It's a bit of the chicken and egg, but either way, Squamish's new electrical vehicle charging station is good news for green progress, says a local official.
On Wednesday (Oct. 30), Second Avenue became home to a new DC fast charging station, completing the B.C. portion of the West Coast Green Highway - an alignment of charging stations that allows electrical vehicle owners to drive from San Diego, Calif., to Whistler.
The Clean Energy Vehicles for British Columbia (CEVfor B.C.), which dishes out discount incentives to electric vehicle buyers, launched in December 2010. Since then, 671 people throughout the province have taken advantage of the program, its president and CEO Blair Qualey said. But only in the last couple of years has the public started to view electric vehicles as a viable green option, he said. Most car manufactures now produce electric vehicles and charging stations are popping up everywhere.
"It has been a gradual start, as most in the industry expected," Qualey said, noting potential buyers are spurred on by the availability of charging stations. "You have to plan a bit more."
Located across from the municipal hall on Second Avenue, Squamish's charging station is one of 13 new stations being built by B.C. Hydro. It's available to drivers 24 hours a day and can charge an electric vehicle to 80 per cent of its capacity in 25 to 30 minutes.
There's widespread interest among B.C. communities to operate electric vehicle fast charge stations, Environment Minister Mary Polak said in a statement announcing the new facility. Planting charging stations close to major routes opens up the roads to current electric vehicle owners, she said.
"[It] will help make these vehicles an even more attractive choice for those people who haven't considered them before," Polak stated.
