British Columbia is set to grow its electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure with a significant $30 million investment from Budget 2024, aiming to add over 500 new public charging stations to the existing network of 5,000 across the province.
This move is a part of a broader initiative by the government to encourage EV adoption, reduce emissions, and promote cleaner, more sustainable communities.
The CleanBC Go Electric Public Charger Program is spearheading this initiative, with a focus on filling geographic gaps in the charging network. Special consideration is being given to projects in rural, northern, and First Nations communities, as well as urban areas with high EV uptake.
The program offers substantial financial support, covering up to 50% of the costs of equipment and installation, with a maximum of $80,000 per fast-charging station. Indigenous-owned fast-charging stations can receive increased rebates of up to 90% of project costs, to a maximum of $130,000 per station.
Making the switch to an electric vehicle (EV) means less pollution, cleaner and healthy communities, and savings on fuel costs. We know that British Columbians want to have confidence they will be able to charge up easily when travelling across the province. That’s why we are working with BC Hydro and other partners to expand B.C.’s public charging infrastructure and build an economy powered by clean, affordable electricity.
Josie Osborne, Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation.
The province’s commitment to electrification has led to a significant increase in the number of public charging stations, growing from approximately 1,500 in 2018 to about 5,000 by the end of 2023.
British Columbia has the highest rate of EV adoption in the country, with approximately 23% of light-duty vehicle sales in 2023 being zero-emission.
