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Richmond improves access to EV charging stations

By Richmond Sentinel

Published 12:27 PST, Tue January 14, 2020

Last Updated: 2:13 PDT, Wed May 12, 2021

The City of Richmond wants owners of electric vehicles to move their car once it is charged, and is introducing fees at charging stations as a means of improving access for drivers who want to plug in to city-owned electric vehicle (EV) chargers.

Richmond city council approved bylaws last night aimed at improving access to EV charging stations within the city and creating a more sustainable model for expanded stations to help support increased demand. A key part is investing in 28 new Level 2 public charging points and 4 DC Fast Chargers (Level 3) to be installed throughout the city in 2020 and 2021.

The city is also implementing measures to improve access by restricting use of EV charging stations to vehicles that are actively charging and through the introduction of hourly charging fees starting March 1, 2020. Non-electric vehicles will not be permitted to park in EV charging spaces and subject to fines.

"Building on the success of the charging stations we installed from 2013 to 2017, these new measures support improved access and further our goal of reducing greenhouse emissions," said Mayor Malcolm Brodie. "When visiting a city facility, we want our citizens to have access to EV charging stations while, at the same time, recognizing and respecting other users by moving their vehicle once it has been charged."

Twenty-six Level 2 charging points will be added at 11 new locations across the city, as well as two additional Level 2 points at city hall. These will provide up to 30 km of range per charging hour. The four new Level 3 DC Fast Charging stations will provide up to 200 km of range per charging hour. A list of locations can be found at Richmond.ca/EV and on the attached Backgrounder.


As the EV market continues to expand, Richmond wants to support this growth by ensuring that new and existing charging stations are used effectively. By applying hourly fees, users are encouraged to charge their vehicle and then move it to make room for other users. Currently, EV users often park their vehicle in the spots without charging, or leave it parked long after their charge is complete which limits access for others. The fees, which were calculated on a cost recovery basis, reflect that EV charging stations are not parking spots but convenient locations to charge an electric vehicle while driving in the community.

As of March 1, EV users will pay up to $2 per hour for the first two hours and up to $5 per hour thereafter at a Level 2 Charging Station. Those using a Level 3 DC Fast Charging Station will pay up to $8 per hour at 25 kW station or up to $16 per hour at a 50 kW station. Users will pay only for the time they are actually plugged in on a minute-by-minute basis.

The new EV charging fees were approved by council as part of adoption of the Consolidated Fees Bylaw No. 8636, Amendment Bylaw No. 9926; Traffic Bylaw No. 5870, Amendment Bylaw No. 9924; Parking (Off-Street) Regulation Bylaw No. 7403, Amendment Bylaw No. 9923; and Notice of Bylaw Violation Dispute Adjudication Bylaw No. 8122, Amendment Bylaw No. 9925.

The City-owned EV charging stations are already equipped with the infrastructure required to apply fees and notifications at stations are being posted to advise EV customers of the new fees and requirements.

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