If you’re thinking about buying or leasing an electric vehicle for the first time, you might have a lot of questions even if you’re a seasoned car shopper. What is the battery life and range, and will it die in Canadian winters? How do I charge?

You’re not alone, and chances are, CAA has already answered your question.

Over the past several years, our team at CAA Club Group and our partners at CAA National have built out a stable of EV content: buyer’s guides, cost breakdowns, charging explainers, winter performance testing and tools that help you compare your options before you commit.

The content is scattered across a few different corners of our sites, which makes it easy to miss just how much is there. Consider this your electric vehicle resource library.

Below, we've pulled together everything CAA has published on electric vehicles, organized by the questions Canadians are asking: what an EV costs, how charging really works, how EVs hold up in the cold, and how to know if one is right for you.

This is just a starting point as our EV coverage is growing, with more testing, buying guidance, and Canadian performance data on the way in the coming months. Bookmark this page, because we will keep adding to it.

Courtesy of Nexa (adobestock.com).

EV basics: Getting to know electric vehicles

New to electric vehicles? Start with the fundamentals: what is an EV, what types of electric vehicles are on the market and whether an electric car is worth it for the way you drive.

Electric vehicles 101

This primer on the electric vehicle landscape breaks down the four main types on the market — zero-emission battery electric (BEVs), hybrid (HEVs), plug-in hybrid (PHEVs) and fuel-cell (FCEVs) — and what kind of driving each is best suited for.

It also covers two things buyers often overlook: how EV-specific tires can affect range, and what determines whether an EV is “clean,” from manufacturing emissions to its source of electricity for charging to battery recycling.

Everything you need to know about electric vehicles

An overview that tackles the questions new EV shoppers ask most: how much cleaner are EVs? Is Canada's charging network good enough? How reliable are the batteries? Hint for all three: better than most people assume, but public charging infrastructure still has room to grow.

Quiz: Find your perfect electric vehicle

Not sure which EV fits your life? This interactive quiz asks about your driving habits, budget and charging access, then matches you with EVs and hybrids available in Canada and highlights available incentives.

What does an EV cost?

Is an EV cheaper to own than a gas car? Here’s how EV vs. gas cost breaks down, plus the electric car incentives available to Canadian buyers.

Cost of owning an electric vehicle

This one breaks down where EV owners save money (fuel, maintenance and insurance among them) and walks through what to watch for if you’re buying used, since battery health has an impact on resale and replacement cost. It also rounds up current provincial and federal incentive programs, with a reminder that incentives change often and are worth checking before you buy.

Electric cars vs. gasoline cars: Which one is better for you?

The right answer to the electric vs. gasoline question depends on your driving patterns and access to charging, but a side-by-side comparison of upfront price, fuel and charging costs, and maintenance will help so you can see how much EVs cost to buy versus what they cost to run.

Calculate and compare the costs of owning a gas, hybrid, or electric vehicle

This tool lets you look up a specific vehicle or compare two side by side to see the annual cost of ownership. You’ll get fuel, maintenance and depreciation costs over time. You can also enter your monthly insurance and car payments to get the full picture.

How does EV charging work?

Charging is the biggest unknown for first-time buyers. Here’s how to charge an electric car at home and on the road, what EV charging time looks like and how home vs. public charging compare day to day.

Driving and charging

Covers what daily EV ownership looks like: how far you can expect to drive on a charge, how Canada's public charging network is expanding and the different hardware options for charging at home. A good starting point for anyone who finds themselves asking, “where would I plug it in?”

Everything you need to know about bidirectional charging in EVs

A look at a less-known EV capability: some vehicles can send power back out, not just take it in. The article explains how bidirectional charging works, how it’s been used to support communities during real power outages and what it could mean for emergency preparedness at home.

What you need to know about EV charging infrastructure in Canada

A look at Canada’s EV charging infrastructure, including how the public charging network is expanding and what drivers should know about finding and using chargers on the road.

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How do EVs perform in winter?

Do electric cars work in cold weather? Yes, but EV range in winter can take a hit depending on where you are located, and it varies by model. Here’s what to know, backed by CAA's own winter testing across Canada.

EVs in winter

An overview of how cold weather affects EV range (typically a loss of somewhere between 18 and 40 percent), along with CAA’s own winter test results and practical tips for minimizing range loss, like preconditioning the cabin while still plugged in. Don’t miss the video on CAA’s Ultimate EV Winter Stress Test.

The cold truth about EVs

We dig into CAA’s first independent winter EV range test, where 13 models were driven from Ottawa, Ont. to Mont-Tremblant, Que. in temperatures as low as -15°C. The results varied widely by vehicle. This firsthand data is helpful to keep in mind as you are reviewing manufacturers’ spec sheets — and it’s what led CAA to call for standardized winter-range labelling on new vehicles.

How snow, ice, and winter road conditions can affect EVs

This article looks at independent European winter testing alongside general guidance on cold-weather EV ownership, reinforcing that while range drops in the cold, EVs remain fully functional and, in some ways, better suited to winter driving than people expect, like with instant cabin heat.

Video: The ultimate EV winter stress test

CAA conducted a road test of EV range and charge in weather conditions, using vehicles representing more than two-thirds of Canadian EV sales. Participants drove from Ottawa to Mont-Tremblant to test how well the cars held up in the frosty air. Get a behind-the-scenes look at the test.

Courtesy of 2B (adobestock.com).

Weighing your EV options

Still asking “is an EV right for me?” This is what you should know about how long EV batteries last, and where eco-friendly cars that aren’t electric fit into the picture.

How long do electric car batteries last?

If you’re EV shopping, you’re probably concerned about possible battery degradation. We tap into data from more 15,000 vehicles and find EVs retain at least 90 percent of their original range past 160,000 kilometres. That’s reassuring news for anyone worried about buying a car that could need an expensive battery replacement partway through ownership.

Everything you need to know before renting an electric vehicle

This primer is helpful for anyone who is planning on driving an EV for the first time on a road trip, especially those who have opted for a car rental. It covers the basics, such as how to start the car without a traditional ignition and how to charge. Plus, you might find renting to be an easy way to test out an EV before committing to a purchase.

Not ready for an EV?

A friendly reminder that going electric isn’t the only way to drive greener. This piece rounds up how much more fuel-efficient gas and hybrid vehicles have become — with fuel consumption down 12 percent since 2010 — and makes the case that replacing an older, inefficient vehicle with a newer hybrid can meaningfully cut emissions, even without going fully electric.

Road trips in an electric vehicle: Six important tips

Planning a road trip in an EV? This guide covers six things to consider before hitting the highway, from planning your charging stops to understanding how factors such as speed, weather and driving conditions can affect your range.

EVs are an ever-changing category, and we try to make sense of the latest technology to help you make an informed decision. This library will keep growing as CAA tests more vehicles, tracks more Canadian performance data and answers the questions our Members are asking (send us yours). Bookmark this page and check back for updates.

Looking for more advice on electric vehicles? Use our Auto Advice help centre, where Members can get free automotive advice about car care, buying a new or used vehicle, auto repairs, vehicle inspection and driving costs.