There's really not much help to be had here. I appreciate that you're suggesting some resources. But for most of us, it really comes down to what the board does. Not everybody is willing to become a full time EV advocate. Maybe if I was retired....

So all you want to do is complain?

There's not too many boards that have substantial opposition that I've heard of. Rather the issue is cost and allocation of said cost. This is where incentives and also support from utilities could help a lot.

But when I said there was funding for condo boards, you said:

Originally Posted by Truenorth00

Subsidies are pointless without an effective method to access them. That's my point. It's great that there are subsidies for buildings. But that is entirely irrelevant if the vast, vast, vast majority of apartment building managers and condo boards perceive the installation of EV charging as a hassle.

So which is it? Are the boards supportive but concerned about cost or are they not interested in funding because EV charging as a hassle?

The frustration here is that new buildings have clear guidance, right from construction. Older buildings rely far too much on legislation that still puts a very heavy burden on whomever is the first EV buyer in the building.

That is always an issue when comparing new buildings with old ones. There are many things that are easier to add during construction than add after the fact.

Incidentally we have a Tesla owner in the building. He charges at work though.

That can't hurt.

This is like the argument that cellphone plans in Canada are expensive because we're a big country. It's really misleading. The bulk of the population stays in a handful of corridors. Cover those and you cover most of the population. This is as true for cars as it is for mobile devices. By definition, travel outside those areas are edge cases. Most people will never drive cross-country in their lifetimes. EV or otherwise. For those edge cases where travel outside the covered areas is a priority, they should be the last to convert to BEVs. Or should be encourage to use PHEVs in the interim. Or heck, just rent a gas car for that trip. You don't target edge cases before the bulk of the problem.

While I agree with you about the remote areas, even in our big cities, the population density is lower than much of the rest of the world.

You really should look at Norway. Unlike Canada, they didn't prioritize vacation or northern travel, ahead of building out their urban and suburban charging networks. They were heavily focused on making charging possible for urban and suburban residents as part of routine activities early on.

As did we. There is plenty of charging along the 400 and 401. If you have a look at PlugShare, Norway has CCS DCFCs all the way up to Hammerfest.

They even had free charging in some cities.

In general I am opposed to offering free charging unless you have enough charging points to ensure those who need one can find one. People are attracted to free things and will take it even if they don't need it.

The Oslo metro area has a population that is only slightly larger than Ottawa-Gatineau. It has 1300 public chargers. Nobody staying in a flat has to worry about not having access to a charger.

I agree that their infrastructure is great, but if you read the article, it is about how they are now charging a fee to ensure charging points are available for those who need them. Even with "1300 public chargers" they were having availability problems before they started charging the fee.

The problem here in Ottawa is the city seems stuck on the idea installing expensive DCFCs at a few locations rather than spending the same amount of money and getting many AC charging stations across the city.

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by Truenorth00

It's not a perfect solution. But it can scale quickly. And any utility could simply implement it as part of their normal infrastructure renewal cycle.

Agreed. If it weren't for the fact that I am opposed to Elgin having on street parking, it would be a perfect candidate for this.

[Truenorth00]

Originally Posted by roger1818

That is a valid point. Given that the 407 has been extended to the 115, which is a 4 lane highway to Hwy 7, I figure it is a matter of time until it is extended to Carleton Place.

My hope is HFR can take some of the strain off of the highways, but that my be a pipe dream.

All HFR can really do is forestall highway expansion for a long time. The current level of traffic alone is substantial enough that diverting anything but a single digit percentage to a parallel route would have a massive (mostly negative impact) on parallel routes and the communities along them. It's not scalable. What you are suggesting for Hwy 7 would probably be horrifying to most of the communities en route if say 10% of the 401's current traffic became EV drivers who move to Hwy 7 instead.

Originally Posted by roger1818

I am sorry you feel that way. It isn't how I feel.
...
So all you want to do is complain?

I can understand why you think this. But mostly what I want is a shared understanding of the frustration everyone dwelling in a multi-unit residence has on the topic.

Originally Posted by roger1818

I was just paraphrasing what you are saying. I don't agree with you. Unlike you, I believe condos can and should have EV charging facilities.

Like we've discussed before, it comes down to timeline. At the current rate I don't think even a significant plurality of buildings will have charging facilities. Because the entire policy framework is largely designed to target homedwellers substantially.

Originally Posted by roger1818

It is expensive, I know. But what does that have to do with outdoor visitor parking?

You suggested providing charging underground. That cost is a big part of why it's not as feasible.

Originally Posted by roger1818

So which is it? Are the boards supportive but concerned about cost or are they not interested in funding because EV charging as a hassle?

Both? Boards are made up of residents who volunteer their time. They aren't specialists or managers. Most are generally supportive if another resident comes to them with an idea. They just aren't all that motivated if the process is bureaucratic or the end result incurs substantial cost to residents. And that last one can have some big disagreements on residents. You can have the odd tightwad who will argue against anything that raises condo fees by a dollar. But the impact is huge. A charging unit installed at at a building enables dozens or hundreds to buy EVs.

Originally Posted by roger1818

That can't hurt.

And that's about the only EV use you'll see in condos if there's no other way to charge....

Originally Posted by roger1818

While I agree with you about the remote areas, even in our big cities, the population density is lower than much of the rest of the world.

And our car use is higher. So the infrastructure question is much, much more relevant. If I lived in Europe, I wouldn't care much about EVs at all, because the probability of the public transport system meeting > 90% of my mobility needs would be damn high in any urban centre.

Originally Posted by roger1818

In general I am opposed to offering free charging unless you have enough charging points to ensure those who need one can find one. People are attracted to free things and will take it even if they don't need it.

I agree. And that is also why I would argue from a shift away from subsidizing the vehicles to subsidizing the infrastructure. That would be a substantially better deployment of capital. Use the money to enable users rather than paying them off. The same $10k that they might spend on giving two new car buyers an EV subsidy could be spent on my condo setting up a proper charging station enabling any of the 150 vehicle owners we have to go electric. And the probability that more than two of them can overcome the $5k gap would be pretty high.

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by Truenorth00

All HFR can really do is forestall highway expansion for a long time. The current level of traffic alone is substantial enough that diverting anything but a single digit percentage to a parallel route would have a massive (mostly negative impact) on parallel routes and the communities along them. It's not scalable. What you are suggesting for Hwy 7 would probably be horrifying to most of the communities en route if say 10% of the 401's current traffic became EV drivers who move to Hwy 7 instead.

Which communities along Hwy 7 would be horrified by this theoretical 10% increase in traffic? There aren't that many along the route and it bypasses the core of most if not all of them. In fact, most depend on the "tourism" (for lack of a better word) from those driving through since a certain percentage will stop to buy things.

I am curious how you got the 10% number anyway? The majority of vehicles on the 401 are going to/from Montreal, not to mention cities along the 401 and places east of Montreal. If you consider that maybe 20% (at most) of its traffic is going to/from Ottawa and by 2030, less than 10% of Ottawa's vehicles on the road will be electric, we are looking at maybe 2% of the 401's traffic switching (assuming all EVs switch to using Hwy 7 instead). Maybe by 2040 you will get to that 10% number, but that is 20 years from now and a lot can happen between now and then.

I can understand why you think this. But mostly what I want is a shared understanding of the frustration everyone dwelling in a multi-unit residence has on the topic.

I understand it is frustrating.

Like we've discussed before, it comes down to timeline. At the current rate I don't think even a significant plurality of buildings will have charging facilities. Because the entire policy framework is largely designed to target homedwellers substantially.

From a government policy perspective, I am trying to understand how they are discriminating against condo owners. Sure they could do more to help condo owners since they are inherently at a disadvantage, but I can't think of any current policies that specifically target those who own a standalone home (which is what I assume you mean by a homedweller) in Ontario, but there are policies that help condo owners. Are they enough? Probably not, but you have to start somewhere.

You suggested providing charging underground. That cost is a big part of why it's not as feasible.
...

But the impact is huge. A charging unit installed at at a building enables dozens or hundreds to buy EVs.
...

The same $10k that they might spend on giving two new car buyers an EV subsidy could be spent on my condo setting up a proper charging station enabling any of the 150 vehicle owners we have to go electric. And the probability that more than two of them can overcome the $5k gap would be pretty high.

But I thought you said that due to a lack of parking, it wouldn't be feasible to reserve common spaces for owners to charge? While you could maybe do it for 1 or 2 visitor parking spots (could be useful for some visitors in the long run), it doesn't scale well. You are also delaying the inevitable of having to install charging in the underground parking.

And our car use is higher. So the infrastructure question is much, much more relevant. If I lived in Europe, I wouldn't care much about EVs at all, because the probability of the public transport system meeting > 90% of my mobility needs would be damn high in any urban centre.

Yet a large number of people in Europe still own cars. There is a lot of history to explain why we are where we are, but that is beyond the scope of this thread.

I agree. And that is also why I would argue from a shift away from subsidizing the vehicles to subsidizing the infrastructure. That would be a substantially better deployment of capital. Use the money to enable users rather than paying them off.

I tend to agree. The subsidized car will likely only last for about 10 years. Most of the charging infrastructure will last the life of the building.

As BEVs approach cost parity with ICEVs, the need for vehicle subsides will wane and hopefully the government will ween us from them.

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by Tesladom

i haven't been traveling much these days. Perth one is open (or opening soon)

I happened to be in Perth on the weekend and noticed the Tesla Superchargers are now open. There only seemed to be one car using it though (not me, I don't have a Tesla). Truenorth00 would be happy as it is at a grocery store.

It has 8 chargers, 5 backing onto the highway and 3 backing onto the driveway.

[CanadaGoose]

https://ottawa.ca/en/news/calling-all-car-geeks-new-electric-suvs-are-greening-citys-fleet

Calling all car geeks! New electric SUVs are greening up the City’s fleet
August 4, 2020
Feature Stories
Something new is rolling on Ottawa’s streets this summer. The City of Ottawa has acquired its first four fully electric passenger vehicles. Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV) to be precise.



electric passenger vehicle
These SUVs are part of our Municipal Green Fleet Plan.

For 20 years we’ve been exploring new and innovative ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from City vehicles. We’ve looked at anti-idling devices, various hybrid vehicles and vehicles that run on alternative fuels such as propane and ethanol blends, testing them and using them where it makes sense.

Not all electric vehicles are up to the task of performing day-to-day City work on Ottawa roads. Range, durability, storage space and road clearance for winter driving all have to be considered, as well as the cost and impact on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

electric vehicle engine
Introducing the 2020 Hyundai Kona sub-compact sport utility vehicle. Car geeks everywhere can appreciate the following:

201 Horsepower Rating
Vehicle range of up to 415 kms from a full, overnight charge
Specially designed wheels increase aerodynamics and lower power usage
Notice there are no holes in the front fascia. Electric vehicles don’t need a radiator, so they don’t need a grill
There is a small port on the driver’s side where the charging cable plugs in
The tires on these SUVs are low rolling resistance rubber, which helps to maximize range while driving
Front of an electric vehicle
There is literally tonnes of potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, involving alternative fuels, new battery technology and more. Today, these SUVs will be used for parking enforcement. Tomorrow, who knows?

Learn more about Energy Evolution: Ottawa’s Community Energy Transition Strategy

Looks like we may have some more EV chargers on the road.

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by CyrusKafaiwu

https://ottawa.ca/en/news/calling-all-car-geeks-new-electric-suvs-are-greening-citys-fleet

That’s a good start, but it’s too bad they are only buying 4. Sound like green-washing more than anything. Hopefully once they realize how much money they are saving (and how much staff love driving them), they will buy a lot more.

Looks like we may have some more EV chargers on the road.

If the plan is to charge them overnight (like the article says), they will only buy 4 charge points, and they will likely be reserved for city use.

[Catenary]

Originally Posted by roger1818

That’s a good start, but it’s too bad they are only buying 4. Sound like green-washing more than anything. Hopefully once they realize how much money they are saving (and how much staff love driving them), they will buy a lot more.



If the plan is to charge them overnight (like the article says), they will only buy 4 charge points, and they will likely be reserved for city use.

I'm guessing bylaw has the "greenest" fleet in the city already. They've been buying hybrids for years; Ford Escapes and Fusions, Hyundai Ionics, Toyota Rav4s and Prius Cs. They tend to have small cars in general, so this fits for them.

Their fleet does seem very mixed though, so they probably only get a handful of cars at a time. 4 new cars is likely all they get each year.