810 more electric car chargers to be installed across B.C., says minister

More chargers could soon be coming to the Sea to Sky. 

The federal government has announced it is investing $3.54 million into electric car infrastructure in B.C., with the aim of installing 810 EV chargers across the province. 

The move is part of a larger push to reduce the country’s pollution from the transportation sector to achieve climate targets.

On May 18, Minister of Natural Resources Jonathan Wilkinson announced the funds would go towards B.C.’s Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, which will be responsible for the installations. 

The Government of British Columbia will select recipients based on demand through a process the release said will be transparent. 

Then the chargers will be installed at multi-unit residential buildings, workplaces, or facilities for servicing light-duty vehicle fleets by October 2023.

“We’re making electric vehicles more affordable and charging more accessible where Canadians live, work and play. Investing in more EV chargers, like the ones announced today in British Columbia, will put more Canadians in the driver’s seat on the road to a net-zero future and help achieve our climate goals,” said Wilkinson, in a news release.

This investment was funded through Natural Resources Canada’s Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program. 

According to B.C. Energy Minister Bruce Ralston, the government's combined efforts will help build the electric car culture locally and nationally.

“With electric vehicles representing 13% of all new light-duty vehicles sold in B.C., our province has the strongest adoption rate of electric vehicles in Canada. We’re positioning ourselves to become leaders in the EV industry. We’re working with our federal partners to increase rebates for home, workplace and fleet charging and making it easier and more affordable for people to make the switch to electric vehicles.”