Drivers of electric vehicles will have more local options for topping up batteries with the installation of City of Powell River’s two new charging stations.
The public charging stations are being installed by the City of Powell River, said mayor Dave Formosa.
“Between these two new stations and the one at Pacific Point Market, I think we’ll see more zero-emission vehicles on the road in Powell River,” said Formosa.
Installation of the Willingdon Avenue charging station began on Friday, December 11. It is located in the boat trailer parking lot across the street from the Canadian Coast Guard station. The other station will be installed in the parking lot behind city hall.
The stations, which fully recharge cars in six to eight hours, can charge two vehicles at the same time. Formosa said the city budgeted $4,000 for the purchase of each station and $18,000 for installation.
Formosa explained the idea for the charging stations came from the city’s sustainability action committee.
The move is welcomed by Tod English, owner of Pacific Point Market in Grief Point.
“We knew that Powell River needed one,” said English. “It’s great what the city is doing.”
The installation of the stations comes as BC announced it has joined Zero Emission Vehicle Alliance, whose goal is to see gas-powered cars phased out by 2050, replaced with electric, hybrid electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
BC environment minister Mary Polak made the announcement Thursday, December 11, from Paris, France, where she was attending the 2015 United Nations climate conference.
“As a member of this international alliance, we will work with other governments and partners and at home in BC to increase the adoption of zero-emission vehicles and reduce tailpipe emissions, helping us fulfill our international climate action responsibilities,” stated Polak in a media release.
BC signed on to the alliance, the only other Canadian province to do so other than Quebec. Eight American states belong to the alliance, and European countries include Germany, Netherlands, Norway and United Kingdom.
Adoption of the vehicles has been slow, but is increasing. The province implemented the first phase of a zero-emissions vehicle incentive program in 2011.
It provides buyers of the cars with a $5,000 to $6,000 rebate on electric vehicles, hybrids or fuel cell cars, as well as personal charging stations.
Since 2011, the program has supported the purchase of 2,000 electric vehicles and the installation of over 1,000 charging stations.
