Expanding our EV charging network

If you’re planning a road trip around the province, or maybe across Canada, you’re most likely concerned about the rising price of fuel. Global conflict and instability are the driving forces behind this headache and might have you looking more seriously at electric vehicles.

Nearly a quarter of a million people in our province have already made the switch to an electric vehicle, and we’re committed to making the transition easy and convenient for drivers.

Over the next nine years, the province and BC Hydro are tripling the number of public charging ports around B.C, with 3,500 new charging ports soon to be rolling out in communities and along highway corridors.

More public charging ports means that even those people who can’t charge their EV at home can easily keep their vehicle charged in their community, making EV ownership far more accessible.

The expanded network will also give drivers the confidence to take that long-planned road trip or even to switch to an EV for work travel, knowing there will be convenient charging ports all along the route. 

In my riding of Vernon-Lumby, there are currently 4 BC Hydro fast-charging locations totalling 11 DC fast-charging ports. There are as follows:

·        Vernon Fast Charging Site at 3004 32nd Ave, Vernon

·        Vernon Performing Arts Centre Charging Hub at 3800 33 St, Vernon

·        Lumby Curling Centre at 2230 Shields Ave, Lumby

·        Frank’s General Store at 1193 Highway 6, Cherryville

Right now, EV owners in B.C. are paying the equivalent of 68 cents per litre to charge their vehicles – that’s a savings of about 66% compared to gas-powered cars.

It’s no wonder that hundreds of thousands more EVs are expected to be registered in B.C. in the coming years. Now is a key time to invest in the infrastructure to meet this growing demand.  

The expanded BC Hydro network will include larger charging sites in the busiest locations, to reduce wait times during peak travel periods. Sites will be accessible and washrooms will also be added to sites where there is an existing gap in those facilities.

In addition to the 3,500 new public charging ports being built by BC Hydro, the provincial government is helping businesses, local governments, Indigenous communities and other organizations to install public charging stations on their own sites. Eligible projects can get 50% of the cost of the equipment and installation covered by a rebate. You can find out more at https://goelectricbc.gov.bc.ca/find-rebates/public-charging-light-duty/

B.C. already leads North America with one of the fastest rates of adoption of EVs. By investing in expanding our public charging network, we’re setting our province up for a cleaner and more efficient future.