Electric Vehicles in the Bow Valley
Are you thinking about becoming an electric vehicle owner?
Electric vehicles (EVs) are safe, cheap to maintain, fun to drive, and perform great in the winter. They also emit zero tailpipe CO2 emissions; thanks to this, EVs in Alberta produce about half the greenhouse gas emissions as a comparable gas car when comparing the total lifecycle—which is why Canada’s goal is for all new cars and passenger trucks to be zero-emission by 2035.
Whatever your reason, EVs are part of the future here in the Bow Valley. Here are four things to know about driving electric in the Bow Valley.
1. EVs are champions of winter conditions.
Worried about driving electric vehicles in Albertan winters? With amazing traction, instant in-car heating and all-wheel drive capabilities, electric vehicles can be winter champions. Since they have no oil to get thick or cold, you don't have to worry about your car needing a boost in winter temperatures.
Watch this video to see what happens when you leave a Tesla outside in a Canadian winter (-18C/0F) for over 15 hours unplugged. The video also explores range loss in the cold, battery efficiency in different seasons, and more.
2. Your home is your charging station.
Electric vehicle owners report only needing to plug in at home over 95% of the time. Since the total range of an average electric car is over 500km, you can go straight home without stopping at the gas station and charge up in the convenience of your own home!
While you can install a fast Level 2 charger in your home, lots of people get by just fine by plugging into a regular extension cord - as shown in this video.
Did you know? Canmore and Banff have 5 EV charging locations each if you need to top up with a faster charger. There are also more and more public electric vehicle charging stations being installed across Canada, including the Peaks to Prairies network across Southern Alberta.
3. EVs can travel far and wide.
EVs are an excellent commuter vehicle option. New EVs offer 350-550km of range and the ability to recharge at home every night or top up at work. For longer trips, the network of EV chargers is growing fast all across Canada and the United States. Explore various apps and planning tools to customize your next long road trip and charge along the way!
With network maps like PlugShare, and EVHype, and tools and guides like ChargeHub to plan your route, driving an electric vehicle is getting easier every year. Most EVs combine battery data with their GPS units so that you can predict how much charge you will have at your destination!
4. EVs are cheap to run and maintain.
While EVs may be slightly more expensive upfront than a gas-powered car, they save money and time in the long-run.
Your break even point (how soon your fuel savings from switching to an EV makes up for the difference in purchase price) may be as little as 3-5 years. This 2022 report compares different EV models with their gas powered counterparts and found that over 8 years all EV models were cheaper, some by over $15,000! Plus, as EVs are becoming more popular, their affordability is ever increasing!
5. EVs are better for the environment.
Last but not definitely least, EVs have much lower CO2 emissions than gas vehicles. While EVs are not the only solution to future transportation, they are much better than their gasoline counterparts.
EVs in Alberta produce roughly half the greenhouse gas emissions compared to a similar gas vehicle when comparing the total life-cycle, including manufacturing, operation and end-of-life, even on our current grid.
Did you know? EV batteries are made from lithium-ion, the same battery used in smartphones, laptops, and most rechargeable household electronics. Lithium-ion batteries are 90% recyclable, and many companies are considering using used EV batteries as second-life energy storage units.
Curious to learn more? Come out to the Clean Commute Expo in Canmore and Banff this upcoming weekend. Learn and chat directly with EV owners and industry professionals!
Clean Commute Expo: Happening this Weekend!
The Bow Valley's Sustainable Transportation Showcase!
The Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley is hosting the Bow Valley's first Clean Commute Expo on May 4 (Canmore) and May 5 (Banff), 2024. The Expo will showcase a variety of battery-electric vehicles and alternative low-carbon transportation options, provide informative presentations throughout the day and host a wide range of exhibitors, including local businesses and community organizations.
Join us throughout the day for a variety of presentations and to explore a wide range of exhibitors, including local businesses and community organizations such as Rivian, Volvo Calgary and Community Cruisers!
Volunteers Needed! We are still in need of a few volunteers at the Clean Commute Expo to help with various tasks.
Thank you to our Gold Sponsor for the event, Valentine Volvo and Volvo Cars Royal Oak.
April Recap and Exciting News!
Earth Week Highlights
Earth Week was a huge success and resulted in a variety of engaging, inspiring and educational community events. From Earth Talks to Bear Day, we collaborated with local partners to learn, chat and connect around climate-focused topics! Thank you to all who attended.
Community Clean-up: On Earth Day, April 22, a group of dedicated community members and staff embarked on a community clean-up that ended across the highway at Rhythm & Howl! Go team!
Earth Talks: This month's Earth Talk presentation featured the upcycling adventures and eco-action projects of inspiring students from Timberline Academy!
Bear Day: On Saturday, April 20th, Alberta Parks and WildSmart hosted the annual Bear Day at Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park’s Day Lodge to coincide with bears' emergence from their winter dens. This event celebrated and welcomed bears back on the landscape for another year. Be sure to refresh your bear safety knowledge and skills so you are prepared for the upcoming season and bear-aware!
Not the End of the World: The Future Leaders Youth Council of the Biosphere Institute hosted their youth-led event, "Not the End of the World" at the Banff YWCA on Saturday, April 20th. Thirty one participate participated in hands-on workshops and networked with like-minded youth! Bravo!
Workplace Inclusion Charter: Silver Status!
In other exciting news, the Biosphere Institute is thrilled to announce that we achieved Silver Status with the Workplace Inclusion Charter and are one of the newest members of the Bow Valley Pride Network! We look forward to continuing this work with Bow Valley Immigration Partnership and our fellow community organizations.
Thank You to Wild Life Distillery and Friends!
We are excited to share that Wild Life Distillery's "Rye in the Rockies Cocktail Competition" resulted in a profit of $2,400 that was donated to the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley! At this SOLD OUT event, competitors were challenged to incorporate an element of sustainability behind the bar into a unique cocktail presentation for the judges and crowd. We are so humbled and grateful to have such a supportive and creative community!
Upcoming Events!
MAy 13 - Earth Talks
Climate Engineering: Restoration or another step to a dystopian future?
Join us with Dr. David Keith at the Canmore Public Library for his presentation “Climate engineering: restoration ecology or another step to a dystopian technofuture?”
This Earth Talks event will take place on Monday, May 13, 2024 in the Friends Program Room at the Canmore Public Library at 7:00pm.
Geoengineering considers dispersing particles into the Earth's atmosphere to slow global warming. Dr. Keith will share his work around geoengineering and carbon removal, considering both climate science and environmental politics, and answer questions from attendees.
Attendees will learn:
A basic intro to solar geoengineering and carbon removal
Climate context
Environmental politics
Admission is FREE with donations graciously accepted.
Eco-Anxiety Workshop - May 6, 2024
Active Hope: Practices for Moving Through Eco-Anxiety
Do you worry about climate change? Do your worries turn into anxiety? Facilitated group conversations and practical ways to reframe your thoughts provide hope. Register for Active Hope: Practices for Moving Through Eco-anxiety offered by Heidi Widmer and Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley on May 6th, 7pm at the YWCA Banff.
Monthly Climate Conversations - May 29, 2024
This past month, we hosted our first of many sessions of Community Climate Conversations in partnership with Bow Valley Climate Action.
Join us monthly at the Biosphere Office to find community connections, inspiration and answers to some of the climate solutions that apply to the Bow Valley.
Green Buildings Open House - June 1, 2024
Stay tuned for the map going live on May 1st!
Save the date! The Green Buildings Open House is back this year by popular demand. On June 1st, 2024, the Biosphere Institute is hosting our annual Green Buildings Open House based on the popular Eco Solar Homes Tour! The open-house event will feature buildings displaying leadership in sustainable design, construction, and practices, including renewable energy, water and energy efficiency, passive house and net-zero principles, and more.
