More electric vehicle charging options will become available at a market in Lantzville.
The province announced on July 2, it is investing $210,000 from the CleanBC Go Electric Public Charger program to install four new charging stations through the Nanoose Economic Development Corporation.
The stations will be built at the Snaw-Naw-As Market and construction is expected to begin in August.
The province says the addition of the charging stations is necessary to accommodate for B.C.’s EV demand.
“B.C. now has more than 60,000 EVs on the road,” said Bruce Ralston, minister of energy, mines and low carbon innovation in the statement Friday. “This support for EV charging not only moves us toward our CleanBC goals, but it also helps EV drivers save on fuel costs – about $1,800 every year for the average B.C. driver.”
The funding is a part of $7 million in funding from the province announced in Sept. 2020. Local governments, Indigenous nations, communities can apply for support to open charging stations.
The funding for the new stations is a welcome announcement for Chief Gordon Edwards of the Snaw-Naw-As Nation, who said the clean energy aligns with their culture.
“Snaw-Naw-As First Nation and Nanoose Economic Development Corporation are proud to support the use of clean energy and participate in meeting the CleanBC goals, which are aligned with our culture and tradition of caring for our natural environment,” said Chief Edwards in the statement.
The new stations may help the community get electric vehicles, according to Parksville-Qualicum MLA Adam Walker who said the community has a “passion for protecting the planet.”
The Zero-Emission Vehicles Act is requiring automakers to increase their sales of new light-duty EVs, with the goal of being 100 per cent by 2040.
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