BC Hydro Installs 50 kW Charging Unit in Boston Bar to Accommodate Rise in EV Adoption

Jan. 5, 2024
By the end of 2025, BC Hydro plans to have 325 charging units in its network at 145 sites to encourage local residents, businesses, and industries to switch to electric vehicles

BC Hydro recently added a new 50 kW charging unit in the Boston Bar community of British Columbia (BC), effectively doubling the number of chargers available at its electric vehicle fast charging site.

Located in the parking lot of Canyon Lanes in BC, the Boston Bar site originally opened in May of 2017 with one 50 kW charging unit capable of adding over 30 miles of driving to an average EV in about 10 minutes.

The additional 50 kW charging unit was officially installed and brought into service on December 26, 2023.

“We are building out charging infrastructure to ensure we can accommodate the volume and variety of electric vehicles that will be on British Columbian roads in the coming years,” said Chris O’Riley, President and CEO of BC Hydro. “BC Hydro will have 325 charging units in its network at 145 sites by the end of 2025.”

With transportation accounting for nearly 40% of greenhouse gas emissions in British Columbia, BC Hydro developed its Electrification Plan, which features initiatives to encourage local residents, businesses, and industries to switch from gas-powered cars to electric vehicles.

This new installation further encourages the success of this plan and provides benefits to the local community as it progresses on its energy transition journey.  

“This new charger will help British Columbians get to where they need to go more quickly and reliably, all while using clean energy,” said George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. “More electric chargers bring both environmental and economic benefits as we work towards lowering our climate-changing emissions by 40% by 2030.”

About the Author

EnergyTech Staff

Rod Walton is senior editor for EnergyTech.com. He has spent 14 years covering the energy industry as a newspaper and trade journalist.

Walton formerly was energy writer and business editor at the Tulsa World. Later, he spent six years covering the electricity power sector for Pennwell and Clarion Events. He joined Endeavor and EnergyTech in November 2021.

He can be reached at [email protected]

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