After 6 Years and $76 Million, Still ‘Too Early’ to Evaluate EVs: Ottawa

A car is charged at a charge station for electric vehicles on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on May 1, 2019. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)

A recent report from Canada’s Department of Natural Resources says it is still “too early” to fully evaluate the reliability of electric vehicles (EVs) in Canadian winters despite comprehensive research spanning six years at an investment of $76.1 million.

“It is too early to fully evaluate the intermediate and ultimate outcomes,” said the report titled “Evaluation Of The Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Demonstration Program,” which was first covered by Blacklock’s Reporter.

The federal government allocated up to $76 million in funding under Budgets 2016 and 2017 for the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Demonstration Program (EVID), which says it aimed to “accelerate the market entry of next generation clean energy infrastructure, by supporting demonstration projects of innovative EV charging and hydrogen refuelling technologies, in order to lead to an increased uptake of ZEVs.”

The Department of Natural Resources funded various projects under the program, including the operation of winter charging stations in Yukon and electric buses in Brampton, Ont. The report acknowledges the availability of zero-emission vehicle technologies but points out existing technical and non-technical barriers, particularly related to charging efficiency in cold weather.

Though the research has been extensive, the department said that conclusive results are yet to be obtained.

Findings from Consumer Reports indicate that electric car batteries can experience significant performance drops in mild winter temperatures of around -8 degrees Celsius. According to a Jan. 17 report by Consumer Reports, short trips in cold weather with frequent stops can reduce an electric car’s range by up to 50 percent.

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“Unlike a gas car, where the heat is free, coming from the engine, an EV has to produce cabin heat and manage an optimal battery temperature with energy that comes from the battery, in turn reducing range,” stated Consumer Reports’ “Tests Show Electric Car Range Can Fall Far Short of Claims.”

The report from the Department of Natural Resources raises concerns about potential negative consequences associated with the government’s mandate for electric vehicle adoption. The Electric Vehicle Availability Standard, set by cabinet, aims to phase out new sales of gas and diesel vehicles by 2035, with exceptions for emergency vehicles like police cars, ambulances, and fire trucks.

The report warns of potential unintended outcomes of the measures, including impacts on electrical grid distribution networks due to uncontrolled charging and environmental concerns related to battery component mining.

There are also social implications, the report notes, such as the potential pollution affecting nearby indigenous communities involved in mining activities for EV battery components. Additionally, the report mentions concerns about carbon emissions generated during the production of electric vehicles.

This cautionary stance is echoed in a 2019 report by Defence Research and Development Canada, which questioned the reliability of zero-emission vehicles in Canadian winters, citing issues with reduced battery capacity at low temperatures and difficulties in charging lithium-ion batteries in sub-zero conditions.

“The extremes of temperature required for military operations is probably the biggest technological challenge for hybrid and electric vehicles,” said the 2019 report.

“The issue of reduced battery capacity at low temperatures is well known.”