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Be prepared for storm season. Safety tips and videos

Be prepared for storm season. Safety tips and videos

Stories & Features

Safe winter driving in B.C.: tips and trips

Snowy conditions on the road with a signage: chain up area It's the law to have winter tires and chains when driving most B.C. highways after October 1. And that's just the start of what to know and prepare to drive safely in challenging conditions.

Plan ahead, drive with care, and consider these road trips

We love summer, but B.C. is a four-season playground that serves up fun in the snow, big-time events and more during the winter months.

That usually means packing bags and gear into our gas or electric vehicles and heading out on our roads, which can range from tricky to treacherous in the winter months. All travel on highways outside the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island between October 1 and April 30 requires that we only travel in vehicles equipped with snow tires or chains.

Today, we take a look at winter road safety, including some specific information for EV drivers, while also offering some ideas for road trips around the province.

Winter driving

Winter driving with an EV

Two winter road trips in B.C.

Winter driving safety: the basics

While there are different considerations for winter driving in an electric vehicle versus a gas vehicle, there are basic tips that apply to both.

  • Know the law – winter tires or chains are required on most B.C. highways between October 1 and April 30.
  • Check weather, highway conditions and tire requirements at DriveBC.ca before every trip.
  • Be patient and plan extra time: Snow plows, salt trucks, and slower vehicles are part of winter travel.
  • Give snow plows extra space – stay at least 30 m back in town, 70 m on highways, and never pass a plow on the right.
  • Keep your vehicle visible: clean lights, mirrors and sensors.
  • Use low beams in snow or fog, as high beams can reflect glare.
  • Keep washer fluid rated for -35 °C or lower, and replace wipers if they streak.
  • Check tire pressure regularly – it drops roughly 1 psi for every 5°C decrease in temperature.
  • Avoid using cruise control on slippery roads.
  • Carry an emergency kit that includes a first aid kit, phone charger, blankets and gloves, water, snacks, road flares or reflective triangles.
  • Watch for wildlife, especially at dawn and dusk. Deer, moose, and elk are more active in winter and can be difficult to spot in low light.

Did you know? A downed power line is danger. Stay back at least 10 metres and call 911. Always assume that a downed, sagging, low-hanging or damaged power line is live, even if it’s not sparking or making any sound.

Winter driving in an electric vehicle

Battery packs add weight, and in general, that makes EVs more sure-footed on snow and ice than most gas-powered vehicles. But there are things to learn to get the most out of driving an EV in winter.

  • Pre-condition your EV battery on your way to the charger: Many newer EVs let you warm the battery so that it can accept faster charging at a public fast charger.
  • Pre-heat your EV's cabin while charging: Warm your cabin while the vehicle is still charging instead of draining your battery after you unplug, so you can keep more range for the road.
  • Plan for reduced winter driving range: Expect 20-40% less range in sub-zero conditions and to charge more frequently. Batteries are less efficient in cold weather, and features to help keep you warm, such as heating the cabin, draw extra power.
  • Use our public charging network, recognized for its reliability: If you need to top up on the road, download the app for our EV public charging network, which has 700 ports across B.C. and was recently rated by ChargeHub as one of the top six networks in North America.
  • Use seat and steering-wheel heaters instead of cabin heat when driving: They use far less power and can make a difference in range.
  • Drive smoothly and manage traction: EVs deliver instant torque, which can cause wheelspin in slippery conditions. Use "snow" or "comfort" mode if it's available.
  • Exercise caution when using regenerative braking on slippery surfaces, as this can cause wheel slip or loss of traction, especially if the braking force is too strong or sudden. If your vehicle has the option, it's usually recommended to switch to a lower regen setting or "creep" mode on snowy, icy or wet roads.
  • Keep charge ports and connectors clean and dry: Snow and ice can block the charge port door. Use a dry cloth to wipe connectors and don't force a frozen latch.
  • Get weatherproof EV charging gear: Carry a backup portable charging cable (Level 1 or 2) or extension cord rated for outdoor winter use in Canada and approved for use with your vehicle by the vehicle manufacturer.
John Legend poster of performance in Rogers Arena Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter John Legend is one of the big acts hitting Rogers Arena in Vancouver over the next few months.

Ready to go: Trips and fun around B.C.

Vernon to Vancouver: Music, comedy, and sports

Highway 97 south through Kelowna, on to the Okanagan Connector to the Coquihalla is the slightly faster option, but Highway 97 north and west to Kamloops works as well. Check weather and road conditions to help select the safer route.

Things to do in Metro Vancouver

  • Big music acts: Zach Top, Papa Roach, John Legend, Twice, The Offspring/Bad Religion, Ghost, and Cardi B take over from hockey at Rogers Arena.
  • Kings of comedy: Joe Koy, Hasan Minhaj, Geoffery Asmus, Modi Rosenfeld, Beth Stelling, and Gavin Matts are among the comics augmenting the vibrant local comedy scene with shows here.
  • PWHL Vancouver: Women's pro hockey kicks off its first season in Vancouver on November 21.
  • Vancouver Canucks: Fans are hungry for the playoffs, and the team needs to start winning to keep super D-man Quinn Hughes – one of the game's most entertaining players – from taking his talents to another NHL city.
  • Abbotsford Canucks: Calder Cup champs return to the ice.
  • Retro rock lives! Skydiggers, April Wine, Robert Plant, Chilliwack, Tea Party/Headstones/Finger Eleven, Our Lady Peace, Men Without Hats, Odds, and Colin James all visit Vancouver in the next few months.
  • New and/or alternative music: The Beths, Sigur Ros, Shame, and The Brian Jonestown Massacre provide a menu for all-ternative tastes, from melodic indie rock, to glacial post-rock, to punk and neo-psychedelia.

EV charging along the way

Tip: Pre-register for a BC Hydro EV account and load funds before you head out. Set up auto-reload so you'll always have funds ready to charge on our network. Get tips at bchydro.com/evhelp.

Here are a few EV stops along the way that all feature fast charging:

  • Lake Country: Large EV charging hub with an ultra-fast 350 kW charger and nine 180 kW chargers. Also has four Level 2 chargers and NACS connectors, so compatible EVs including Tesla don't need an adaptor.
  • Chilliwack – District 1881 Parking: Explore downtown Chilliwack while you charge, with holiday events in November and December at District 1881.
  • Port Moody Recreation Centre: Visit Port Moody and top up with four fast 180 kW chargers and four Level 2 chargers at the site. On December 20, catch live music and a bonfire at the CPKC Holiday Train a short walk away.
  • Abbotsford ICBC Claim Centre: Top up with NACS connectors, four 180 kW chargers and five Level 2 chargers.
  • Langley Events Centre: Stretch your legs at the nearby park while you top up at our large EV charging hub with NACS connectors, six fast chargers (50 to 180 kW) and eight Level 2 chargers.
Person skiing down snowy mountain Powder and snow thrill skiers and riders at Sun Peaks Resort near Kamloops. (Photo courtesy sunpeaksresort.com)

Interior powder: Snow fun in B.C.'s Interior

Whistler-Blackcomb earns the international spotlight, but skiers and riders in the know – especially those who don't want to pay $200-plus for a day on the slopes – head for the dry powder of B.C.'s southern Interior. Depending on where you're heading from the Island or the Lower Mainland, you'll travel Highway 1 until Hope before choosing between the Coquihalla or the Hope-Princeton Highway to get you there.

Where to beat the crowd

  • Big White, Kelowna: Affordable big mountain skiing and accommodations at a family-friendly mountain. Head up for Monday-to-Friday pricing as low as $121 per day for adults, $101 for youth and seniors, and $81 for kids.
  • Revelstoke Mountain Resort: Advanced skiers and riders love the steeps, bowls, and tree skiing at a mountain with long runs and lots of powder.
  • Sun Peaks Resort, Kamloops: A family-friendly European-style village and a huge ski area that spans mountains on two sides of the valley.
  • Baldy Mountain Resort, Oliver: Old-school pricing, a charming bar, and virtually no lineups on powder-strewn terrain. Child day tickets starting at $5 a day, juniors at $50, adults at $67 and seniors at $45.
  • SilverStar Mountain Resort, Vernon: Another affordable alternative with slope-side lodging and interior powder.

EV charging along the way

There's a lot of mountain driving on these trips away via Highway 5 and Highway 3. Plan your journey with the following popular charging sites in mind.

Did you know? At Whistler-Blackcomb, we have a new EV charging site in Day Lot 3 at 4350 Blackcomb Way: 22 Level 2 EV charger ports and ample parking for sport-oriented vehicles, including over-height RVs and those with roof boxes or bike racks.