British Columbians will soon have more options when it comes to fast charging their electric vehicles (EVs) thanks to new funding from the provincial government.
Through the CleanBC Go Electric Public Charger program, the province announced yesterday $5.4 million in funding for local governments, Indigenous Nations, communities, and businesses to install new DC fast charging stations.
Interested parties can apply for a grant to receive up to 50% of the cost of installing the fast charger, up to a maximum of $80,000 per station. Indigenous owned fast charging stations can receive up to 90% of project costs up to a maximum of $130,000 per station.
“By working together with local governments and First Nations across the province, we’re making it more convenient for people to use electric vehicles and supporting clean economic opportunities as we build our recovery from COVID-19,” said George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. “This CleanBC investment will help people benefit from a better driving experience, lower fuel and maintenance costs and zero tailpipe pollution.”
Last year British Columbia enacted the Zero-Emission Vehicle Act on May 30, 2019. It requires all new light-duty cars and trucks sold in B.C. to be zero-emission vehicles by 2040.
The federal government also provides funding to help with the installation of EV charging stations through Natural Resources Canada. Unfortunately the two programs cannot be stacked, so the province recommends selecting the one that best suits the needs of the applicant.
The announcement of this new funding comes on the heels of another large investment by the province. Earlier this month nearly $2 million was set aside to install 83 Level 2 chargers across the province. The funds came from a combination of federal, provincial, and municipal governments, along with regional districts and First Nations communities.
Source: BC Gov
