Chargers may net gas stations, parking lots lower licence fees

The City of Vancouver will reward gas stations and commercial parking lots that install electric chargers with a lower business licence fee.

Vancouver city council reviewed and approved a report Thursday evening that would see gas stations and commercial parking lots pay a lower business licence fee if they agree to install on-site electric vehicle chargers.

Stations and lots have until January 2025 to install electric vehicle infrastructure to take advantage of the new policy.

The move supports the city's climate goal of cutting carbon pollution in half by 2030, as well as hopes of having zero emission vehicles log half of all kilometres travelled on Vancouver's roads by that year.

By targeting charger installations in places where vehicles already frequent, the city aims to ensure electric charging stations are more evenly distributed across the community, and perhaps allow for drivers, particularly those living in rentals who aren't able to install a charger of their own, to consider switching to an electric vehicle.

In 2021, 13 per cent of vehicle sales in British Columbia were zero emission vehicles.

The province's goal under its Clean B.C. policy, however, is to achieve 26 per cent by 2026 and 90 per cent by 2030.