City of Vancouver, BC Hydro launch electric vehicle charging pilot
Project to provide faster charging options than currently exist
The City of Vancouver and BC Hydro on Tuesday launched the EasyPark Easy Charge Pilot Project, a first of its kind in British Columbia.
The pilot project will see the installation of up to 15 public charging stations at EasyPark lots throughout the city, helping to accelerate the use of plug-in electric vehicles (EVs).
The project will assess the viability of commercially available EV charging solutions provided by several leading global providers. It will also provide motorists with faster charging options than currently exist and will enhance the local EV charging network.
The first location will be in the EasyPark lot at 453 West 10th Ave., north of City Hall.
"We're pleased to see B.C. has the highest hybrid adoption rate in Canada – more than two times higher than other provinces. This pilot project will enable us to assess the infrastructure requirements necessary to make electric vehicles a more viable transportation option in the future," said Minister of Energy Rich Coleman.
"While the City encourages walking, cycling and the use of transit, we know that cars and trucks will be on our roads for many years to come," said Mayor Gregor Robertson. "Looking ahead, we need to make appropriate planning decisions to ensure the City's infrastructure will support lower carbon vehicle solutions such as electric vehicles.
"This pilot will help us move closer to our goal of becoming an electric vehicle-friendly city."
The Easy Charge Pilot Project is the first pilot project for EV charging infrastructure in the province and comes through the City of Vancouver – BC Hydro conservation collaborative, a partnership seeking to optimize resources through smart planning and collaboration on future projects.
"In preparation for electric vehicles entering the B.C. marketplace, our focus at BC Hydro is to ensure the best possible customer experience and that means a solid understanding of both our customers' needs and the impact on the grid, so that we can be ready to support the vehicles," said Bev Van Ruyven, Deputy CEO, BC Hydro.
The pilot project is intentionally small in scope to focus attention on how stations will be installed, supported, used and how they can be integrated into the city's electrical grid. This information will inform the installation of future EV charging stations around the city and throughout the province.
Media Contacts:
City of Vancouver, Corporate Communications
Phone: 604 871 6336
Email: media@vancouver.ca
BC Hydro Media Relations
Direct: 604 928 6468
Backgrounder
About the Easy Charge Pilot Project
One of the first steps in this pilot project will be to test a range of Level II (240V) electric vehicle support equipment (EVSE) units, similar to the new units at the West 10th Ave. EasyPark lot.
These Level II units provide motorists with faster charging options than currently exist and will enhance the local EV charging network.
The trial, the first such trial in B.C., will assess the viability of a number of commercially available EV charging solutions provided by leading global suppliers at a number of EasyPark lots throughout the city.
Owners of EVs will have the opportunity to charge their vehicles around the city at publicly accessible EasyPark lots. The City's first EV fleet car-share will use the chargers to show the potential for community car share networks.
Rates for parking and charging an EV will be incorporated into one payment at the vehicle charging unit – $1.00 per hour (or portion thereof) with no maximum. This rate applies only while EV customers are parked in the designated stalls and charging their vehicles. Plug-in EVs not charging must park in a regular stall and regular posted rates for that lot will apply.
All EV public charging stations in the City of Vancouver can be found through VanMaps, some smartphone apps (PlugShare, Recargo and EV Charger Finder) as well as Google Maps in the near future (search for EVSE Vancouver, Canada).
For more information about EV charging at EasyPark locations, please visit EasyPark lots.