The Regional District of Nanaimo has received provincial money for 10 new electric vehicle charging stations to bolster the network in the region. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

CHARGING NETWORK

New charging stations to bolster central Island network for electric vehicles

Sep 2, 2020 | 5:24 AM

NANAIMO — Electric vehicle owners in the region will soon have a more stable, widespread network to fuel their travels.

A Regional District of Nanaimo-led effort involving nearly a dozen other Island municipalities secured over $500,000 in provincial and federal grant funding to purchase and install 28 new EV charging stations with 10 earmarked for the RDN.

The stations will be placed at government-owned facilities and bolster a local network of over 40 charging stations dotted throughout Nanaimo and the Oceanside region.

“It provides more choice and hopefully fills in some gaps that are there,” Kim Fowler, RDN manager of long range planning, energy and sustainability, said. “I’ve heard from EV owners that they’re now more likely to go on trips.”

Fowler added more drivers are taking extended trips to Tofino or Port Hardy because of the increasingly large network of charging stations, making electric vehicles a more reasonable option for travellers.

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Using the new stations is free, as currently mandated by the RDN. Stations on commercial property may charge vehicles quicker, however drivers must pay for their fill up.

Three stations will be installed at civic facilities in Parksville and one each in Nanaimo, Lantzville and Qualicum Beach. The remainder will be positioned at parks, marinas and rec centres throughout the RDN.

“We were looking for a publicly available facility where someone might go to an event and spend a few hours at the event and can charge their car at the same time, or a park where they want to go on a hike,” Jessica Beaubier, RDN climate change and resilience coordinator, said.

As part of the grant, additional stations will be dotted throughout the Island from Campbell River to the north and Tofino to the west.

All the stations will be installed by the end of 2022.

Depending on the vehicle, the level two chargers being installed can charge a vehicle to 80 per cent capacity in four hours.

On average, costs to fuel an electric vehicle are approximately one-eighth of gas equivalent vehicles.

Emissions from transportation are a substantial source of greenhouse gases and is driven up by consumer decisions.

According to data provided to Transport Canada, electric vehicles made up 3.8 per cent of total light vehicle sales in the first quarter of 2020, up from three per cent in the last quarter of 2019.

alex.rawnsley@jpbg.ca

On Twitter @alexrawnsley