Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in Ottawa-Gatineau

[SidetrackedSue]

Originally Posted by CyrusKafaiwu

PlugShare.

I personally check here (because I am all Marriott rewards):

https://www.marriott.com/corporate-social-responsibility/electric-vehicle-hotels.mi

But, I haven’t taken advantage of the EV Chargers ever.

Thanks. I just got the account setup on my phone as well as web.

We setup an email addy for the car so we both get redirected emails from all the services.

I have Ivy (just because I hope it turns into something...), ChargePoint, PlugShare, Electric Circuit, and ABRP now on my phone. I've ordered a Chargepoint RFID card and it appears that will work on Flo as well.

We pick up the car this afternoon.

We belong to all hotel chains due to being living on the road for 3 - 6 months of the year for decades. Marriott and Hilton are two favourites (but Residence Inn and Homewood Suites because, when you are on the road that much, you like to be able to eat at 'home' instead of out all the time.)

I'll have a look at Plugshare's interface, I haven't tried it for route planning yet.

I noted that there's a charger at the Aviation Museum (and we have a parking pass for there) but it looks like it isn't working right now.

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by CyrusKafaiwu

PlugShare.

Plugshare is a bit hit and miss in terms of finding hotels with EV Charging, since the "Lodging" amenities check box can be used for apartments as well as hotels. It also only indicates that it has lodging nearby, not that it is attached or included (for example, the Terry Fox Park’n Ride is listed as having "Lodging" nearby).

Tripadvisor can also be useful, but their listings aren't complete as they will only add "Electric vehicle charging station" to a hotel's amenities if it is clearly listed as an amenity on the Hotel's website.

Originally Posted by CyrusKafaiwu

I personally check here (because I am all Marriott rewards):

https://www.marriott.com/corporate-social-responsibility/electric-vehicle-hotels.mi

But, I haven’t taken advantage of the EV Chargers ever.

Best Western also seem to be rolling out EV charging at many of their hotels, but they don't seem to have a nice list like that.

[roger1818]

Not specifically related to Ottawa (or even charging) but related to EVs in general. Nice to see good information coming from independent sources.

Can Falling Battery Prices Power EV Breakthrough?

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by Felix Richter, Sep 23, 2020

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Would you consider buying an electric car if it were just as expensive as an equivalent model powered by a traditional internal combustion engine? I’m betting many people would, and so does Tesla CEO Elon Musk. At the company's annual shareholder meeting, fittingly called "Battery Day", Musk announced his company's plans to bring a $25,000 electric car to market within the next three years that would be "on par" or "slightly better than a comparable gasoline car." To achieve that, Tesla counts on its own ability to dramatically cut the costs of battery packs, which are still the main driver behind the relatively high prices for electric vehicles.

According to research conducted by BloombergNEF, the inflation-adjusted average price of battery packs for cars has dropped from $1,160 per kWh in 2010 to just $156 in the past year. How much of a difference does that make to the price of a car, you ask? A big one. Consider the Tesla Model 3 for example: The most popular electric car in the U.S. comes with a battery capacity between 50 and 75 kWh. If you decide on the model with 75 kWh, that car’s battery now costs around $11,700 instead of nearly $90,000 it would have cost ten years ago.

While price is not the only thing keeping people from making the switch to electric cars (range anxiety is another big one), it is still a key concern for many vehicle owners. Should battery prices continue to drop over the next few years, it would go a long way in helping electric vehicles reach broader adoption.

https://www.statista.com/chart/7713/electric-car-battery-prices/

[roger1818]

Updated: Ford and Unifor agree on $2-billion plan to build five EV models in Oakville

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Published on 21 September 2020
AUTHOR Brian Banks

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Ottawa is also providing $500 million for plant upgrades; retooling is scheduled for 2024, EV production to start in 2025

Editor’s Note: Our original story below was published hours before news of a deal on a three-year contract between Ford Canada and Unifor, the union representing Canadian autoworkers, was confirmed. Here are key highlights of the agreement, which workers will vote on Sept. 27:

• Ford has agreed to build five electric vehicles at its Oakville, Ont., factory, the first starting in 2025, the fifth by 2028
• A portion of Ford’s $1.98-billion investment will be spent on its two engine assembly plants in Windsor
• Unifor president Jerry Dias, who has been pushing all the major automakers hard to make EV commitments in Canada, calls the agreement a “home run”

The federal government has told Ford Motor Co. that “it is willing to do what it takes to bring electric vehicle production to Ontario,” according to a story published Sunday by the Toronto Star.

What “it takes” includes an offer to invest up to $500 million to finance a switchover to electric vehicle production at Ford’s assembly plant in Oakville, Ont., the Star reports.

The news comes with a Monday midnight deadline looming in negotiations on a new contract between Ford and Unifor, the union representing Canada’s autoworkers.

It also comes just days before the Liberal government will present a new Speech from the Throne, laying out a fresh legislative agenda that is expected to include a range of investments and policy incentives to boost EV sales and the rate of EV adoption.

Automakers need to commit
Unifor, led by national president Jerry Dias, has been arguing for some time that leading auto manufacturers need to commit to bringing EV manufacturing to Canada.

While Canada currently produces about 2 million vehicles annually, ranking 12th in the world, EVs make up just 0.4 per cent of that total.

Dias, speaking at a conference hosted by Electric Mobility Canada in July, called on the government to do more “to utilize our manufacturing footprint.”

While EVs currently make up only about three per cent of sales in Canada, “the decisions have to be made today,” said Dias. “Without an active [government] strategy” the industry — which once ranked fourth globally in total vehicle production — will continue to decline.

Dias’ remarks echoed the findings of a report on the future of Canada’s auto sector published last spring by the Pembina Institute and the International Council on Clean Transportation, covered exclusively at the time by Electric Autonomy Canada.

That report noted that of all the EV models global automakers have stated they will start producing in North America between 2020 and 2025 — investments totalling US$300 billion — none are earmarked for Canada.

Federal minister reaches out
According to the Star report, federal Industry Minister Navdeep Bains recently wrote a letter to Ford Canada president and CEO Dean Stonely, saying the choice to dedicate the Oakville plant to EV production would show “alignment between Ford’s commercial priorities and Canada’s commitment to sustainable growth.”

The Star also reports that Dias says he is not aware of the federal offer. A spokesperson for Minister Bains also declined direct comment.

However, just last week, Bains bylined an article in Policy Options arguing that Canada has the potential to be a leader in the battery supply chain for electric vehicles. In that piece, Bains wrote: “The opportunity for Canada to be a leader in electric transportation is enormous.”

Getting an EV production commitment from Ford — which is currently bringing electric versions of its top-selling F-150 pickup truck to market, as well as a new Mustang EV — would be a critical step in helping to make that opportunity a reality.

https://electricautonomy.ca/2020/09/21/electric-vehicles-ford-oakville-plant/

[J.OT13]

That's great news!

I drive a 2005 Ford Focus, a few hundred kilometers from reaching 300,000. I plan on keeping it as long as she still runs, but we are committed to buying an electric (or maybe a hybrid depending on our home situation, but that's a long story and I won't get into it right now) once the time comes. This announcement further solidifies my loyalty and commitment to Ford. Now I just have to convince my partner, who's more of a Toyota girl

[Richard Eade]

As long as you are fine giving up your Focus for a big Ford SUV/Crossover/Truck.

In the spring of 2018, Ford announced that it was getting out of the sedan business – keeping only the MUSTANG and the FOCUS ACTIVE. But it didn’t take Ford Canada long to announce that the FOCUS ACTIVE (Crossover) was NOT coming to Canada.
“The car segment in Canada has been declining steadily since 2012 and now makes up just 33 percent of the overall market. Going in the other direction, SUV and crossover sales have been growing steadily since 2012 and now account for about 44 percent of all vehicle sales in Canada. And that trend of car sales declining as more consumers choose SUVs is expected to continue. So, we are focusing our efforts on vehicles customers prefer.”
- Christine Hollander, Ford Canada communications manager
(There is an interesting WSJ article about why they think Ford, and the other NA car manufacturers are actually ditching sedans: https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-real-reason-ford-is-phasing-out-its-sedans-1525369304.)

So, have fun in your ELECTRIC MUSTANG. (Even a Toyota Girl should have a good time driving that!)

[CanadaGoose]

City of Ottawa is looking to install L2 chargers on the street.

https://engage.ottawa.ca/charging-statio...VS4t_iKLKT749gKyBzqPgjRVwHuNFqJNoT10gUl8

The proposed locations are:
• York Street
• Dundonald Park
• South side of Primrose Avenue and Rochester Street
• Preston Street and Beech Street
• Cartier Street
• Somerset Street between Bayswater Avenue and Spadina Avenue
• Hurdman Station Place
• Bruyère Street
• Crichton Street
• Main Street and Hazel Street
• North west corner of Mann Avenue and Chapel Street
• Parking Lot 22 (289-327 Cyr Avenue)
• Richmond Road

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Richard Eade

As long as you are fine giving up your Focus for a big Ford SUV/Crossover/Truck.

In the spring of 2018, Ford announced that it was getting out of the sedan business – keeping only the MUSTANG and the FOCUS ACTIVE. But it didn’t take Ford Canada long to announce that the FOCUS ACTIVE (Crossover) was NOT coming to Canada.
“The car segment in Canada has been declining steadily since 2012 and now makes up just 33 percent of the overall market. Going in the other direction, SUV and crossover sales have been growing steadily since 2012 and now account for about 44 percent of all vehicle sales in Canada. And that trend of car sales declining as more consumers choose SUVs is expected to continue. So, we are focusing our efforts on vehicles customers prefer.”
- Christine Hollander, Ford Canada communications manager
(There is an interesting WSJ article about why they think Ford, and the other NA car manufacturers are actually ditching sedans: https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-real-reason-ford-is-phasing-out-its-sedans-1525369304.)

So, have fun in your ELECTRIC MUSTANG. (Even a Toyota Girl should have a good time driving that!)

Although I was disappointed when Ford decided to cease the production of sedans (I was a fan of the Fusion in particular), I could see myself buy an SUV. By the time we have to consider a new vehicle, we might start a family, so it would be a natural progression from the Focus ZX3 I've been driving since I was 18. Again though, it will take some convincing for my partner.

[TransitZilla]

Originally Posted by CyrusKafaiwu

City of Ottawa is looking to install L2 chargers on the street.

https://engage.ottawa.ca/charging-statio...VS4t_iKLKT749gKyBzqPgjRVwHuNFqJNoT10gUl8

The proposed locations are:
• York Street
• Dundonald Park
• South side of Primrose Avenue and Rochester Street
• Preston Street and Beech Street
• Cartier Street
• Somerset Street between Bayswater Avenue and Spadina Avenue
• Hurdman Station Place
• Bruyère Street
• Crichton Street
• Main Street and Hazel Street
• North west corner of Mann Avenue and Chapel Street
• Parking Lot 22 (289-327 Cyr Avenue)
• Richmond Road

Interesting initiative that I support... except for the stations located directly on mainstreets (Richmond Rd, Somerset/Bayswater, and Somerset at Dundonald Park).

Some of these locations are ideal potential locations for bike lanes (esp. Somerset/Bayswater). The charging stations should be on side streets.

The Main St. one is OK since cycle tracks already exist there.

[TransitZilla]

Originally Posted by Richard Eade

In the spring of 2018, Ford announced that it was getting out of the sedan business – keeping only the MUSTANG and the FOCUS ACTIVE. But it didn’t take Ford Canada long to announce that the FOCUS ACTIVE (Crossover) was NOT coming to Canada.

Seems like a dumb decision. I looked up the Focus Active and it seems like the kind of vehicle (small hatchback) that has traditionally been pretty popular in Canada.

[qprcanada]

Originally Posted by bradnixon

Interesting initiative that I support... except for the stations located directly on mainstreets (Richmond Rd, Somerset/Bayswater, and Somerset at Dundonald Park).

Some of these locations are ideal potential locations for bike lanes (esp. Somerset/Bayswater). The charging stations should be on side streets.

The Main St. one is OK since cycle tracks already exist there.

A level 2 charge of any consequence is going to exceed the time for on street parking in those areas. This initiative would of been praise worthy a few years ago but level 3 chargers make more sense now due to increased battery capacity in current and future models. A one hour L3 charge wouldn't result in a parking ticket either

[CanadaGoose]

Originally Posted by qprcanada

A level 2 charge of any consequence is going to exceed the time for on street parking in those areas. This initiative would of been praise worthy a few years ago but level 3 chargers make more sense now due to increased battery capacity in current and future models. A one hour L3 charge wouldn't result in a parking ticket either

No, Level 3 is too fast for a Suzy Q run or a trip at a restaurant in the area. If they want to use a L3, send them to the suburbs. They also take way too much space and make too much noise. And also are way too expensive.

Level 2 chargers are more than enough and encourage people to spend time in the neighbourhoods and shop.

[qprcanada]

Originally Posted by CyrusKafaiwu

No, Level 3 is too fast for a Suzy Q run or a trip at a restaurant in the area. If they want to use a L3, send them to the suburbs. They also take way too much space and make too much noise. And also are way too expensive.

Level 2 chargers are more than enough and encourage people to spend time in the neighbourhoods and shop.

L2 chargers are cheaper but there are 182 L2 chargers in the city already (according to Plugshare) , and less than 25 L3 chargers. This would be beneficial for both residents and visitors to the downtown.

Making an investment in L3 rather than L2 chargers would have a better long term payoff.

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by qprcanada

A level 2 charge of any consequence is going to exceed the time for on street parking in those areas.

If you read the link provided by CyrusKafaiwu, it says:

One of the concerns many people have about buying an electric vehicle is where they are going to charge it. This is even more true for people who rent their home, live in an apartment or condo, or have an on-street parking permit.

Those with an on-street parking permit are exempt from the normal parking restrictions when parking near their home. Even those who don't, can park for between 3 and 6 hours (or overnight when winter parking restrictions are not in place) depending on the day and time (unless posted otherwise). That is enough time to get a very significant amount of charge.

Originally Posted by qprcanada

This initiative would of been praise worthy a few years ago but level 3 chargers make more sense now due to increased battery capacity in current and future models. A one hour L3 charge wouldn't result in a parking ticket either

I disagree. The vast majority of charging should be done by Level 1/2. DC Fast Charging is only be in special circumstances (like road trips), mostly because it is more expensive. If anything, the increased battery capacity means we don't need as many DC Fast Chargers as people are less likely to need to charge away from home. Since not everyone has access to off street parking, we need to find solutions for them.

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by qprcanada

L2 chargers are cheaper but there are 182 L2 chargers in the city already (according to Plugshare) , and less than 25 L3 chargers. This would be beneficial for both residents and visitors to the downtown.

Most people don't drive enough in a day to need DCFC on a regular basis. The optimal pattern is to drive during the day and charge at night. This plan is to help people who don't have off street parking charge at home.

Making an investment in L3 rather than L2 chargers would have a better long term payoff.

I agree that Ottawa will need more DCFC in the long run, but I don't see that it is the city's responsibility. For each 50kW DCFC they install, they could install 7 6.6kW L2 charging points (from an electrical distribution point of view). For example, IMHO, the charger the city installed at their 687 Somerset St. W Lot is a total waste. It would have been much more appropriate to install 2 or 4 L2 charging points instead and had money left over to install more charging points in other lots.

For DCFC, the Tesla model of putting lots of chargers at a few, convenient locations is far better than installing 1 or 2 chargers at lots of locations. That way when you go to get a charge, you can be assured that a charger is available and operational.

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by bradnixon

Seems like a dumb decision. I looked up the Focus Active and it seems like the kind of vehicle (small hatchback) that has traditionally been pretty popular in Canada.

Unfortunately Canada is a very small automotive market. Ford is more focused on what they can sell in the USA, which is by far their largest market (they sell 4.5 times as many cars their as their next largest market (China) and 8 times as many cars there as they do in Canada). South of the boarder, small hatchbacks are do not sell very well at all and I expect in other countries people who buy Fords tend to want its larger vehicles).

[J.OT13]

Not Ottawa related, but California is hoping to ban new gasoline powered cars by 2035.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/californias...further-upends-auto-industry-11600969791

[Tesladom]

UK is planning 2030 ban on ICE

The Canadian market is unique and manufacturers do have unique offerings in Canada not available in the US in the past, SMART was in Canada way before US, and we traditionally had several unique models from the other traditional manufacturers not available in US market, typically smaller or less expensive like Acura EL in the days, or Chevy Orlando, not sure if CITY Golf was sold in US market (for example).

Disappointed that VW is not bringing ID.3 in Canada, that car would sell really well, At least ID.4 is in the works, should be pretty good.

WRT vehicle charging, I think L2 is all we need, for tourists and people who don't have home charging (condo or urban appartments), 50kw is not enough to fast charge, but too much to overnight... it's too "in the middle", waste of time

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Not Ottawa related, but California is hoping to ban new gasoline powered cars by 2035.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/californias...further-upends-auto-industry-11600969791

To be clear, they are planning to ban the sale of new gasoline cars within the state by 2035 (I know you implied that). Here is the same announcement on the Washington Post, which doesn't require a subscription:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2020/09/23/california-electric-cars/

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by Tesladom

UK is planning 2030 ban on ICE

The ban in the UK is actually set for 2035ref, but as I said in post #485 Shell says that could be further accelerated to 2030.