City Launches Neighbourhood Electric Vehicle Fast Chargers

September 24, 2022

The City of Victoria has opened its first neighbourhood electric vehicle (EV) fast charging station in Victoria West as part of a program to expand EV infrastructure across the city.

Two 50 kilowatt Direct Current Fast Chargers have opened in the Bay Street parking lot at Vic West Park and are the first of many fast charging stations coming to Victoria neighbourhoods.

To support the transition to electric and make EV charging more accessible for everyone, the City will install 30 EV fast chargers in neighbourhoods near multi-family housing, such as apartments, over the next five years as part of the City’s Electric Vehicle and Electric Mobility Strategy.

A $1.5 million investment in EV infrastructure is part of the City’s 2022 budget with additional funding from the Province of British Columbia and the Federal Government.  

Direct Current Fast Chargers provide a significantly faster charge than Level 2 EV chargers as they can provide an 80 per cent charge in about an hour depending on the make, model and battery of the EV.

The City gratefully acknowledges the financial support for this project from the Province of British Columbia through the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation through the CleanBC Go Electric Public Charger Program.

The City celebrated the opening of the Victoria West EV chargers on Saturday with a community event showcasing EV charging and information on making the switch to electric. Representatives from the Capital Regional District were also at the event to promote the Charge Your Ride regional EV and E-bike awareness program. The installation of the Victoria West chargers will help expand the network of EV charging infrastructure throughout the region. British Columbia is leading Canada in EV adoption with 17 per cent of new car sales being electric; the Canadian average is 8.5 per cent.

The City’s Climate Leadership Plan sets a target for 30 per cent of passenger vehicles in Victoria to be renewably powered by the end of this decade, reaching 100 per cent by 2050. As of October 1, 2020, all residential properties must be EV charging ready and all new commercial developments must include at least 5 per cent of parking stalls that are energized and ready for EV chargers.

Photo:  Acting Mayor Marianne Alto and David Grove from the Victoria Electric Vehicle Association plug in Victoria’s first neighbourhood electric vehicle fast charger in Victoria West on Saturday.