Province Expanding Electric Vehicle Charging Network

August 31, 2021

 

Victoria — British Columbia’s provincewide electric vehicle (EV) charging network will get four new sites in the coming months.

The number of EV charging stations throughout the province is growing rapidly. B.C. now has over 2,000 public Level 2 charging stations and 200 public fast-charging sites, with over 480 fast-charging stations.

“Our growing EV charging network is making it easier and safer for people who own electric vehicles to travel around the province,” said Rob Fleming, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. “Now, British Columbians can choose greener transportation options, which is part of our commitment to a cleaner, stronger economy.”

This fall, the ministry is installing four new electric vehicle charging station sites. Each site will host two fast chargers and one Level 2 charger (total of 12 charging stations).

  • Hanceville Lookout rest area: near Hanceville, about 85 kilometres west of Williams Lake on Highway 20
  • Una rest area: about 30 kilometres northeast of Vernon on Highway 97
  • Motz Road: located just east of Terrace near the Thornhill Roundabout off Highway 37
  • Mount Terry Fox rest area: nine kilometres east of Tête Jaune Cache on Highway 16

“People in B.C. continue to lead when it comes to making the right transportation choices, and we continue to support that positive change,” said George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. “These stations are part of the next stage in an expanded network to accelerate action on climate change and reduce air pollution while increasing economic opportunities.”

Westcana Electric Inc. will build the new EV charging stations. The project is expected to be completed by late December 2021. All four charging sites are expected to be open to the public beginning in 2022.

Since 2018, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure has installed EV charging stations at 22 locations along B.C. highways. These four new projects will bring that total to 26.

Six of the existing charging stations serve residents and businesses in B.C.’s northern region. The addition of the Motz Road and Mount Terry Fox rest area stations bring this total to eight. The ministry is also exploring charging options along Highways 20 and 97 to further support electric vehicle owners in rural and northern B.C.

Making electric vehicles more affordable, investing in charging stations, and ensuring a greater availability of zero-emission vehicles in B.C. are all part of the Province’s CleanBC Plan.

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.

Learn More:

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

For more information about the Go Electric program, visit: www.gov.bc.ca/zeroemissionvehicles

On the CleanBC Go Electric page, see the link to PlugShare’s map: https://www.plugshare.com/