An op-ed, short for “opposite the editorial page”, is a written prose piece, which expresses the opinion of an author usually not affiliated with the publication’s editorial board.
I drove from Saskatoon to Edmonton in an EV, and it went exactly how you think it would.
Originally published Dec. 18 on LinkedIn here.
I know what you’re thinking: Who willingly drives an electric vehicle (EV) from Saskatoon to Edmonton in the dead of winter? We all know it’s a bad idea, borderline dangerous, but I thought, how bad could it be? Spoiler: It was worse. Much worse.
Saskatoon – 10:00 AM (-7°C)
0 hrs – 0 km
It all started when the rental company handed me a shiny 2024 Kia Niro EV. I had requested a car. You know, a real car with an engine. But the nice lady at the counter informed me that EVs were all they had. She reassured me with a bright smile, “Oh, it’s no problem! 300 km of range, an hour to charge, you’ll be fine!”
I was told the car had been charged to 97%; however, by the time I got in, the battery had already dropped below 80% – a not-so-promising start to the journey.
Charging the battery in North Battleford, SK.
North Battleford – 11:30 AM (-10°C)
1.5 hrs – 130 km
I barely made it to North Battleford. The battery was on life support as I pulled into the Canadian Tire parking lot to recharge.
Cost: $20/hr. Estimated charge time: 2 hours.
I settled for a 90-minute charge, just enough to scrape my way to Lloydminster, Alberta. I couldn’t help but notice the drivers at the gas pumps, refueling quickly and continuing on their way, while I waited for the car to gain enough charge to crawl to the next stop.
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“Fast” charging the car in Lloydminster, AB.
Lloydminster – 2:30 PM (-15°C)
4.5 hrs – 260 km
Driving slower and turning down the heat helped conserve battery. By the time I limped into Lloydminster, the EV dashboard read 5% battery remaining. I had made it halfway to Edmonton, yet I was already 4.5 hours in. If I had been driving a gas-powered car (ICE vehicle, as the EV crowd likes to call them), I would’ve been in Edmonton already, cozy and warm.
Instead, I was staring down the barrel of another 3-4 hours of charging time for what should have been 2.5 driving hours left.
Vandalized EV charging station in Vegreville, AB.
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Vegreville – 5:00 PM (-16°C)
7 hrs – 418 km
Almost there… until I wasn’t. The final top-up charge before Edmonton was in Vegreville. I pulled up to the charger only to discover it was out of service. Someone had cut and stolen the charging cable for its copper. My EV was almost out of battery. I checked my phone for nearby chargers – all were out of range.
At this point, it hit me: Driving an EV in Canada in the winter isn’t just inconvenient. It’s dangerous.
Stranded and frozen on the side of the Yellowhead Highway is not where I wanted to end up. I drove the car into a nearby hotel parking lot, plugged the car into a 110V outlet, and got a room.
78 hours to charge.
Vegreville – 9:00 AM (-25°C)
23 hrs – 418 km
I woke up hopeful. The car had been charging overnight, surely I could at least limp to Edmonton?
Nope.
The display showed 78 hours to a full charge. I called the rental company, and they sent a tow truck. That’s right – I finished my great EV adventure in a diesel truck.
Edmonton – 5:00 PM (-20°C)
31 hrs – 510 km I finally arrived in Edmonton, 31 hours after leaving Saskatoon. To put it in perspective, the drive itself is about 5.5 hours. The tow truck driver, likely used to these types of rescues, shared a chilling story of a Tesla owner who had to break a window to escape because the battery had died, locking the power doors shut.
The True Cost
This trip didn’t just waste time—it cost me all my meetings and added unnecessary expenses. Between charging fees, waiting hours, and relying on a tow truck, the inconvenience and costs of this journey far outweighed any benefits. This trip was a stark reminder that EVs, as they are today, are not practical for Canada’s winters.
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Lessons Learned
1. EVs and Canadian Winters Don’t Mix – Cold weather destroys battery range, charging infrastructure is sparse, and vandalism can leave you stranded.
2. Range Estimates Are Overly Optimistic – The advertised range doesn’t account for cold weather, snow-covered highways, or real-world conditions. What looks like 300 km on paper quickly becomes 150 km—or less—in practice.
3. The System Isn’t Ready – Our government wants full electric adoption, but the product doesn’t work in Canada’s extreme conditions.
Canada’s Transportation Problem
The Canadian government is pushing hard for full EV adoption, aiming for 100% of new light-duty vehicle sales to be zero-emission by 2035 and 60% by 2030, supported by rebates and infrastructure investments. That means you might end up in the exact situation I did: stranded and frustrated in the middle of winter.
EV batteries simply aren’t capable of handling the extreme cold, leaving drivers vulnerable.
Block heaters are a standard feature on many vehicles sold in Canada because of the extreme cold—they’re a practical necessity. Meanwhile, EVs, which face even greater challenges in winter, are sold without addressing these critical reliability issues. The inconsistency isn’t just frustrating—it’s unsafe.
In contrast, other nations like China are taking a more practical approach with Extended Range Electric Vehicles (EREVs). These vehicles use smaller batteries for short trips but include small gas engines to extend range on longer drives. It’s a solution that acknowledges real-world challenges while still reducing emissions.
Instead of focusing on ideology, China’s emphasis on practicality means fewer stranded drivers and more reliable transportation. Canada, on the other hand, is charging forward with an EV agenda that creates poor products, poor services, and puts Canadians at risk.
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The Road Ahead
Canada needs to be realistic. EVs work well in urban centers, but for rural areas and long-distance travel – especially in winter – we need better solutions. Whether it’s EREVs, improved infrastructure, or alternatives, our country can’t afford to gamble with its transportation systems.
In the meantime, I’ll stick to gas-powered cars.
Robert Skarzynski is a Canadian entreprenuer and logistics professional with experience in transportation and supply chains. A Winnipeg native, he has a deep understanding of the challenges posed by Canada’s winters and how they impact infrastructure and transportation systems. Through his work, he focuses on finding practical solutions to improve reliability and efficiency in the industry, while sharing insights on the evolving future of transportation.
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