Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / Pattison Media / BC Hydro announced Friday, Sept. 8 that faster-charging electric vehicle stations are coming to communities like Manning Park Resort and Surrey as early as this fall. The faster-charging EV stations can reportedly add up to 180 kilometres of driving to the average electric vehicle in about 10 minutes.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

EV stations at Manning Park

BC Hydro adding 2 higher-powered, faster-charging EV stations to Manning Park

Sep 11, 2023 | 12:01 PM

VANCOUVER — BC Hydro announced Friday (Sept. 8) it will add higher-powered chargers to its growing network of fast-charging EV stations with the introduction of 180-kilowatt charging units, which have the ability to add up to 180 kilometres of driving to the average electric vehicle in roughly 10 minutes.

In a statement released Monday, a BC Hydro spokesperson said the Crown corporation plans to expand its fast-charging site at Manning Park with the installation of two dual-port, 180-kilowatt chargers.

“There is already a 50-kilowatt charger on site,” BC Hydro spokesperson Kyle Donaldson said in an email Monday. “So once the upgrade is complete, this location will have three fast chargers capable of charging up to five vehicles at the same time.”

In addition to being faster, 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 units and allow more drivers to access public charging stations, Hydro said in its news release.

The adoption of electric vehicles across British Columbia has increased significantly. There are now more than 120,000 EVs on the road in B.C., and BC Hydro predicts there will be between 700,000 and 900,000 EVs within the next 10 years.

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“Our recent research found that of the 40 per cent of British Columbians looking to purchase a new vehicle in the next three years, many are considering an electric vehicle,” says Chris O’Riley, president and CEO of BC Hydro. “We are listening to the feedback from our customers who tell us they are looking for more charging options and higher-powered chargers to join our fast charging network, and we are excited to begin the installation of these 180-kilowatt units later this fall.”

The first communities expected to receive these units include Manning Park, Tumbler Ridge, Mackenzie and Surrey. BC Hydro aims to start installing these units in late fall 2023 and many of its new locations planned in 2024 will also receive these higher-powered charging units.

BC Hydro’s province-wide fast charging network currently includes 153 charging units at 84 sites in communities throughout B.C. BC Hydro is looking to add 3,000 ports to its network over the next 10 years. The chargers are funded in a partnership with the BC government and Natural Resources Canada.

BC Hydro says the province is a tremendous place to drive an electric vehicle since 98 per cent of electricity generated comes from clean and renewable resources, thereby enabling BC motorists to significantly reduce their carbon footprint.

For more information on driving an electric vehicle in B.C., visit bchydro.com/ev.