Fast charging when traveling to Canada

[fishtacos]

Hello, I live up in the PNW and am driving to Canada (Revelstoke, BC) next week. In the US I'm pretty happy with EA and was planning to use Electrify Canada. Does anyone here have experience with it? Are there other charging stations people here like?

Some chargers don't seem to work for people/phones from America. "On-the-go" has an app but I can't download it in the US. There is BC hydro and Flo, but I'm only looking at stations that can do 150kw or more and have at least 6 chargers at stops.

Thanks!

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[Epicloop]

Hello, I live up in the PNW and am driving to Canada (Revelstoke, BC) next week. In the US I'm pretty happy with EA and was planning to use Electrify Canada. Does anyone here have experience with it? Are there other charging stations people here like?

Some chargers don't seem to work for people/phones from America. "On-the-go" has an app but I can't download it in the US. There is BC hydro and Flo, but I'm only looking at stations that can do 150kw or more and have at least 6 chargers at stops.

Thanks!

Currently Chevron is free so that is what I use, just need to get the Journie App.
I have used 150-350kw chargers but only seem to be able to pull 82kw.
Hope BC has several availability is good.
I used a 350kw @ Kamloops Petro-Canada that charged by the minute but only gave 30kw/h.
I think I have only received over 100kw/h once in Langley @ Chevron (On the Run)

 

[jjswan33]

FLO chargers can be activated with the chargepoint app which helps if you need it. My experience with Electrify Canada was about the same as Electrify America meaning I didn’t have many issues using the chargers

 

[Cycliste]

Some chargers don't seem to work for people/phones from America.

If you run into this, try this experiment if using an iPhone. Open settings and search for Region (Settings-> General->Language & Region->Region). Change the region to Canada. Your phone will restart.

See if that fixes the problem with the charger not accepting US phones. You’ll be Canadian until you switch it back to the United States. I’m not sure there is a way to make our vehicles ‘Canadian’ or if you need to.

 

[flush]

For BC, I have so many different apps installed.

Petro-Canada
FLO
SWTCH

in addition to

ChargePoint
EVgo
Electrify America

and my payment is stored for each app directly.

Only sure way to guarantee almost everything works for any charger combination.

Interested in your route to Revelstoke when you are done

 

[flush]

Also check Plugshare for the up-to-date info on which charging station has the best speed.

e.g. on the way to Whistler, the Garibaldi station has 4 chargers that all say 150kW but:
#1 maxes 125kW
#2 maxes 125kW
#3 will max at 50kW
#4 will go to 350kW

 

[CobraJerky]

I did this trip and also continued on to Banff/Canmore. Electrify Canada was my main and reliable. Petro Canada was good as well. Had to use BC Hydro(which wasn’t the fastest) in Radium Hot Springs as no other charging around. Have a great trip!

In Revelstoke is where I saw my first black bear on my trip. Was a fun adventure!

 

[Cycliste]

In Revelstoke is where I saw my first black bear on my trip. Was a fun adventure!

This you?

 

[fishtacos]

Thanks for all the replies, this is super helpful.

1a) I think Electrify Canada seems like the best bet (they also have a bunch of chargers in Revelstoke). For backup, I have Flo / BC Hydro installed.
1b) EC has two rates depending on whether the charge is between 1-90kw vs > 90kw. Is there a way to limit this in the Rivian app? I couldn't find anything. Do you pick this on the charger?

2) I changed my region, installed Journie but can't seem to login on my mobile phone (even though web login works fine). Not sure if the server is checking my actual IP and preventing login. I can try again when I'm in Canada.

3) Plugshare is great. Recent reports from users helps me avoid bad/slow chargers.

 

[LoneI2anger]

1a) I think Electrify Canada seems like the best bet (they also have a bunch of chargers in Revelstoke). For backup, I have Flo / BC Hydro installed.

Having made several roundtrips from Banff Id say so. Dont forget to subscribe for the month of the + pass. A roundtrip should more than make up the value of it (just went up to 7cad)

Side note incase it might inconveniently interrupt your schedule... BC Hydro is relaunching a new EV app and some services will be disrupted on Jan 24/25.


1b) EC has two rates depending on whether the charge is between 1-90kw vs > 90kw. Is there a way to limit this in the Rivian app? I couldn't find anything. Do you pick this on the charger?

Unfortunately no... limiting in Rivian only works on AC charging. I've had a handful of times where it wouldn't go above 90 yet still be charged the higher rate (even after proper pre-conditioning, low SOC etc etc) When it finally charges at ~135, Ill usually make a call where a service rep recognizes the error and will give a refund the difference into the wallet.

That said it's been significantly better as of lately (not sure if it was just a matter of updated communication between the charger and Rivians).

A good tip I do find helpful (as of recent December trip) is to not bother with the 300kW ones and stick to the 150- i've reached ~135-145 no problem on those.

2) I changed my region, installed Journie but can't seem to login on my mobile phone (even though web login works fine). Not sure if the server is checking my actual IP and preventing login. I can try again when I'm in Canada.

Shouldn't experience this on Journey's further out vs in Vancouver but these work off of a large battery reserve thats plugged into the grid. If cars have been hogging it recently the screen will show "Conservation Mode" to allow the battery packs to recharge but it means you'll in turn be receiving a lower kW.

3) Plugshare is great. Recent reports from users helps me avoid bad/slow chargers.

Plugshare is great, feel like there tends to be recent and frequent user updates.

 

[fishtacos]

Trip Report:
Made it to Revelstoke and back without any issues. Range was significantly lower (~200 miles in snow mode) due to colder temperatures but only had to make 2 stops (each way). Charged at Electrify Canada stations in Hope and Kamloops in both directions. They all topped out out at 143 kw (even the 350kw chargers) but that was good enough for my purposes. Hope, BC has a Subway near the chargers where I stopped for lunch/dinner.

BC Hydro was updating their system on Jan 26th and their charger was free in Revelstoke. It was pretty close to my hotel, so I plugged in for an hour and 45 and took in 72kw for free. The 50kw charger topped out at 39kw.

Route: Seattle, Sumas crossing, Hope, Merritt, Kamloops, Revelstoke

 

[Stretch]

Trip Report:
Made it to Revelstoke and back without any issues. Range was significantly lower (~200 miles in snow mode) due to colder temperatures but only had to make 2 stops (each way). Charged at Electrify Canada stations in Hope and Kamloops in both directions. They all topped out out at 143 kw (even the 350kw chargers) but that was good enough for my purposes. Hope, BC has a Subway near the chargers where I stopped for lunch/dinner.

BC Hydro was updating their system on Jan 26th and their charger was free in Revelstoke. It was pretty close to my hotel, so I plugged in for an hour and 45 and took in 72kw for free. The 50kw charger topped out at 39kw.

Route: Seattle, Sumas crossing, Hope, Merritt, Kamloops, Revelstoke

Were you ever able to get the Journie app to work? I'm having the same issue as you where I can log in on the laptop but can't log in to the app on my iPhone. I'm driving from McCall, ID to Banff this summer. Should be fun getting through the charging desert of central Idaho!

 

[fishtacos]

Were you ever able to get the Journie app to work? I'm having the same issue as you where I can log in on the laptop but can't log in to the app on my iPhone. I'm driving from McCall, ID to Banff this summer. Should be fun getting through the charging desert of central Idaho!

I could not get it to work. But it did not seem worth it as those chargers all throttle down to a low speed after 10 minutes or so. My take away was to use electrify canada on the road and something like BC Hydro 50kw chargers as a destination charger while I got breakfast/dinner/beers.

 

[fishtacos]

Were you ever able to get the Journie app to work? I'm having the same issue as you where I can log in on the laptop but can't log in to the app on my iPhone. I'm driving from McCall, ID to Banff this summer. Should be fun getting through the charging desert of central Idaho!

By this summer most of the Tesla superchargers should be available to use so your trip should be pretty straightforward.

 

[Stretch]

Thanks for the replies. Yes, it did seem to be a bit more of a hassle than it's worth. I'd I'm REALLY counting on those Tesla sites being available!

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