British Columbia’s network of public electric vehicle (EV) fast-charging stations is expanding with the opening of eight new stations in Squamish, Pemberton, Whistler, Lillooet and Sechelt, making it easier for people commuting to charge up their EVs.

“More and more British Columbians are switching to electric vehicles to save on fuel costs and reduce air pollution,” said Bruce Ralston, Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation. “Through CleanBC, we’re working with our partners to expand our EV charging network across the province, make it easier for drivers to go electric and put B.C. on the road to a clean energy future.”

Fast chargers allow EV drivers to get approximately 250 kilometres worth of charge per hour. Having them located in densely populated or high-traffic areas makes it easier than ever for people to commute in their EVs and save on fuel costs, while contributing to a cleaner environment.

“We are giving Canadians the greener options they want to get to where they need to go. This is how we get to net-zero by 2050,” said Seamus O’Regan Jr., federal Minister of Natural Resources.

These latest fast chargers are the result of a partnership between Natural Resources Canada, the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, BC Hydro and the Squamish Liquor Store.

“People in British Columbia are switching to clean electric vehicles in record numbers to reduce climate-harming pollution, save on fuel and maintenance costs, and enjoy a cleaner, better technology,” said George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. “Through CleanBC, we’re helping make EVs more affordable and more convenient to drive by significantly expanding fast-charging stations in the Lower Mainland and all across the province.”

The public charging stations are in the following locations:

• 155 Main St., Lillooet, two stations, operated by BC Hydro, planned to open fall 2021
• 7452 Frontier St., Pemberton, two stations, operated by BC Hydro, planned to open fall 2021
• 5010 Whistler Way, Whistler, one new station, operated by BC Hydro, planned to open summer 2021
• 38241 Cleveland Ave., Squamish, two stations, operated by Squamish Liquor Store, open now
• 5755 Cowrie St., Sechelt, one new station, operated by BC Hydro, open now

Stations not identified as open now may be affected by the construction process and the location or opening of the station may change.

B.C. has one of the largest public charging networks in Canada. At the end of 2020, there were more than 2,500 public charging stations in B.C., including more than 480 fast-charging stations. B.C. also has the highest uptake rates of zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) adoption with more than 54,000 ZEVs registered in December 2020.

These investments are part of the Province’s broader strategy to move toward 100% new light-duty ZEV sales by 2040. This spring, the Province released the BC Public Light-Duty Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Study to provide businesses, municipalities and Indigenous governments with guidance on where to locate future charging sites. The report also shows that 50% of the public fast-charging sites required to meet the province’s 2040 demand are already built or underway and these stations contribute to meeting infrastructure goals.

The Government of Canada has invested more than $1 billion to make EVs more affordable and charging infrastructure more accessible. These investments are building a coast-to-coast network of fast chargers and installing chargers in localized areas where Canadians live, work and play. The government also provides incentives of up to $5,000 to help Canadians buy EVs and full tax write-offs for businesses purchasing them. These investments support Canada’s new mandatory target of 100% zero-emission light-duty vehicle sales by 2035.

CleanBC is a pathway to a more prosperous, balanced and sustainable future. It supports government’s commitment to climate action to meet B.C.’s emission targets and build a cleaner, stronger economy for everyone.

Quotes:

Nicholas Simons, MLA for Powell River-Sunshine Coast –

“People along the Sunshine Coast and in Sea-to-Sky country are finding ways to fight climate change. With six new charging stations in the area, we can encourage more people to make the switch to an electric car and be that much more environmentally friendly.”

Chris O’Riley, president and chief executive officer, BC Hydro –

“Expanding the fast-charging network is an important step in helping British Columbians make the switch to driving an electric vehicle. Electric vehicles are a great option in B.C., because 96% of the electricity we generate is from clean or renewable resources, helping British Columbians reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.”

Fred Hamel, Squamish Liquor Store (2016) Ltd. –

"We are proud to provide well-needed fast-charging stations in Squamish, accelerating the EV adoption in B.C. and the Sea-to-Sky Corridor. It was a pleasure to work with LeadingAhead Energy on this project. LeadingAhead Energy was overseeing the entire project, which includes BC Hydro, electrical engineers, contractors, surveyors, municipalities, suppliers, shipping and installation. We will work with them again. NRCan funding has been a key contributor to this project, allowing such projects to move ahead and reduce Canada's environmental impact.”

Maxime Charron, president, LeadingAhead Energy Inc. –

"LeadingAhead Energy's main goal is to accelerate the adoption of EVs by providing key innovative industry expertise to our clients. It was a joy to work with the Squamish Liquor Store. Through the whole project we focused on the community representing the Chief and Howe Sound with custom graphics, as well as including wheelchair access in the design layout. The two fast-charging stations are operated by a Canadian open network (OCPP) company, future-proofing our clients' and NRCan's investment.”

Quick Facts:

• Natural Resources Canada’s Electric Vehicle and Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Deployment Initiative and Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program provide up to 50% of total project costs, up to a maximum of $75,000 per fast-charging station, depending on the power output.
• The CleanBC Go Electric public charging stations program under the partnership with Natural Resources Canada provides up to 25% of the cost of construction, up to a maximum of $25,000 per fast-charging station.
• The provincial Zero-Emission Vehicles Act, passed on May 30, 2019, requires all new light-duty cars and trucks sold in B.C. to be zero-emission vehicles by 2040.

Learn More:

To learn more about the CleanBC Go Electric Public Charger program, visit:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/electricity-alternative-energy/transportation-energies/clean-transportation-policies-programs/clean-energy-vehicle-program/dcfc-program/hydrogen-fuelling-52518

To learn more about Natural Resources Canada’s Electric Vehicle and Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Deployment Initiative and Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program, visit:
https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy-efficiency/transportation-alternative-fuels/zero-emission-vehicle-infrastructure-program/21876

To learn more about the suite of CleanBC Go Electric programming, visit: www.gov.bc.ca/zeroemissionvehicles

To learn more about the BC Public Light-Duty ZEV Infrastructure Study, visit:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/electricity-alternative-energy/transportation-energies/clean-transportation-policies-programs/clean-energy-vehicle-program/dcfc-program

To learn about permits for electric vehicles to access high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes in B.C., visit:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/driving-and-cycling/traveller-information/routes-and-driving-conditions/hov-lanes/electric

To learn more about the CleanBC plan, visit: https://cleanbc.gov.bc.ca/