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New EV chargers coming to the Sea to Sky

Sea to Sky Electric Vehicle Charging Network will be expanded thanks to provincial and federal funding

More electric vehicle (EV) charging stations are coming to Whistler thanks to funding from the federal and provincial governments.

On May 26, the federal and provincial governments jointly announced $32.8 million for 14 green infrastructure projects in British Columbia through the CleanBC Communities Fund.

More than half—$18.5 million—comes from the federal government's Canada Infrastructure Program, with the remainder coming from the provincial government.

The Sea to Sky Electric Vehicle Charging Network is one such project that will benefit. The funding will be used to expand the EV charging capacity in the region by creating 41 new electric vehicle charging stations. The new stations will be built across the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) alongside upgrades to the electrical grid to support future demand.

Thirteen of the new stations will be direct-current, fast-charging stations capable of charging a battery from empty to 80 per cent in 30 to 60 minutes, depending on vehicle battery size.

The CleanBC Communities Fund is a joint federal and provincial fund that provides financing for local and Indigenous governments or organizations working with those governments to reduce emissions and mitigate climate change within their communities.

"Investments into green infrastructure will build healthy, resilient, and sustainable communities today that will allow us to prosper well into the future,” said MP Patrick Weiler, in a news release.

“All orders of government are working together across B.C. to ensure communities adopt green technologies that will improve residents' quality of life, create good-paying jobs, and help reach our 2050 net-zero targets.

“Through a $1.2-million federal investment for an upgraded electrical grid and 41 new EV charging stations, Whistler will continue to make progress on tackling its largest source of emissions.”

Whistler Mayor Jack Crompton expressed gratitude for the funding.

“This infrastructure is an important step towards getting our residents and our many visitors into EVs and reducing GHG emissions in our region,” Crompton said in the release.

Currently, there are about 28 locations within Whistler where you can plug in for a charge, according to Plug In BC. However, many of these locations are Tesla-specific charging ports or are only allowed for hotel guests.

Fourteen EV charging stations are owned by the municipality and are open to public use. Only one station is a direct-current, fast-charging station, located at the Whistler Conference Centre.

According to Statistics Canada, EVs comprise 5.2 per cent of all new motor vehicles registered in Canada. In 2021, 93.4 per cent of new zero-emission vehicles were registered in Canada’s three largest provinces: 42.8 per cent were in Quebec, 27.7 per cent in British Columbia, and 22.9 per cent in Ontario.

The other projects receiving CleanBC funding include the creation of a solar photovoltaic farm on Haida Gwaii and upgrades to the building envelope, ventilation system, space, and water heating for 26 supported housing units in Victoria.

Find more info at cleanbc.gov.bc.ca