The number of Albertans with electric vehicles is growing year-over-year, according to provincial data. Amoklv/Dreamstime.com

By Jesse Gill

Medicine Hat carries out infrastructure upgrades to prepare for electric vehicles

Oct 8, 2024 | 5:19 PM

Farm owner Laverne Gill is among a small but steadily growing minority of Albertans who own an electric vehicle, a trend the City of Medicine Hat is preparing for by upgrading its energy infrastructure.

“They pull like a freight train,” Gill said Tuesday of 2024 Chevrolet Silverado that he bought a month ago.

“You do see a degradation in the batter use with the extra weight behind, but as far as acceleration and that kind of thing, you don’t notice hardly anything, so very, very positive from that aspect.”

Gill also likes not having to worry about oil changes and enjoys the truck’s simple design.

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The city is monitoring the growth in demand for electric vehicles as time goes on.

The number of registered electric vehicles grew to about 14,000 in March 2024 from about 9,300 in March 2023, according to data released by the Alberta government.

Devon Hanson, supervising engineer for the Medicine Hat’s electric utility, said the city is already providing 200-amp service to all new lots within Medicine Hat to allow for Level 2 charging through a 30-amp receptacle.

Devon Hanson, supervising engineer for the electric utility, says Medicine Hat is proactively providing 200 amps to all new lots. Bob Schneider/CHAT News

However, depending on the usage, a Level 1 charger that uses a 15-amp receptacle may be adequate, according to Hanson.

“That’s good for a typical commuter in Medicine Hat,” he told CHAT News.

“If you’re a low-mileage user just getting around town, a Level 1 charger likely would be sufficient for you,” he added.

“”A Level 2 charger, however, typically does require a service upgrade to 200 amps, that’s for people that want to get a full battery or most of a battery in one evening rather than just trickle charging every single day.”

The City of Medicine Hat at this time won’t cover the costs associated with upgrading service to homes from 100 to 200 amps.

Hanson said some transformers in older areas of the city may need to be upgraded. He added that homeowners can use load-shedding, a more cost-effective approach.

To completely power his truck’s 205-kilowatt battery, Gill uses a 30-amp receptacle.

Laverne Gill says he uses excess power from his farm’s solar panels to charge his truck. Bob Schneider/CHAT News

“I can charge about 70 to 80 per cent of the battery capacity in about a 24-hour period,” Gill said.

“We have solar panels so we’re able to charge during the day, and any excess power that we have — rather than it going to the grid — would go towards charging our truck.”