Electric Vehicles

What are electric vehicles (EVs)?

Electric vehicles (EVs) are powered by energy from electricity stored in a battery.  EVs are plugged into a power source to charge the battery. There are different types of EVs. 

What are the different types of electric vehicles?

  1. Battery electric vehicle (BEV): is fully electric - it runs only on electricity stored in a battery.  
  2. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV): uses both electricity and gasoline.  When the battery is depleted, the gasoline engine will take over.  

A hybrid vehicle, which is another type of vehicle, does not plug into an electrical outlet to charge.  An electric motor and gasoline engine work together to improve efficiency.       

What are the benefits of driving an EV?

There are environmental, health and economic benefits to driving an EV.  Burning fossil fuels (like gas or diesel) produces GHG emissions and impacts our air quality.  Driving an EV is one way to reduce GHG emissions from transportation and, at the same time, improve our air quality.  

It is cheaper to charge an EV battery compared to purchasing a tank of gasoline or diesel.  EVs also have less maintenance requirements than vehicles with gas powered engines.  For example, EV’s don’t require oil changes and EVs only have around 20 moving parts compared to about 2,000 in a gas powered vehicle.    

How far can I drive an EV?

This depends on the type of EV (BEV or PHEV) and the make and model of the vehicle.  Battery EVs (BEVs) can have a range of 100 km to 435 km on a full charge.  Plug-in Hybrid EVs (PHEVs) can run on electricity for anywhere from 20 – 85 km.  

What are the differences between EV chargers?

There are three levels of chargers:

  1. Level 1 chargers charge at the rate of a regular wall outlet (110 - 120 volts) and are the slowest.  It would take more than a day to fully charge a BEV.   Level 1 chargers are more suited for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) because the battery is smaller than a BEV's battery.  
  2. Level 2 chargers use a 240 volt system so they are faster than the level 1 chargers.  You could fully charge a BEV in about 6 - 8 hours.  
  3. Level 3 chargers (fast chargers) are the fastest chargers available right now and use a 480 volt system.  They will provide an 80% charge in 20 to 30 minutes.  These are typically used during long trips.  

Where can I charge an EV on PEI?

Most people who own EVs will usually charge their vehicle at home through the night. 

If you need to charge your vehicle elsewhere, there are approximately 30 charging stations located across PEI.  Some of these stations are located at public spaces while others are at businesses.  Right now, these are all level 2 charging stations.  

Plugshare maintains a map of charging stations around the world. Visit Plugshare to see where you can charge in PEI. [Disclaimer: this PlugShare link is provided for information purposes only – this information is not the responsibility of the Government of Prince Edward Island but rather the third party noted in the link above].

Are there any level 3 (fast charging stations) on PEI?

Through the Natural Resource Canada’s Electric Vehicle and Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Deployment Initiative, there will be six level 3 (fast charging) stations installed across PEI.  These stations will be located in:

  • O’Leary
  • Summerside
  • Borden-Carleton
  • Charlottetown
  • Wood Islands
  • Souris

Where can I learn more about EVs?

To learn more about electric vehicles, visit Plug 'n Drive - a non-profit organization committed to accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles to maximize environmental and economic benefits.


Published date: 
November 29, 2019
Transportation, Infrastructure and Energy

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