One of the leading causes of range anxiety among electric car drivers -- and a big reason why these green vehicles have yet to become mainstream -- is the limited charging infrastructure. However, one Ontario company is currently working on that, and wants to electrify Canada from coast to coast.
Below is my recent chat with Christopher Misch, Vice President of Sun Country Highway.
Josée Paquet (JP): Where did the idea for a nationwide EV infrastructure come from?
Christopher Misch (CM): The idea to establish a national infrastructure stemmed from years of research and our president, Kent Rathwell’s, vision to solve the ''chicken or the egg'' dilemma by setting a goal for Sun Country Highway to build the ''World’s Longest Greenest Highway.'' This project would focus on a national infrastructure of high-powered EV Chargers (60-90 amps) that would promote EV adoption and drive economic and environmental sustainability for Canadians. As EVs evolve, they will be able to charge more quickly on the powerful chargers that our partners have installed.
JP: So far, how many charging stations have you set up? How many more will come in 2013?
CM: We have set up close to 200 EV Chargers across Canada, and our plan is to install hundreds more this coming year.
JP: Your network stands out by offering 100% free charging. Do drivers have to subscribe to any kind of membership to use your charging stations? In other words, how do you manage to offer this type of service at no cost?
CM: Yes, in order to create an incentive to go green, our partners (leading Canadian businesses) have agreed to provide the charging at no cost to EV owners -- at least until EVs become a mainstream form of transportation. This is happening. The cost to provide this service to EV owners is minimal compared to the benefits of going green, driving traffic to your business and making Canada more sustainable.
JP: Are these charging stations compatible with any and all electric vehicles?
CM: Yes, Sun Country Highway EV Chargers are J1772 compliant, meaning they can charge any EV sold in North America. They are certified in Canada, cUL (CSA) approved.
JP: What's the average distance between charging stations?
CM: Currently the average distance is about 150 kilometres. We have stations every 1 to 230 kilometres across the entire country. Our next goal is to shorten that distance by creating a more dense infrastructure that will allow all EVs to travel coast to coast!
JP: How long does it take to charge a battery using a Sun Country Highway charging station?
CM: It really depends on the EV itself and the capability of its onboard charger. In our flagship EV, the Tesla Roadster, a CS-90 EV Charger (90 amp charger/70 amps continuous) can charge at a rate of close to 100 kilometres per hour of charging. This means very fast charge times. Now owners can top up their vehicle to commute to and from work each day in less than one hour. As other EV manufacturers increase their onboard charger’s capability, we will see significantly reduced charge times for cars such as the Chevy Volt, Nissan LEAF, Mitsubishi i-MiEV and other fantastic vehicles on the road today!
JP: After electrifying the Trans-Canada Highway, do you plan to do the same with other major highways in the country?
CM: Absolutely! My team is working right now at expanding the infrastructure into all of the major highways throughout Canada. In fact, we plan to launch several of these regions in the early spring of 2013.
JP: A number of charging stations are ready to be implemented, especially in the Prairies. Will they become operational soon?
CM: Indeed, many sites are awaiting installation or commissioning. We should see most of these sites go live in the next 2-3 weeks.
JP: Ultimately, how many charging stations do you plan to have across Canada?
CM: We plan to have tens of thousands of chargers across Canada. Now that we have solved the chicken or the egg dilemma and the national infrastructure grows, EV sales are beginning to climb as well. Canadians are turning to more sustainable transportation options, and the EV is it! We can look forward to a much more economically and environmentally sustainable future. By driving an EV, Canadian families will save money each and every month that they can now redirect into debt reduction, their children’s future, or starting a business. Sun Country Highway is proud to be a part of a greener future for everyone.
JP: Are you considering expanding into the U.S.?
CM: We are focused on Canada primarily right now, but who knows what the future will hold?
Below is my recent chat with Christopher Misch, Vice President of Sun Country Highway.
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Josée Paquet (JP): Where did the idea for a nationwide EV infrastructure come from?
Christopher Misch (CM): The idea to establish a national infrastructure stemmed from years of research and our president, Kent Rathwell’s, vision to solve the ''chicken or the egg'' dilemma by setting a goal for Sun Country Highway to build the ''World’s Longest Greenest Highway.'' This project would focus on a national infrastructure of high-powered EV Chargers (60-90 amps) that would promote EV adoption and drive economic and environmental sustainability for Canadians. As EVs evolve, they will be able to charge more quickly on the powerful chargers that our partners have installed.
JP: So far, how many charging stations have you set up? How many more will come in 2013?
CM: We have set up close to 200 EV Chargers across Canada, and our plan is to install hundreds more this coming year.
JP: Your network stands out by offering 100% free charging. Do drivers have to subscribe to any kind of membership to use your charging stations? In other words, how do you manage to offer this type of service at no cost?
CM: Yes, in order to create an incentive to go green, our partners (leading Canadian businesses) have agreed to provide the charging at no cost to EV owners -- at least until EVs become a mainstream form of transportation. This is happening. The cost to provide this service to EV owners is minimal compared to the benefits of going green, driving traffic to your business and making Canada more sustainable.
JP: Are these charging stations compatible with any and all electric vehicles?
CM: Yes, Sun Country Highway EV Chargers are J1772 compliant, meaning they can charge any EV sold in North America. They are certified in Canada, cUL (CSA) approved.
JP: What's the average distance between charging stations?
CM: Currently the average distance is about 150 kilometres. We have stations every 1 to 230 kilometres across the entire country. Our next goal is to shorten that distance by creating a more dense infrastructure that will allow all EVs to travel coast to coast!
JP: How long does it take to charge a battery using a Sun Country Highway charging station?
CM: It really depends on the EV itself and the capability of its onboard charger. In our flagship EV, the Tesla Roadster, a CS-90 EV Charger (90 amp charger/70 amps continuous) can charge at a rate of close to 100 kilometres per hour of charging. This means very fast charge times. Now owners can top up their vehicle to commute to and from work each day in less than one hour. As other EV manufacturers increase their onboard charger’s capability, we will see significantly reduced charge times for cars such as the Chevy Volt, Nissan LEAF, Mitsubishi i-MiEV and other fantastic vehicles on the road today!
JP: After electrifying the Trans-Canada Highway, do you plan to do the same with other major highways in the country?
CM: Absolutely! My team is working right now at expanding the infrastructure into all of the major highways throughout Canada. In fact, we plan to launch several of these regions in the early spring of 2013.
JP: A number of charging stations are ready to be implemented, especially in the Prairies. Will they become operational soon?
CM: Indeed, many sites are awaiting installation or commissioning. We should see most of these sites go live in the next 2-3 weeks.
JP: Ultimately, how many charging stations do you plan to have across Canada?
CM: We plan to have tens of thousands of chargers across Canada. Now that we have solved the chicken or the egg dilemma and the national infrastructure grows, EV sales are beginning to climb as well. Canadians are turning to more sustainable transportation options, and the EV is it! We can look forward to a much more economically and environmentally sustainable future. By driving an EV, Canadian families will save money each and every month that they can now redirect into debt reduction, their children’s future, or starting a business. Sun Country Highway is proud to be a part of a greener future for everyone.
JP: Are you considering expanding into the U.S.?
CM: We are focused on Canada primarily right now, but who knows what the future will hold?