BC Hydro Unveils First 400 kW Fast Chargers as EV Network Tops 800 Ports

BC Hydro has reached two major milestones, surpassing 800 public charging ports and unveiling its fastest chargers yet — a pair of 400 kW ultra-fast units at a brand-new hub in Burnaby.

Located at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) campus, the new charging hub sets a new benchmark for speed on BC Hydro’s network. The two 400-kilowatt chargers can add up to 100 kilometres of driving range in about three minutes for an average electric vehicle (EV), making them the most powerful chargers the utility has ever deployed.

Thanks to power-sharing, two vehicles can charge at once on a single unit and still receive up to 200 kW each, dramatically reducing wait times during peak periods.

The site also includes two 180 kW fast chargers, each with power-sharing capability, allowing up to eight EVs to charge simultaneously across the four units. To support the widest possible range of vehicles, the chargers are equipped with CCS, NACS, and CHAdeMO connectors, ensuring compatibility for everything from Teslas to legacy EVs still using older standards. Plugging in costs $0.3609/kWh.

“This new electric vehicle charge hub in Burnaby continues our work with BC Hydro and other partners to make cleaner options more accessible and affordable for all British Columbians,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions. “With more than 800 BC Hydro charging ports now available in communities throughout B.C., we are building a public charging network that’s ready to meet the growing demand for electric vehicles and will support economic growth in our province.”

Burnaby now hosts two BC Hydro fast-charging locations, with the new BCIT hub joining an existing site at Kensington Square Shopping Centre in North Burnaby that features two 100 kW chargers. Together, the city now offers ten public fast-charging ports, strengthening coverage along a key corridor just off Highway 1.

“Burnaby is excited to be part of this significant milestone to host the first 400-kilowatt chargers in our public charging network with a central location that’s easily accessible off Highway 1,” said Anne Kang, MLA for Burnaby Centre. “These new BC Hydro chargers strengthen the Lower Mainland’s charging infrastructure, giving drivers more confidence to choose zero-emission vehicles.”

The launch comes as EV adoption continues to surge across the province, with more than 220,000 EVs now registered in British Columbia. Over the past year alone, BC Hydro has tripled the size of its public charging network, adding more than 400 new ports and opening roughly two dozen multi-charger hubs designed to minimize wait times for drivers.

The utility company isn’t stopping there. BC Hydro says more 400 kW chargers are coming in 2026, with a focus on building large, high-capacity hubs along highway corridors and in densely populated areas.

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