It’s taken longer than it should have, and there's still a ways to go, but hybrid and electric “eco-cars” are on their way—along with a global network of charging stations to keep green-minded drivers from getting stranded.
This means road trips and car-rentals are back on the menu for those with the modern malady you might call PGS (Pollution Guilt Syndrome). If you want to reduce your vacation carbon, here are some tips, whether you own an eco-car or just want to try one out.
What are hybrids and EVs anyway?
First, some definitions. Hybrid cars use an internal combustion engine as well as batteries for power, and are generally built for economy, not for speed. Traditional hybrids charge the batteries via capturing energy from “regenerative braking” — a brilliant system that turns your wheels into electrical generators.
There's also a subset of hybrids known as "plug-in hybrids"— certain models of Prius, as well as the Chevrolet Volt, among others— that allow you to recharge your batteries externally, at a charging station, just like an electric car.
An EV or electric vehicle (as the name suggests) has no engine, but only rechargeable batteries. Sounds quiet, and it is, but the batteries of an electric car don’t get recharged unless plugged into an external source. Some types of EVs available in BC are the Nissan Leaf, the BMW i3, Tesla (Model S or X), the Ford Focus Electric, Smart EV, and the Mitsubishi i-MiEV.
But if you don't own, you can also rent.
Green to go: vacationing with eco-cars
More eco-car good news is that hybrid and all-electric cars are becoming more common at mainstream rental agencies like Enterprise, Avis, and Budget. Enterprise has more than 5000 eco-cars in its fleet. Inquire before you go.
For road trips from home, car-share operations like Modo are worth checking out. Modo has more than 350 cars across the Lower Mainland, 13 per cent of which are hybrid or electric. Joining Modo is easy as long as you have a fairly clean driving record, and only requires a call to ICBC to have your records sent to Modo— and then a brief registration process at their offices or online (if the latter, an access fob will be sent in the mail).
Modo rates cover gas, insurance, permit parking, roadside assistance and local toll bridges. You can drive your car just about anywhere, except Mexico.
“Each two-way car sharing vehicle is estimated to replace between nine and 13 private vehicles on the road,” said Modo Marketing Director Hilary Henegar, “so it helps to prevent congestion on the roads, and it helps to preserve green space (instead of paving over for more parking). It helps people to essentially to not worry about owning a vehicle, and perhaps they can spend their money differently such as on local entertainment or going on a road trip. It has a larger impact on the local economy."
Henegar recommends taking a hybrid if you are worried about your car running out of juice mid-trip.
“If you want to go a very far distance and not have range anxiety, you would be best to take a hybrid,” she said. “We have four fully electric vehicles. If you take a Nissan Leaf you’ll get up to Squamish and then you’ll have to recharge.”
Car2go is another great green local option, which now includes electric “fortwo” Smart cars in their system.
Yes, you can drive there: electric trips to some BC destinations
According to Emotive BC, BC has the best electric vehicle charging infrastructure in the country. The Canadian Automobile Association updates their EV charging station map monthly, noting their respective voltage levels. You can also check out a similar map at Plugshare.
EV chargers come in three flavours: slow (Level One, 110/120 volts, the same household outlet into which you plug your toaster); medium (Level Two, 220/240 volts, the kind of large-size outlet that can take a washer or dryer plug); and fast (Level Three, 480 volts).
Most electric cars have a range from 100 to 400 km, and depending on what kind of facilities you find, can take from 30 minutes in a Level Three charger to twelve hours in a Level One charger.
Here are some BC destinations for the plugged-in driver:
Nanaimo (80 km)
There are many charging stations on the Island, most of which are Level Two. There's a speedy Level Three in Duncan at Islands Savings Centre, and one at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre in downtown Nanaimo.
Once you're there, Nanaimo has plenty of activities to choose from: zip-lining and bungee jumping at Wildplay Element Park, recreational bike and hiking trails, some world-class scuba diving, and the Cedar Yellow Point Artisan Trail featuring local artists, craftspeople and restaurants.
Photo from Wikimedia Commons
Kelowna (390 km)
You can follow the trail of Level Two charging stations (Chilliwack, Hope) or wait till you hit the Visitor Information Centre in Merritt for a Level Three. (Hope also has Level Three station, though it's reserved for drivers of Tesla vehicles). There are a few EV chargers in the area once you’ve arrived and have been tooling around, such as the Best Western Plus Kelowna Hotel & Suites (a Level Two).
Kelowna has everything from great camping on Okanagan Lake to tastings at great local wineries like Summerhill, Cedar Creek and Quail’s Gate — this last one boasting an incredible restaurant, Old Vines, for lunch or dinner with vineyard views of the lake.
Vineyard, Kelowna BC By Zach Baranowski via Flickr
Harrison Hot Springs (130 km)
Harrison doesn’t have charging stations itself, but there are dozens of charging stops on the way— Abbotsford, Chilliwack and Maple Ridge, among others. It's about a 65 km round-trip from the EV charger in Chilliwack to Harrison Hot Springs, so make sure your vehicle has the range to allow touring the area and making it back to Chilliwack.
Besides the eponymous hot springs, Harrison and Agassiz feature Sasquatch Days in June with the Sts'ailes First Nation (including war canoe races and a salmon BBQ) and the 10-day Harrison Festival of the Arts in July. You can feel particularly smug in your eco-car on the drive-yourself Circle Farm Tour of local cheesemakers, coffee roasters, potters, and a hazelnut farm featuring ice cream and a killer homemade hazelnut-chocolate spread.
Photo from Stephen Rees via Flickr
Revelstoke (630 km)
Charging stations in Hope, Merritt, Salmon Arm and even Sicamous will get you there; in Revelstoke itself the Best Western Plus features a Level Two charger and Tesla drivers can use a Level Three.
Besides hiking, biking and swimming at the local lakes, there are hot springs at Canyon Hot Springs resort — or stop into Crazy Creek Resort in Malakwa, which offers over 2,000 square feet of hot pools.
Photo from Lyndsay Esson via Flickr
Seattle (230 km)
Seattle is a friendly destination for the EV rider: charging stations are just about everywhere. There are four Level Threes on offer, one at REO Flats, with the other three affiliated with the Blink charging network (registration for which is apparently free). Check out Plugshare for the map.
Lots to do here, of course, from landmark fare like Pike Place Market and Elliott Bay Books to more well-hidden treats like organic and vegan doughnuts at Mighty-O Donut and in-store performances by local rock gods and other musicians at Easy Street Records (whose motto is “Some things are too good to download”).
Photo by Jude Freeman via Flickr