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 Inside Passage Circle Tour using a Tesla Model Y here.
This post is all about going from Vancouver to Dawson Creek for a work trip in our rental F-150 Lightning. I drove the Ford F-150 Lightning XLT Standard Range (98kWh battery) approximately 2400km. The vehicle consumed over 660 kWh of power and I spent $218 on charging, using a variety of fast-charging providers common in B.C.
Keep in mind that the Lightning has a very large battery compared to most sedans and crossovers, is a large and heavy pickup, and we were fully loaded with event equipment like a pop-up tent, sandbags, tables and bins of various supplies.
- 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
This EV road trip to Dawson Creek was to participate in the 29th Annual Summer Cruise car show hosted by the Mile Zero Cruisers. The Plug In BC and Emotive teams sponsored the Electric Avenue section of the event taking up a large portion of the downtown core. I drove from Vancouver to the Peace region with a 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning Standard Range (range of 386 km), and we were joined by other EV participants such as a Rivian R1T (range of 435 km), Subaru Solterra (360 km), 2 Hyundai IONIQ 5s (488 km) and our demo Hyundai IONIQ 6 (581 km).
Vancouver to Kamloops-ish
The F-150 Lightning was able to use HOV Lanes with the OK sticker which saved some time along HWY1 from Vancouver to Hope. There, I parked to get some food for the trip while charging. Hope has several charging sites both for Tesla and for CCS (Combined Charging System), which all modern non-Tesla vehicles use. Ford EVs can use Tesla Superchargers with an adapter, but our complementary adapter from Ford had not arrived yet.
I used the Chevron On-the-Run stations in Hope, which can be activated with the Journie app or simply by credit card. These stations provide up to 150 kW output, which maxes out the F-150’s charging speed. They are battery buffered stations, meaning that they have a large internal battery to dispense power at a high rate, but if they are depleted on a busy day, they will fall back on a much lower powered grid connection to recharge.
I also tried the BC Hydro 25 kW charging stations in Hope. They are near a grocery store that I decided to shop at, so I plugged in to see how they perform. They connected flawlessly and worked well, but 25 kW is low power compared to the size of the truck’s battery, so it wouldn’t be realistic to use these for a quick charge on a road trip. After getting supplies and a short charging session, I was ready to continue along the Trans-Canada HWY through historic Yale.
TRAVEL TIP: Charging stations have different power levels measured in kilowatts (kW). In B.C., you will see fast-chargers ranging from 25 to 350 kW! More is faster, providing that your vehicle can use faster charging. Look up your vehicle’s charging capabilities and select stations of corresponding power. You won’t damage your vehicle on a higher powered station, but they tend to cost more. See more about charging and planning for road trips in our Up to Speed guide for new EV drivers.
Shortly before Hell’s Gate, the highway was closed and traffic was turned back due to a severe accident. This meant travelling back to Hope and taking the Coquihalla HWY 5. Having to double back, I realized that I likely would not travel to Prince George in one day. I drove back to Hope and stopped at On-the-Run again for a brief charge. This was a short top-up, but I thought it would be helpful to charge when I had the chance, considering that all traffic from the Fraser Canyon would be diverted to HWY 5 and that charging stations further along the route may be busy.
My next stop was in Merritt, I tried to use On the Run stations again there, but they had been depleted already and were only providing the minimal 7 kW. Other charging options in Merritt include Electrify Canada at Canadian Tire, BC Hydro stations at the Visitor Information Centre, and three Tesla Supercharger sites with a fourth under construction for Tesla drivers (or others who can use them with an adapter).
I headed to the nearby Electrify Canada stations at Canadian Tire for a much quicker charge. That would take me to a camping spot at Tunkwa Provincial Park. There was no way to charge at the park, but the vehicle’s navigation assured me that I would easily get to the BC Hydro station in Cache Creek the following day by travelling westward through Savona along the Trans-Canada HWY.
TRAVEL TIP: There are a few reasons to use your EV’s navigation system on road trips. Depending on its sophistication, it may be able to plan charging stops, make changes in real-time based on your efficiency, and provide a reassuring display of your remaining range compared to your destination. If your vehicle is equipped with battery preconditioning, it is likely triggered by having a fast-charging station in the navigation system. See more about charging and planning for road trips in our Up to Speed guide for new EV drivers.
There are 50kW and 100kW CCS chargers at the Cache Creek Visitor Information Centre. Tesla drivers can also find Supercharger stations there. BC Hydro stations can be activated with a BC Hydro EV account, either using the app or an RFID card that can be ordered from BC Hydro. If you are stopping to eat while you charge, there are a few fast-food chains nearby or Hungry Herbie’s Drive-In diner right across the road from the charging stations.
Heading north on HWY 97, there are fast-charging stations in Clinton, 70 Mile and 100 Mile House, but I did not need to use those. My next stop was in Williams Lake. I attempted to charge at the BC Hydro stations at City Hall but couldn’t activate them due to an unusual communication issue. This was surprising, since BC Hydro stations are usually very reliable. These particular units are older 50 kW chargers so wouldn’t be the optimal place to charge anyway. I went to the On-the-Run stations at the intersection of HWYs 20 and 97. This was the biggest charging session of the trip as I took in 73 kWh and spoke a while with other EV roadtrippers.
There was one last charging session on this leg of the trip: a shorter charge at On-the-Run station in Quesnel for 25 kWh before continuing to Prince George. There I met with my colleagues, Michael and Zach, who would also travel to Dawson Creek the following day. I was stayed at the Best Western Plus in Prince George where there is a complimentary Level 2 charger that got the truck fully charged by the morning.
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.
If you don’t have access to overnight charging, it’s best to use a fast-charging station when you arrive at your destination instead of waiting until the next morning. This is because you will be arriving with a warm battery and it will charge faster than letting the battery cool overnight. Waiting until morning means that the battery will need to pre-condition or warm up while charging before getting its best charging speed.
Prince George to Dawson Creek
Prince George to Dawson Creek was a shorter trip than the previous day’s travel (only 400 km), but did involve some climbing through the Pine Pass. Given that our F-150 Lightning had the standard-range battery, it would still need a charging session. Thankfully, there are three charging sites along the way with more being added in 2024. Michael and Zach were travelling separately in a Hyundai IONIQ 6, and we decided to meet at the first charging stations, at McLeod Lake. These are 25 kW BC Hydro stations and we didn’t need to use them, but decided to check them out since we were passing by.
The site is at Tse’Khene Food and Fuel so it would also be a good place to get snacks and use washrooms. Coincidentally, two other crews of EV travellers were there at the same time, also going to the car show in Dawson Creek. If it’s your first time visiting this spot, make sure to use your navigation system. It requires a tight turn across the highway with no turning lane, and we didn’t notice any EV charging signage.
The next charging site, and our real charging stop, was in Mackenzie. These stations were just opened the week we arrived – so we were the very first visitors there! Mackenzie is 30 km off of HWY 97, or a 60 km total addition to the trip, but the new stations are so much faster than others on the route that it’s still the quickest option – though you may elect for Bannock tacos and a slower charge at McLeod Lake. Additional charging stations at Bear Lake and Chetwynd will be the time optimized choices when they come online later in 2024.
The Mackenzie site has two of BC Hydro’s new 180kW stations that can split power and charge two EVs at the same time (total of four EVs using both stations). This provided the fastest charge of our journey and the truck took in 44 kWh before we continued through the northern Rockies to East Pine Rest Area. The rest area has older 25 kW fast-charging stations and a level 2 station. They are provided by the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI). All stations there are free to use and do not require any app or RFID card to activate. Like McLeod Lake, we didn’t need to use these, but stopped to make sure they were working (and to use washrooms at the rest area).
Dawson Creek and Back
When we arrived at the famous Mile 0 sign in Dawson Creek, we were delighted to see the same high-powered BC Hydro stations being installed in the Visitor Information Centre parking lot. According to PlugShare, there are multiple DCFC stations opening up soon along the Alaska Highway (HWY 97 north of Dawson Creek) . PlugShare shows that, BC Hydro stations are open in Wonowon and Prophet River, with more opening soon in Fort St. John and Dawson Creek. Additional Co-op stations are under development in Fort St. John and MOTI free 50 kW stations are open at the Mile 80 rest stop. This is suddenly becoming one of the best serviced corridors for EV travel in B.C.!
Since the fast-charging site in Dawson Creek wasn’t open yet, we relied on level 2 charging stations while staying in Dawson Creek. There are several places with free level 2 chargers, mostly through the Sun Country network. I was able to recharge the Ford F-150 Lightning overnight at the Peavey Mart beside our hotel. Having a full battery allowed us to share power with other EVs during the Mile Zero Cruisers car show. The hotels in Dawson Creek also have block heater plugs, but we did not inquire about using them as the nearby level 2 chargers was a much better option.
We stayed in Dawson Creek for one more night after the car show and easily charged the truck back up to full before travelling back to Prince George the next day and to Vancouver after that. Charging stops were essentially the same on the return trip, except that I was able to travel through the Fraser Canyon instead of detouring through Kamloops. Virtually all modern EVs can go from Cache Creek to Hope without needing to charge, but there are fast-charging stations at Red Hill Rest Area and in Boston Bar, should you elect to make a stop.
The standard range Ford Lightning has a large battery compared to many other EVs, but the battery is still relatively small for the truck’s size and shape. It also has a conservative charging speed compared to other modern EVs. Therefore, it needs to be charged more often and a little bit longer than comparable EVs, but the availability of high-powered, convenient charging stations on this route made for an enjoyable and absolutely doable EV road trip. It will only get better with several new charging sites north of Prince George coming online this year.
- 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