Twelve new electric vehicle charging sites added in B.C. (including Port Renfrew), more to come
British Columbia’s province-wide electric vehicle charging network continues to grow with the completion of 12 charging sites and several more on the way.
Making electric vehicles more affordable, investing in charging stations and shifting to renewable fuels is part of the B.C. government’s CleanBC plan. Nine of the completed sites have direct-current (DC) fast chargers that allow drivers to charge up in 30 minutes or less. The other three sites, which are part of the Accelerate Kootenays electric vehicle charging network, co-ordinated by the Community Energy Association, provide Level 2 stations.
To continue building a robust electric vehicle charging network, the ministry has issued an invitation to tender for the development of six new DC fast charger sites, primarily located along highways 16 and 97, with another site planned for later this summer.
Completed site locations and summer 2019 site locations
Completed sites
- 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 (highpower charge station)
Summer 2019 sites
- 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)
Quick Facts:
- It is estimated that B.C. roads are home to over 20,000 electric vehicles, with 350,000 expected on the roads by 2030.
- B.C. has over 1,700 charging stations throughout the province.
- To help more drivers make the shift to a clean energy vehicle, the provincial government is more than doubling the size of its electric vehicle DC fast-charger network to 64 sites.
- 95% of all car trips in the province are less than 30 kilometres, which is ideal for electric vehicles.
- In Budget 2019, the Province has committed $107 million over three years to help British Columbians switch to clean transportation, including:
- $42 million for zero-emission vehicle point of purchase incentives;
- $6 million to support light duty electric fleets;
- $10 million for medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicle incentives;
- $20 million support for new public fast-charging and hydrogen fuelling stations;
- $5 million supporting home and workplace charging stations; and
- $5 million for charging stations at highway rest areas and government buildings.
Additional Resource:
- PlugInBC: https://pluginbc.ca/
Click to visit Plugshare.com
This is awesome! Now even a LEAF can make the circle route. Charge in Sooke, then short stop in Port Renfrew for a quick charge. Lunch and charge up in Lake Cowichan before heading home for Dinner. Great Day!
So excited to hear about the station coming to Rennie! The Circle Route is now Electric Car-able even with the heat and tunes cranked!
You have done the right thing David!