Power play: Province prepared to turn on the lights for electric vehicle chargers
By Timothy Schafer Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Although the Province claims people will soon be able to drive the entire province in an electric vehicle, the reality of the charging grid in most rural areas shows more of a blackout.
Late last week the Province claimed British Columbians could soon drive throughout the entire province in an electric vehicle.
In 2022, it was announced that up to 100 new electric vehicle charging stations were to be built through a $1-million investment by Natural Resources Canada. With “a variety of locations throughout the East and West Kootenays as well as the Kootenay Boundary,” it was expected to have the stations installed by 2023.
An online search for charging stations in the Kootenay-Boundary reveals significantly less outlets (around 60) than was initially announced, with major gaps and too few chargers in most areas — such as the Slocan Valley and northern areas of the West Kootenay.
However, the Province continues to complete B.C.’s “Electric Highway,” a network of public electric vehicle (EV) fast-charging stations along all highways and major roadways located approximately 150 kilometres apart. All B.C. sites will be energized, in service and open to the public before the end of September.
A 2018 roll out of the Accelerate Kootenays network installed 13 direct current fast charger stations and 40 slower level 2 stations in the region. The provincial and federal governments have said all new cars and light-duty trucks sold must be zero-emission vehicles by 2035.
Natural Resources Canada says electric vehicle sales grew by 421 per cent in the Kootenays between 2018 and 2021.
B.C.’s Electric Highway network includes 155 charging sites and more than 310 fast chargers, with some sites offering additional Level 2 chargers.
The Province is working toward an overall target of building 10,000 public charging stations by 2030. As of August 2024, there are more than 5,300 public charging stations in the province, an increase of nearly 350 per cent since 2018.
Homework
In addition to the completion of the Electric Highway, the Province also announced Sept. 6, 2024, a $14-million boost to the GoElectric Home and Workplace Charger Program.
This funding will support individuals and businesses to install EV chargers at their homes and workplaces, increasing the accessibility and convenience of electric vehicles in B.C. and helping make the shift to electric transportation.
This initiative, managed by BC Hydro and FortisBC (for their electric utility in the southern Interior), is already accepting applications.
BC Hydro will start rolling out 400 kW charging stations, capable of providing up to 100 kilometres of charge in just two to three minutes, early next year. While no locations have been confirmed, the plan is to place these chargers close to major highways where drivers have the greatest need for charging quickly.
