Canadian electric vehicle owners in trouble: charging difficulties spark heated discussions
It should be noted that Canadians have been encouraged multiple times to purchase electric vehicles (EVs). The Trudeau government even stipulates that by 2035, all new cars sold in Canada must be electric cars, and by 2030, the proportion of electric cars in Canada will reach 60%.
However, recently many tram owners have been in trouble.
A car owner named Katherine Brodsky said that she bought a short distance rechargeable tram, and after the property management of the building where she lives agreed to charge it, she paid additional fees specifically.
Firstly, the building allowed me to purchase extension cords. Later, we were informed that due to safety concerns from the fire department, we were no longer allowed to use extension cords, "Katherine said. Recently, all tram owners in their building have been notified that they will no longer be allowed to connect and charge inside the building.
At the same time, many other car owners are facing the same situation, as they will no longer be able to charge their vehicles at home because other owners of gasoline powered cars are not so eager to bear the cost of installing charging stations.
Image source: National Post
As for safety issues, Katherine stated that the selling point of her vehicle when sold is that it can be plugged into a regular socket. It must have passed safety tests to ensure that it can be charged in this way
In fact, a study by Sweden's civil emergency agency found that the likelihood of electric cars catching fire is 20 times lower than that of gasoline and diesel cars.
There is also controversy over which vehicles have more severe pollution. Opponents of electric vehicles point out that the disposal of batteries and the materials required for manufacturing electric vehicles can have an impact on the environment. Other supporters argue that electric cars reduce our dependence on oil and can significantly reduce urban air pollution.
Katherine said that the problem now is that although the government is promoting electric cars to dominate the market, they are avoiding a simple reality: electric cars are currently only suitable for those who have the financial means, and the charging cost is usually comparable to refueling, but it takes much longer, especially when it comes to finding charging stations nearby.
Therefore, for most people, charging at home is more practical. However, if we consider the impact of charging on neighbors, buying a tram is only suitable for those who own their own independent houses or live in apartments with charging stations.
Some cities such as Vancouver now require that every parking space in newly built apartment buildings provide a level 2 charging station. But other people who have purchased apartments in old buildings do not have such protection. Given the high cost of real estate in Canada, private charging stations are not very practical for many Canadians, "Katherine said.
Firstly, these vehicles should be chosen voluntarily by people, rather than being forced to choose. Secondly, forcing people to use trams without building sufficient facilities in advance will inevitably bring trouble
Katherine said that based on the current situation, she feels misled.
People actively encouraged me to buy electric cars, and the government even provided incentives. But when the building where I live decided to cut off my power supply, there were no other alternative options available, and I felt helpless
If there is no complete infrastructure, achieving 100% sales of electric vehicles by 2035 is just a daydream or a nightmare! "What do you think about this?
Source link:
https://nationalpost.com/opinion/owning-an-electric-vehicle-is-madness-and-i-regret-ever-buying-one