FortisBC hits electric vehicle milestone, exceeds 10,000th EV charge

Sep 29, 2021

EV usage continues to grow, tracking to double charges in 2022

SURREY, B.C. – September 29, 2021: Since charging its first electric vehicle (EV) in 2018, FortisBC Inc.’s (FortisBC) EV direct current fast charge (DCFC) network recently passed its 10,000th charge. As interest in EVs continues to increase across British Columbia, FortisBC forecasts it will double that amount by the end of 2022, surpassing 20,000 charging events by next December. 

“This milestone is only the beginning,” said Michael Leyland, FortisBC innovative initiatives manager, “The projected spike to 20,000 charges by the end of 2022 shows us that there is an increasing need for more public charging stations as more British Columbians continue to seek out electric vehicles”.

The transportation sector has the largest greenhouse gas (GHG) emission footprint in B.C., producing roughly 40 per cent of all GHG emissions in B.C. Making EV charging more convenient and accessible can help encourage the adoption of cleaner energy choices for transportation and enable customers to make a meaningful change in B.C. Today, FortisBC operates 32 DCFC stations at 20 different locations across B.C. and is tracking toward 40 stations at 22 different sites by the end of 2021.

FortisBC began exploring EV charging stations in 2015 and has since partnered with communities in the Kootenays and Okanagan to build and expand its fast-charging electric service territory. Last year, working with partners like the Osoyoos Indian Band, FortisBC added key stations along Highway 97 and other key travel corridors making worry-free, clean travel possible for both local and long distance drivers.

Through consistent innovation and partnerships, the number of stations have seen steady growth in B.C.’s Interior. FortisBC is further enhancing its system with support from Natural Resources Canada’s Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP) and the Province’s CleanBC Go Electric program by installing three 100 kilowatt (kW) stations in Princeton, Castlegar and Greenwood by the end of this year. These high-capacity stations are in addition to the three 100 kW stations previously installed by FortisBC in Kelowna, Osoyoos and Rock Creek, and will allow customers to charge their EVs even faster than before.

Through the Province’s CleanBC plan, FortisBC is also working with the provincial government to offer rebates for installing charging stations in homes, apartment buildings and workplaces. For a limited time, the City of Kelowna is offering rebate top-ups for EV charger installations in multi-unit residential buildings in addition to the existing incentive.

“We’re rethinking how energy is delivered to help advance a lower carbon future and are partnering with our customers, industry groups and the government to achieve it,” said Leyland.

FortisBC’s is striving to build more EV charging stations to give customers ample choice and greater range when planning trips. The growing electric service network should encourage more British Columbians to make cleaner energy choices for transportation and enable FortisBC to work toward its 30BY30 target – an ambitious goal of reducing its customers’ GHG emissions by 30 per cent compared to 2007 levels by the year 2030. This supports the Province’s own climate action goals as laid out in the CleanBC plan.

For more information about the FortisBC electric vehicle fast-charging network, visit fortisbc.com/EV

 

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