New charging stations relieve ‘range anxiety’

This month, B.C. Hydro launched Phase 2 of its electric vehiclecharging network, which included the opening of 28 new fast electric vehicle-charging stations. Among them are strategically placed stations that will allow drivers to navigate a clean energy vehicle from Tofino to the B.C.-Alberta border.

In specific terms, the overall expansion involves 12 new stations on the Lower Mainland, seven on Vancouver Island and seven in the Interior/East Kootenays. These fast-charging stations have been developed to charge an electric vehicle’s battery to 80 per cent in 30 minutes or less, which is a substantial increase, given that slower Level-2 chargers can take two hours or longer.

For drivers of electric vehicles this is a significant development as strategically placed charging stations will help drivers feel more comfortable in their ability to do a road trip without running out of charge and experiencing “range anxiety.”

Despite these new stations, there is still a need to expand the network of charging stations even further in order to develop more fulsome access, specifically in the Interior and the North. To that end, Phase 3 of the B.C. Hydro program involves plans to connect Kamloops to Prince George, and while a few years away, Phase 4 will establish a link to the North Coast in Prince Rupert. From Haida Gwaii to Kamloops, five regional districts are now working together as part of a planning committee to design the northern B.C. charging station network.

At this time, extensive northern travel in an electric vehicle is virtually impossible. However, once the stations are in place, it is anticipated that greater electrical vehicle usage will occur, and car dealerships in the north will be able to provide more service to electric vehicle owners and demand will increase.

The vast majority of electric vehicle owners do the bulk of their charging at home. Therefore, many EV owners are watching closely to see how communities address the increasing challenge of accommodating and encouraging the transition to greater electric vehicle usage.

Vancouver has introduced a bylaw that will require developers to install electric vehicle chargers for every parking stall of a new multi-unit residential building, beginning Jan. 1, 2019. Further details are available about charging an electric vehicle at home at bchydro.com.

B.C. Hydro estimates there are 9,000 electric vehicles in this province, but the transition to greater vehicle usage takes time. While cumulative EV sales in Canada over the past five years have grown to more than 50,000 units, over the same period of time, almost 9.5 million vehicles were sold in Canada.

British Columbia boasts one of the largest charging networks in the country and the highest EV adoption per capita. With more concerted efforts we can continue to effect change and move the green dial even further. So get out there and enjoy travelling the B.C. roads this summer, with some added confidence that you can charge along the way.

If you’d like to know more about EVs visit cevforbc.ca for details on the B.C. government’s point of sale incentive for qualifying EVs.

Blair Qualey is president and CEO of the New Car Dealers Association of B.C. You can email him at bqualey@newcardealers.ca