Infrastructure Minister Gregor Robertson announced in Victoria, B.C., that the federal government is investing $22.7 million to help build a more robust EV charging network in Canada’s westernmost province.
The plan is to place these chargers along main roads, popular travel routes, public areas, workplaces, and multi-unit residential buildings. Ideally, this will help alleviate range anxiety among prospective EV buyers in the province.
The money is being sent to the Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP), which is run by B.C. Hydro, the city of Victoria, and the district of Saanich. This program will administer the funds and ensure that the chargers are installed where they’re most needed. CBC News reports that there are already over 5,000 existing EV chargers in the province.
The one major caveat here is that there are fewer EVs being sold now than ever before. Ideally, more chargers will help convince more drivers to go electric, especially since B.C. is targeting an ambitious target of 90 per cent of new car sales should be zero-emission vehicles by 2030.
The first hurdle of this ruling kicks in next year when 26 per cent of new light-duty vehicle sales need to be EVs. That said, a new poll shows that most residents in the province are now against the forced adoption of electric cars.
Source: CBC News
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