Pitt Meadows has a new electric vehicle charging hub.
The hub has 12 new charging ports and was opened by BC Hydro at Pitt Meadows Athletic Park.
“This new charging hub strengthens our community’s connectivity and advances our climate action goals,” said Mayor Nicole MacDonald.
“By making it easier for people to drive electric, we are reducing local emissions and supporting the transition to cleaner transportation,” added the Pitt Meadows mayor.
The new site has four 180-kilowatt chargers, which can add up to 180-kilometres of driving to an average EV in about 10 minutes.
In addition to being faster, the units also offer dual charging or power sharing, which allows two customers to use the same charger.
For example, a 180-kilowatt charger can adjust to provide two 90-kilowatt charging units, which allows up to eight EVs to use these four chargers at once.
There are also four Level 2 chargers which can accommodate drivers based on the duration of their stay.
Lisa Beare, MLA for Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows said Pitt Meadows is proud to be part of B.C.’s growing EV charging network.
Beare noted the hub will give local families and businesses more access to clean, affordable transportation options.
“These new BC Hydro chargers will make it easier for drivers in our community and across the Lower Mainland to choose zero-emission vehicles and help build a more sustainable future,” she added.
This hub site was built in collaboration with the City of Pitt Meadows and is located in the parking lot of the Pitt Meadows Athletic Park at 11431 Bonson Road.
BC Hydro said they are working to build a robust EV charging network across the province.
The crown corporation noted it has tripled the size of its public charging network, adding 418 new charging ports over the past year, and about two dozen new hubs have opened up in every region of the province, each featuring eight to 22 charging ports, to help minimize wait times for drivers.
BC Hydro also stated that it has deployed new 350-kilowatt chargers at some locations, capable of delivering up to 100 kilometers of range in just five minutes, and that as of September, 2024, the B.C. government had completed the “Electric Highway” with fast chargers placed about every 150 kilometers along major routes – with BC Hydro operating 111 of the highway’s 155 charging locations, making up more than 70 per cent of the network.
“This new electric vehicle charge hub in Pitt Meadows continues our work with BC Hydro and other partners to make cleaner options more accessible and affordable for all British Columbians,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions.
“With more than 750 BC Hydro charging ports now available in communities throughout B.C., we are building a public charging network that’s ready to meet the growing demand for electric vehicles and will support economic growth in our province.”
There are currently more than 215,000 EVs on the road in B.C. , said BC Hydro, noting it plans to focus on building more hub sites with multiple chargers along highway corridors and highly populated areas.
BC Hydro’s provincewide network currently includes 770 charging ports at 173 sites in communities throughout the province.
BC Hydro is expecting to have 800 charging ports in its network by spring 2026.
Later this year, the crown corporation will debut its first 400-kilowatt charger, offering 100 kilometres of range in just three minutes. The chargers are funded in a partnership with the Province of B.C. and Natural Resources Canada.
“We’re expanding B.C.’s clean electricity supply and strengthening our provincial grid to power homes, businesses, industry and the future of transportation,” said Charlotte Mitha, president and CEO of BC Hydro.
MacDonald said she appreciates the partnership between the City of Pitt Meadows, BC Hydro, and the province as they continue to build the infrastructure that helps Pitt Meadows meet its commitments to environmental stewardship.