The number is good, but they are so focused in 2 spots. Really hurts adoption on the island.
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In moderate weather, every major location on the island is technically reachable with a fully charged SR+, so locals should be able to make it to/from their home chargers onto the supercharger network. Seems pretty ideal to me...?
I wasn't just talking about EVs. Very few people go up to the northern part of the island (north of Campbell River). There's a small rush of cars when the ferry comes in from Prince Rupert and that's like twice a week. Other than that it's like a frontier. I love it!
I tend to agree with one of the previous posters. 2 superchargers on the island is pretty good at this point. If anything the island was overserved back in 2018 when the 2nd one opened, but now it's probably roughly in line with supercharger coverage on other parts of the continent. With more and more Teslas being sold, I think it's about time to build superchargers in Tofino and Campbell River areas. But I don't think Tesla is way behind in doing this. If they don't do it in the next 2-3 years, then I might complain
richteer
Member
I live in Glenmore. I’d heard how accurate Tesla’s range estimation was, so I was prepared to trust it. I didn’t care how low the charge was when I got home because I have a wall charger at home and I didn’t need the car until the next day.
I think I was on 97% when I left Hope.
Thanks for the information. I've also found the range estimation in the car to be accurate.I live in Glenmore. I’d heard how accurate Tesla’s range estimation was, so I was prepared to trust it. I didn’t care how low the charge was when I got home because I have a wall charger at home and I didn’t need the car until the next day.
I think I was on 97% when I left Hope.
My takeaway from the various posts about driving a SR+ Hope-Kelowna is that a top-up in Merritt is a good idea in most cases. However there have recently been some long lines at the Merritt Supercharger; 14 cars waiting for a stall to open up on a recent Sunday afternoon. Until the second Supercharger opens in Merritt, the best strategy is probably to drive a bit slower than otherwise and avoid a long wait in Merritt. (The in-car Supercharger information showed a "Long Wait" with a 14 car line and "Medium Wait" with a 8 car line in Merritt.)
Driving faster doesn't always get you to your destination sooner, particularly in an EV when charging stops are necessary.
I wasn't just talking about EVs. Very few people go up to the northern part of the island (north of Campbell River). There's a small rush of cars when the ferry comes in from Prince Rupert and that's like twice a week. Other than that it's like a frontier. I love it!
I tend to agree with one of the previous posters. 2 superchargers on the island is pretty good at this point. If anything the island was overserved back in 2018 when the 2nd one opened, but now it's probably roughly in line with supercharger coverage on other parts of the continent. With more and more Teslas being sold, I think it's about time to build superchargers in Tofino and Campbell River areas. But I don't think Tesla is way behind in doing this. If they don't do it in the next 2-3 years, then I might complain
Fair enough about the scarcity of people up island in general.
I think we are at the great tipping point. For a while Teslas were the domain of enthusiasts who are on this site. but, when 1 in 20 cars on the road in Vancouver are Teslas, the world is changing and it is so exciting. When it comes to BC, I think more small fast chargers is going to become more important than the number of larger stations just because the roads are so long. It doesn't matter how much capacity Nanaimo has when that charge only gets you so far. That's sort of what we're seeing in the Kootenays right now.
Now I am wondering what's going on for me. I should check my degradation.
I lost about 10km in predicted range during my most recent drive over the Coq. I'm fortunate to never have to travel during the peak times so waits at SC are not something I generally contend with. But, the reliability of the prediction and not running flat is certainly critical. I know on one trip I was dealing with a 20km headwind with 35km gusts so that explains that and maybe that experience just made me lose my nerve.
1 in 20 cars on the road in Vancouver are Tesla? Is this for real. That would be amazing. Seems crazy high though.
![angus[Y]oung](/tmc/data/avatars/l/141/141264.jpg?1620160343){kind=avatar}
angus[Y]oung
Active Member
@PLUS EV Apparently for new car sales, EVs overall were approximately 10% market share in BC in 2020: B.C. tops North America for electric vehicle uptake in 2020, says minister. I think it's safe to say that the greater-Vancouver area (GVA) is probably noticeably above that percentage while more rural areas and probably noticeably lower. I think it's also safe to say from my own observations around the lower mainland that at least 60% or more of EVs I see on the street are Teslas (that's conservative estimate). With that in mind, I would think that probably around 6%-8% of new car sales in the GVA are probably Teslas. It would be harder to estimate overall vehicles on the road however and it's probably more like 1 in 40 or 50? Totally a guess there.
I was speaking pretty freely but that number comes from driving around (a COVID hobby) and counting how many cars (driving and parked) I see before seeing a Tesla. I almost never got above 25 and on average it seemed to be about 1/20. That was for all areas of Vancouver and Burnaby (downtown and not).
It was very surprising. I'd love to know the actual numbers.
As an anecdote though it works to highlight how popular these cars have become, and how many normal people are driving them expecting to go more places with less of that mindset of the drive being part of the EV adventure.
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Pretty cool. We are in the Okanagan and EV’s in general including Tesla are getting more plentiful for sure.
Cheers.
Funny enough, this all came about after a relative in the South Okanagan was telling me they are now seeing a few every day. So, I wanted to find a way to see how common they were that was easy enough to do while driving.
Downtown Vancouver is definitely full of Tesla. It feels like 1 in 4 cars are a Tesla. I remember 4 months ago when I took a trip out there and my car broke down. That was the last straw. Test drove a model 3 the next day. And a few days after that I was on the computer/phone with tesla tracking down an available one in Vancouver. I remember watching out the window from the high rise hotel while doing this and just counting the tesla, which was a lot. Being from Lethbridge Alberta area, it’s quite a contrast.
also, any one know if Edmonton is getting another super charger or perhaps some urban Superchargers ?
also, any one know if Edmonton is getting another super charger or perhaps some urban Superchargers ?
scottf200
Well-Known Member
Good background story! Congrats.
Re: Edmonton --- No doubt they'd be on this map if folks knew about them. If you didn't know ... if a dot (blue=permit) shows up you can click on it and then click 'discuss' to get to a TMC thread).
Sorry I missed this.
You can get to all the destinations, but it's not enough for a return trip. A charger at the Tofino/Uclulet Junction or in Campbell River would allow the charge needed to get home. Right now that entire return trip has to be planned around leaving fairly directly from a longer charge session.
Tourists might like that so they can head down island after a bonus morning of additional sightseeing. I personally have the option to use my vehicle for work. I can't do that up island because I am doing too much driving trying to get full days in. The system works for tourists with some flexibility and planning, but is a barrier to wider adoption. That's why I think a few smaller chargers would be all that's needed.
It's the same in the Kootenays. As it stands you can almost get to anywhere. But if you want to explore the Kootenays or use fast charging for the home trip it's trickier. I think that's part of what's driving the big charging expansion there.
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Edit relevant to some of the other recent posts:
From the City of Vancouver's charging bylaw announcement today (emphasis mine):
12-17% means 1 in 8 or better. Even if just half are Tesla that's 1 in 16! Sure there are lots of old cars on the road but it speaks to how it seems driving around here seeing them constantly. Very cool.
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It's a great option for us "early adopters" who want to be out there as it stands today, but for those on the fence I think the cost of the adapter is a mental barrier to taking the jump. This massive expansion will only help BC's EV leadership grow.
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