I was fortunate to complete two EV road trips over the course of two weeks in the summer of 2024. They mainly took place in Northern B.C. I used two different EVs and charged at over 40 locations using a variety of EV charging infrastructure, networks, power outputs and speeds. See my travels from Vancouver to Dawson Creek with an F-150 Lightning here.
This trip was done in my Tesla Model Y Long Range (75kWh battery, 525 km rated range). It was approximately 2500km of driving (excluding ferry travel), much of which was outside of Tesla Supercharging coverage. We relied on a CCS adapter and the public charging network on northern Vancouver Island and in the northern mainland of B.C. These routes have plentiful charging stations, mostly by BC Hydro, but we also used charging stations from a variety of other providers.
Our route went from Vancouver to Nanaimo, then to the northern tip of Vancouver Island where we rode the Inside Passage ferry from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert. We took HWY 16 eastward with a side trip into Stewart on HWY 37, then returned to Vancouver via HWY 97 to Cache Creek, HWY 1 to Kamloops, and HWY 5 to Hope. We consumed about 420 kWh of power for a driving cost of $145 on this trip.
- Find charging stations on PlugShare
- Create your BC Hydro EV account
- Up to Speed guide for new EV drivers
- Learn about types of charging stations
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Submit your #LiveElectric story
Charging stations and adapters
We recently purchased an A2Z Thunderstorm plug adapter. This device allows a Tesla vehicle to use CCS charging stations. Without it, we could only use Tesla Superchargers. It’s essential for travelling in the north west as the Tesla Supercharger network covers Vancouver to Prince George but hasn’t extended to HWY 16 west yet.
Tesla’s charging plug became the North American Charging Standard (NACS) in 2022, but at this point, virtually all non-Tesla vehicles still use the Combined Charging System plug (CCS). There is a broad transition underway to switch from CCS to NACS and standardize one plug-type in North America. Other EV models have recently been granted access to the Supercharger network, notably Ford and Rivian vehicles. They must use an adapter, and other manufacturers are going the same way. All EV makers in North America plan to adopt the NACS charging port instead of CCS, and non-Tesla stations will also begin using NACS plugs, but the existing hardware has not been replaced. Therefore, the current stations outside of Superchargers still require Tesla vehicles to use an adapter. See more about plug types and charging stations in our Up to Speed guide for new EV drivers.
You will often hear that Tesla’s Superchargers have the most coverage of any charging network, and are a compelling reason for drivers to go with Tesla. In many places that is true, but B.C. is different in that we have coverage from BC Hydro, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, Fortis BC, convenience store chains, local and Indigenous governments all providing stations beyond Tesla Supercharger coverage.
Those stations use CCS connectors instead of the Tesla (or NACS) connector. So, Tesla drivers in B.C. should check their route in advance and purchase a NACS to CCS adapter if necessary. Use PlugShare to find stations along your route. CCS chargers are also plentiful on the routes covered by Superchargers and an adapter can open up more charging options.
My road trip with a Tesla Model Y was a good demonstration of B.C.’s full charging network. I was able to use charging stations confidently with the Tesla app and the HWY 16 corridor is very hassle-free with numerous non-Tesla fast-charging options, mostly BC Hydro stations, from Prince Rupert to Prince George.
Vancouver Island
After taking the ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo, we topped up at a Supercharger station before travelling up island. While driving from Vancouver to Horseshoe Bay and riding the ferry doesn’t use much of the battery, Nanaimo has the last Superchargers on Vancouver Island before heading north. We charted course to Telegraph Cove and stopped at the BC Hydro fast-charging stations in Campbell River to test our adapter for the very first time. It worked like a charm on the first try and this was a relief as we would rely on the A2Z adapter for the next few days.
Campbell River to Port Hardy is 235 km, which most modern EVs can handle, though the route includes some big climbs and can surprise you with wind and rain that impact efficiency. If you drive a Tesla and aren’t used to stations outside the Supercharger network, you might feel some range anxiety creeping in. But there is a network of CCS chargers giving you options at Sayward, Woss, Port McNeill and Port Hardy. They are operated by BC Hydro and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOI). There is never a gap more than 80 km, so all you need is an adapter and a BC Hydro EV account. The MOTI stations in Woss are free and do not require an account.
We planned to stay at Telegraph Cove Resort because it was close enough to the ferry terminal in Port Hardy and because it has overnight Level 2 charging. Both stations were being used by other EVs when we arrived, but each room had a wall outlet. So we used the wall outlet to trickle charge and moved onto a level 2 station when it was available later. We left early the next morning with a full charge and had time for a scenic detour to visit San Joseph Bay at Cape Scott Provincial Park. This is a 100 km return trip on gravel roads, and is why we were diligent about charging overnight in order to account for driving to the park while still having a healthy tank of electrons before boarding the ferry.
TRAVEL TIP: Batteries charge quickest when they are close to empty; so optimize your trip by driving until the battery is below 20% before recharging. EVs throttle back their fast-charging speed above 70-80% battery charge. They do this in order to prevent battery degredation from fast-charging. At this point, it is better to hit the road until you need to charge again. If you are staying longer (having a meal, etc.), be mindful of other drivers who may need to use a charging station. It is common for charging stations to have “idle fees” to discourage users from dwelling while fully charged. See more about charging stations and road trips in our Up to Speed guide for new EV drivers.
Many BC Hydro fast-charging stations are currently 50 kW, although higher powered units are now rolling out, and the locations are usually central and convenient. The charging site in Port Hardy is a good example. It has two stations and one has been upgraded to 100 kW. We used that one to top up to 90% while we grabbed a bite at a nearby café after the park trip.
TRAVEL TIP: When taking a multi-day EV road trip, look for accommodations that provide overnight charging. You can find hotels with charging stations by looking for level 2 chargers on PlugShare. EV charging stations are also searchable amenities on vacation rental platforms. You might also be able to use wall plugs, RV plugs, etc., but please check with the accommodation before charging.
You shouldn’t see substantial battery consumption while riding the ferry. There may be a tiny bit of consumption if you are using an app connected to the car. Tesla drivers may opt to disable Sentry Mode in order to prevent battery use on the long ferry ride from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert.
Prince Rupert, Stewart and HWY 16
We stayed overnight in Prince Rupert and there was no charging available at our accommodation. We plugged into a BC Hydro fast-charging station the next day to get fully charged while visiting the fantastic Northwest BC museum and nearby parks. We didn’t need to charge at this point, but it was convenient to do so.
The route from Prince Rupert to Stewart is nothing short of spectacular with with glacier topped mountains towering over the Skeena Valley. There is a growing number of charging options along the HWY 16 corridor all the way to Prince George. Our first charging stop was a Circle K/Couche-Tard station in Terrace (which involved downloading the app to use). It is only 150 km from Prince Rupert, but this would be the fastest station on our trip outside of Tesla Superchargers. Like the units used by On-the-Run, this is a Freewire battery buffered station and has 200 kW output. It is much faster than the free 50 kw MOTI station at the Boulder Creek Rest Area about 50km further east.
We took HWY 37 north to visit Stewart. This route was not really a feasible option for EVs needing fast charging until this summer. EV drivers have been travelling this route using level 2 chargers, but no fast-chargers were available until recently. Now there is a 200 kW EV Connect station at Meziadin Junction. It can be activated with the EV Connect app using complimentary WiFi on site.
While there, we spoke with a couple from Haines, Alaska heading south. They reported that another 200 kW station had just opened in Iskut, making the trip from Alaska in their Tesla Model 3 LR a more convenient drive instead of using RV parks for a more cumbersome journey along the Alaskan HWY. An additional station in Dease Lake is schedule to come online this year.
Our overnight stay at an AirBnB in Stewart provided us with a Level 1 (110V) trickle charge. We also used a Level 2 ChargePoint charger at the nearby Visitor Information Centre and topped up at the Meziadin Junction fast-charging station before driving back to HWY 16 and continuing east. Once we were back on HWY16 heading east to Prince George, a stop at the BC Hydro station in Smithers (50 kW) allowed us ample time to get lunch and take in the community.
Prince George to Vancouver
We made another stop at a BC Hydro station in Fraser Lake then skipped the Tesla Superchargers in Prince George, opting to use the Superchargers in Quesnel instead. There, the signs of wildfires were clearly visible. The smoke was coming in from multiple directions and we received an evacuation alert as we approached Quesnel for our final night’s stay.
TRAVEL TIP: Some EVs, including Teslas, automatically precondition the running battery in anticipation of the next charging spot in the navigation system. This ensures that the battery is at the optimal temperature to accept a faster and more powerful charge. Battery preconditioning makes it worthwhile to charge when you arrive at your destination for an overnight stop rather than waiting until the morning when the battery has cooled. That’s why we used the Supercharger in Quesnel even though we were staying there overnight. See more about charging and planning for road trips in our Up to Speed guide for new EV drivers.
We returned to Vancouver the next day and it was straightforward in terms of charging, as we stuck with Tesla Superchargers. However, the return trip involved a detour on the return as HWY1 was closed south of Cache Creek due to a wildfire near Ashcroft, sending traffic to Kamloops and then the HWY5 Coquihalla south instead.
- Find charging stations on PlugShare
- Create your BC Hydro EV account
- Up to Speed guide for new EV drivers
- Learn about types of charging stations
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Submit your #LiveElectric story