The area’s first high speed public sector electric vehicle charging station is to open early in the new year.
Located just south of the Hwy 16/Hwy 37 roundabout in the commuter parking lot area below the Skeena Landing complex, the station will have two Level 3 high speed charge points and a slower Level 2 one owned by the provincial transportation and infrastructure ministry.
It adds to the ministry’s existing network of charging stations west of Prince George at the Cluculz Rest Area between Prince George and Vanderhoof, at the Savory Rest Area east of Burns Lake and the Boulder Creek Rest Area west of Kitwanga.
“There will be three charging units at the site: the two ‘Flo’ brand chargers are specifically Level 3 chargers (50kW chargers), which are fast chargers, and the third is a Level 2 charger (7.2kW charger), a slower charger that can be used as a backup if the Level 3 chargers need maintenance or are being used,” a transportation ministry update stated.
A widespread network of Level 3 chargers is regarded as the foundation necessary to encourage more people to buy electric vehicles.
In addition to the highway ministry’s network, there are two other Level 3 charging stations along Hwy16 —one in Burns Lake and one in Prince Rupert. These are owned by BC Hydro and the crown corporation has plans to install three more in Smithers, Houston and Kitimat.
Unlike the transportation ministry chargers which are free to use, BC Hydro charges 21 cents a minute.
That BC Hydro rate works out to between $5 and $7 per 100 kilometres of charging power.
Use of the transportation ministry’s network along Hwy16 has not been without troubles. At various times its Level 3 charge points have been out of service because of broken cable connectors.
Repairs have been made but were delayed because of supply chain problems.