EV Basics

Before getting into the details of charging, range, or cost, it helps to start with the fundamentals of how EVs actually work and what makes them different to drive. This section covers the terminology you’ll run into as a new EV owner, from the difference between a BEV and a PHEV to what a kWh actually measures, along with what changes about the driving experience itself and how EVs stack up environmentally once Canada’s provincial electricity grids are factored in.

Are EVs Actually Better for the Environment?
Yes, across their full lifecycle, including manufacturing, and this holds true in every Canadian province, even ones with fossil-fuel-heavy electricity grids. The common counterargument, that…
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Are EVs Safe?
Yes, by the available crash and fire data, EVs are at least as safe as comparable gas vehicles, and in some measures, safer. That said,…
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How Is Driving an EV Different?
Get behind the wheel of an EV for the first time and the differences show up fast, usually within the first few minutes, not the…
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What Is kWh?
A kilowatt-hour (kWh) is the standard unit used to measure both how much energy an EV’s battery can store and how much electricity you use…
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What Is Regenerative Braking?
Regenerative braking is how most EVs slow down without relying entirely on the friction brakes, using the electric motor itself to slow the car while…
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Where Does My Province Get Its Electricity From?
It varies enormously by province, and it’s genuinely one of the more surprising things new EV owners learn: depending on where you live, your electricity…
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What Is an Electric Vehicle?
An electric vehicle is a car powered partly or entirely by electricity stored in a battery, rather than by burning gasoline or diesel. Instead of…
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What Is the Difference Between BEV and PHEV?
Both are plug-in vehicles, but they solve a different problem. A BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) runs entirely on electricity with no gas engine at all.…
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Is an EV Right for Me?
There’s no universal answer, an EV fits some drivers extremely well and fits others poorly, and the difference usually comes down to a handful of…
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