A magical place just north of Toronto, Manitoulin is easy accessed in my 2018 Nissan Leaf. While there is only one EV charger on the Island, lots of campgrounds offer 30 and even 50 A electrical outlets which allow you to make your own L2 charging station with the appropriate adapters. There is something to be said for “island-time” as the atmosphere on Manitoulin is somehow very relaxed.
Manitoulin Island is about 380 km North of Toronto. About 50 of those kilometers are onboard the Chi Cheemaun ferry (see https://www.ontarioferries.com/ms-chi-cheemaun/) which sails from Tobermory to South Baymouth. Ferry reservations are required as space for vehicles is limited. There is ample charging along the way, although going North the last L3 fast charger is the Ivy station in Owen Sound. Do note that at the time of this writing, the only EV charger on Manitoulin is at the Huron Sands motel, so that’s where I stayed. I have wall charged at numerous locations on the Island, campgrounds for example are happy to share their 30A or 50A RV connectors which can make for an L2 station in a pinch. Be sure to discuss with the management before plugging in.
Manitoulin is a magical place with lots to see. We stopped by Gore Bay, Misery Bay, and Bridal veil falls to name a few. Two breweries in Little-Current and Gore Bay are well worth a visit. We also swam in the Bridal Veil falls, which was awesome. For the adventurous, Misery bay offers ample hiking/wading opportunities. We did manage to make it across Misery Bay wading, but the water at times got a little above knee level, and our dog refused to go much further.
Time-wise, it was about 5 hours of driving, with about 1 hour of charging (of which about half was necessary, but I really had to use the facilities in Orangeville, so we figured we might as well charge). The ferry crossing was a 90 minute sail, but factoring in buffer time at either end, it wound up being about 3 hours from the time I arrived (early admittedly) at the dock, until I drove off on the other end. I do not think a gas car would have been any faster, as the kids really would have demanded a food stop along the way, and yes, I like my bio-breaks.
I spent about $12 on the two fast charging sessions in Orangeville and Owen sound, plus perhaps $3 at home to charge up for the trip. Of note is that the Providence Bay charger is currently $5 per hour, which is a bit steep for a L2 station (usually these are $2-$3 per hour), but I did not mind, as I want to ensure there is plenty of funds for the next upgrade at the Huron Sands motel.
Electric car adventures 