UBC: BC Hydro has opened a new electric vehicle (EV) charging site at the University of British Columbia with six new charging ports to help support EV adoption in Metro Vancouver.
"This new electric vehicle charge site at UBC 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 850 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."
This site is located on the University Endowment Lands at 3381 Ross Drive. It has three 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 six EVs to use these three chargers at once. The site features chargers equipped with CCS and NACS connectors in various configurations to accommodate a wide range of EVs.
BC Hydro also has an existing EV fast-charging site with two chargers at the Wesbrook Community Centre at 3338 Webber Lane. The two sites now provide a combined eight charging ports for EV users in the community.
"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. "These new EV chargers at UBC are part of our investment in electric vehicle infrastructure - supporting EV adoption across Metro Vancouver, reducing range anxiety and helping more British Columbians transition to zero-emission driving."
The adoption of EVs across British Columbia has increased significantly with more than 220,000 EVs on the road in B.C. As BC Hydro continues to build its fast-charging network, it plans to focus on building more hub sites with multiple chargers along highway corridors and highly populated areas to provide a faster and more convenient experience for its customers.
BC Hydro is working to build a robust EV charging network across the province. Recent milestones include:
- Network expansion: In the past year alone, BC Hydro has tripled the size of its public charging network, adding 418 new charging ports.
- State-of-the-art hubs: About two-dozen new hubs have opened in every region of the province, each featuring 8 to 22 charging ports, to help minimize wait times for drivers.
- Next-gen fast chargers: BC Hydro deployed new 400-kilowatt and 350-kilowatt chargers at some locations, capable of delivering up to 100 kilometers of range in just a few minutes.
- Completion of the Electric Highway: With fast chargers placed about every 150 kilometers along major routes, the Government of B.C. completed the Electric Highway in September 2024. BC Hydro operates 111 of the highway's 155 charging locations, making up more than 70 per cent of the network.
BC Hydro's provincewide fast charging network currently includes 883 charging ports at 188 sites in communities throughout B.C. The chargers are funded in a partnership with the Province of B.C. and Natural Resources Canada.
Contact:
BC Hydro Media Relations
Email: media@bchydro.com
Phone: 604 928 6468
