Electric vehicle drivers will have two new chargers in Mackenzie to keep their travels going.
B.C. Hydro’s electric vehicle fast-charging network is expanding with the addition of two new 180-kilowatt chargers in the community two hours north of Prince George.
“An important part of our CleanBC climate plan is helping people make the switch from a gas-powered vehicle to one that runs on B.C.’s clean electricity – whether you’re driving around a city, a small town, or a more remote area of our vast and beautiful province,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation. “This new electric vehicle charge site in Mackenzie continues our work with BC Hydro and other partners to make cleaner options more accessible and affordable for all British Columbians.”
There are now more than 160,000 EVs on the road in B.C., with B.C. Hydro predicting there will be between 700,000 and 900,000 EVs within the next 10 years.
“British Columbians are embracing electric vehicles faster than any other jurisdiction in Canada and that’s why we are continuing to make investments for growth within our current system and building out our fast charging network across B.C.,” says Chris O’Riley, president and CEO of B.C. Hydro. “These new chargers are part of our expansion plan to achieve geographic connectivity of our EV fast charging network, with a station located at least every 150 kilometres throughout B.C.”
The new 180-kilowatt chargers are located in a parking lot at 600 Mackenzie Blvd. and can add 180 kilometres of driving to an average electric vehicle in about 10 minutes, the province states. The location also includes a curbless design and lower displays on the new charger for better accessibility.
The units also offer dual charging or power sharing, which allows two customers to use the same charger. For example, a 180-kilowatt charger can adjust to provide two 90-kilowatt charging ports, which allows more drivers to access public charging stations at the same time.
“These new charging stations will help British Columbians get to where they need to go more quickly and reliably, all while using clean energy,” said George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. “More electric chargers bring both environmental and economic benefits as we work towards lowering our climate-changing emissions 40 per cent by 2030.”
B.C. Hydro’s provincewide fast charging network currently includes 223 charging ports at 93 sites in communities throughout B.C. One of them is in Prince George, outside the Superstore on Ferry Avenue. The chargers are funded in a partnership with the Province of B.C. and Natural Resources Canada.
