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More electric vehicle chargers are being installed in Richmond as part of the province’s CleanBC Go Electric Public Charger Program.

Photo by Florence Gordon

Two new electric vehicle chargers in Richmond

By Richmond Sentinel

Published 11:24 PDT, Thu October 13, 2022

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People making the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) will have more access to electric charging with 44 new charging stations in communities and municipalities throughout B.C.

"As British Columbians are switching to electric vehicles at record speed, we continue to expand our network of electric charging stations and accelerate toward our CleanBC goal of completing B.C.'s electric highway by 2024 with our rebate programs," said Bruce Ralston, Minister of Energy, Mines, and Low Carbon Innovation. "With these new charging stations, British Columbians can travel to different communities throughout the province with ease and contribute to a low-carbon future."

Two of the new charging station locations are in Richmond: one at Richmond Hospital (7000 Westminster Hwy.) operated by Vancouver Coastal Health and one at Real Canadian Superstore (4651 No. 3 Rd.) operated by BC Hydro. The new locations comprise three fast-charging stations and one Level 2 charging station.

The charging stations are funded under the seventh round of the CleanBC Go Electric Public Charger Program, which aims to increase the number of public direct-current fast-charger (DCFC) stations throughout B.C. to support the growing number of EVs on the road. Thirty-nine of the new charging stations are DCFC stations, while five of them are Level 2 charging stations.

"We're building a cleaner, better future for people with more fast-charging stations for electric vehicles in communities throughout the province," said George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. "By making cleaner choices easier and more affordable, we're making sure 90 per cent of all new light-duty vehicles sold in B.C. are zero emission by 2030 and 100 per cent by 2035—a key commitment in our CleanBC Roadmap to 2030."

Thirteen other communities throughout B.C. will benefit from the charging stations. The program is funding two fast-charging stations each in Coquitlam, Nanaimo, Surrey, Quesnel, Mission, Port Alberni, Summerland, Kitimat, and Kelowna, and four fast-charging stations each in Vancouver and Terrace. The program is also funding two fast-charging stations and four Level 2 charging stations in Whistler and eight fast-charging stations in Victoria.

By switching to an electric vehicle, an average B.C. driver saves approximately $2,500 every year on fuel, along with lower maintenance costs. Fast chargers allow EV drivers to drive approximately 100 to 300 kilometres from 30 minutes of charging. Having chargers located along travel routes and remote locations encourages people to travel longer distances in EVs, without having the fear that the EV will run out of charge.

British Columbia has seen substantial growth in EV uptake, from 5,000 light-duty EVs registered in B.C. in 2016 to more than 85,000 in 2022. B.C. has the one of the highest uptake rates of zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) in North America. In the first half of 2022, EVs made up 16.4 per cent of new light-duty passenger vehicles sold in the province.

B.C. has one of the largest public charging networks and the first cluster of public hydrogen-fuelling stations in Canada. As of March 2022, there are more than 3,000 public charging stations in B.C., including more than 750 fast-charging stations.

British Columbia was the first place in the world to have a 100 per cent ZEV law.

To find charging stations in B.C., visit plugshare.com/