Electric Vehicles (EV) are not only here to stay, but one day soon you won’t have an option. The EV market is red hot at the moment with innovation driving demand and demand driving innovation. But what’s behind all this excitement? What do you need to know to make an informed decision so it doesn’t become a costly mistake.
We are all on a journey together. A journey to a better future where our environment is safe to live in and our environmental stewardship is taken seriously.
This course will empower you to read between the technical lines of the marketing campaigns with an understanding of the mechanics and concepts behind EVs. You will also explore the realities of EV ownership as you develop a clearer appreciation for the change an EV will have on your life and become an informed consumer.
Making the right choice is always difficult when technology and products are changing so quickly. Decision anxiety grows with pressure to do the right thing while avoiding the costly financial implications of not being happy with your choice in the end.
Factors influencing your decisions are numerous and can be complex if you are new to EVs and the terminology. Manufacturers don’t make it easy for us by using proprietary terminology to describe their version of industry-standard hardware and features. Chargers and charging alone can be difficult to understand without a roadmap.
This course will break down the terminology and help you understand the practical reality behind your shopping, buying, driving and vehicle care decision-making.
Lucas Nielsen, teacher“It was really simple for me. Either use the money I was paying on gas to buy an electric car, or start taking the bus – for almost 3 hours each day. I now use the HOV lane to commute, I spend $63 less on car payments that I was on gas alone, I don’t have the maintenance bills, and driving is a pleasure again, not a drain on my wallet and my soul.
But, I’m now in the market for my second EV – I wish I’d taken this course before I bought the first one. The course presents the material very clearly in a way that those without prior knowledge can relate to. It also gave me a good balance of the technical side along with the emotional and political reality. Anyone want to buy a slightly used EV?”
Course details
Course number: MOOC-0380
Course title: Buying an Electric Vehicle
Prerequisites: None
Completion criteria: 80% or above on a self-assessment activity
Completion award: Digital Badge and printable Statement of Completion
Registration fee: None
Audience
Anyone wanting to know more about electric vehicles.
Delivery details
This is a self-study online course with no instructional support. Participants are free to access as much of the material as they like and to complete the final self-assessment activity or not.
Time commitment
The course will take 10-12 hours to complete.
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of this course you will be able to:
- Explain the need for EV’s – Sustainability the BC advantage.
- Compare different types of electrified vehicles – EV, Hybrid, PHEV, and FCEV.
- Understand how different manufacturers brand and market their vehicles.
- Understand EV power, charging levels, and couplers.
- Make an informed buying choice.
- Explain EV Care and Maintenance.
To register
- If you are new to BCIT, you will be required to create a BCIT account before registering for your course.
- Once you receive your BCIT ID (A0…) login and register for your course.
Once registered
Note: If you are creating an account for the first time, it may take up to 24 hours before you are able to log in to BCIT to access your course.
- Access your online course at learn.bcit.ca.
- Login with your my.bcit.ca email address and your password.
- Scroll down to your My Courses listing and click on the course link.