BC government completes more electric-battery vehicle charging stations
Even more charging stations for electric-battery vehicles have been installed in British Columbia, largely within remote areas and smaller communities in the interior and on Vancouver Island.
See also
- Approved legislation ensures all cars sold in BC will be clean energy by 2040
- Over half of BC drivers are now considering switching to electric cars: poll
- Road trip 'range anxiety' key barrier to electric vehicle purchases in BC: survey
- BC reduces incentives for electric vehicle rebate program
- Canada's largest Tesla Supercharger station opens in downtown Vancouver
The provincial government announced this week 12 new charging stations have been completed, and seven more will be operational later this summer.
Nine of the new locations have fast chargers, allowing drivers to charge up in 30 minutes or less. The remaining locations are Level 2 charging stations.
“We’re making it convenient for people who drive electric vehicles to travel across the province,” said Claire Trevena, BC Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, in a statement.
“Our government is committed to reducing our carbon footprint. Investing in green infrastructure is a necessity when it comes to tackling climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”
A procurement process was also recently launched for the installation of six new fast-charging stations along Highway 16 and Highway 97.
The growing province-wide network of charging stations allows more electric-battery vehicle drivers to extend their driving range beyond the province’s most urbanized areas.
A survey conducted by BC Hydro earlier this year found that nearly 70% of residents in the province are hesitant to purchase an electric-battery vehicle as they do not think it can be taken on out-of-town road trips.
But the report noted that this “range anxiety” was a “misconception” as the majority of road trips taken by residents are less than 300 km one-way, within the range of many of the latest and most popular electric-battery vehicles on a single charge.
There are currently over 1,700 charging stations throughout the province, serving 20,000 electric-battery vehicles.
The provincial government forecasts that the number of electric-battery vehicles will grow to 350,000 by 2030.
By 2040, legislation approved earlier this year requires all new light-duty cars and trucks sold in the province to be clean energy vehicle models.
A provincial rebate incentive program for buying an electric-battery vehicle was reduced last month due to its overwhelming popularity.
Completed sites to date in Summer 2019
- Loon Lake rest area: Highway 97C, between Merritt and Kelowna
- Anarchist rest area: Highway 3, east of Osoyoos
- Fish Trap rest area: Highway 5, between Kamloops and Barriere
- Little Fort rest area: Highway 5, between Barriere and Clearwater
- Wire Cache rest area: Highway 5, between Clearwater and Avola
- Wasa rest area: Highway 95, between Canal Flats and Cranbrook
- Spillimacheen rest area: Highway 95, between Radium Hot Springs and Golden
- Kootenay Bay ferry landing: Highway 3A, near Crawford Bay
- Hope Slide rest area: Highway 3, east of Hope
- Taylor River rest area: Highway 4, between Port Alberni and Tofino
- Buckley Bay rest area: Highway 19, between Qualicum Beach and Courtenay
- Port Renfrew Community Centre: Highway 14 at Port Renfrew
Future sites to be completed in Summer 2019
- Slim Creek rest area: Highway 16; 120 kilometres east of Prince George
- Boulder Creek rest area: Highway 16; 50 kilometres west of Hazelton
- Australian rest area: Highway 97; 36 kilometres south of Quesnel
- Kidd Creek rest area: Highway 3; 21 kilometres east of Creston
- 100 Mile House Info Centre: Highway 97
- Mount Robson Visitor Centre: Highway 16
- Woss: Highway 19, Vancouver Island (between Eagles Nest rest area and Hoomak Lake rest area)
See also
- Approved legislation ensures all cars sold in BC will be clean energy by 2040
- Over half of BC drivers are now considering switching to electric cars: poll
- Road trip 'range anxiety' key barrier to electric vehicle purchases in BC: survey
- BC reduces incentives for electric vehicle rebate program
- Canada's largest Tesla Supercharger station opens in downtown Vancouver