The CleanBC Go Electric Public Charger Program aims to increase the number of public direct-current fast-charger stations throughout BC in order to support the growing number of EVs on the road.
The latest expansion saw 44 stations added across 14 communities throughout the province, including in Vancouver, Richmond, and Coquitlam, as well as on the island in Nanimo and Victoria and the interior in Kelowna and Summerland. It’s all part of BC’s quest to build the Electric Highway, where range anxiety is needless.
“As British Columbians are switching to electric vehicles at record speed, we continue to expand our network of electric charging stations and accelerate toward our CleanBC goal of completing B.C.’s electric highway by 2024 with our rebate programs,” said Bruce Ralston, Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation. “With these new charging stations, British Columbians can travel to different communities throughout the province with ease and contribute to a low-carbon future.”
Thirty-nine of the new charging stations are DCFC stations, while five of them are Level 2 charging stations.
“We’re building a cleaner, better future for people with more fast-charging stations for electric vehicles in communities throughout the province,” added George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy.
Heyman wants 90% of all new light-duty vehicles sold in B.C. to be zero emission by 2030 and 100% by 2035 as part of the CleanBC Roadmap.
The program is funding two fast-charging stations each in Coquitlam, Nanaimo, Surrey, Quesnel, Mission, Port Alberni, Summerland, Kitimat and West Kelowna, and four fast-charging stations in Vancouver. The program is also funding two fast-charging stations and four Level 2 charging stations in Whistler, as well as three fast-charging stations and one Level 2 charging station in Richmond. Terrace will receive four fast-charging stations while Victoria will receive eight fast-charging stations.
There are now more than 3,000 public charging stations in B.C., including 750 fast-charging stations.
“Each charger we put in gives our residents, business owners and visitors more confidence in shifting to an electric vehicle,” believes Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps. “This will help the City of Victoria and the Province to meet our ambitious climate goals.”
By switching to an electric vehicle, an average B.C. driver saves approximately $2,500 every year on fuel, along with lower maintenance costs, according to Heyman. Fast chargers allow EV drivers to drive up to 300 kilometres from 30 minutes of charging, he says.
More than 85,000 light-duty EVs were registered in BC in 2022, up from 5,000 in 2016.
“There will undoubtedly be more electric vehicles in the coming years, and, in a community like ours, where it only takes a few minutes to drive to work or the store, it makes sense to welcome this infrastructure to support our residents who are making the transition to these vehicles,” noted Phil Germuth, mayor, District of Kitimat.
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