The provincial electric vehicle charging network continues to grow with the recent addition of seven new fast e-charging sites.
The $1,276,000 investment for these additional charging stations includes $926,000 from NB Power and $350,000 from Natural Resources Canada.
NB Power and Natural Resources Canada are also making an additional combined investment of $90,000 to support the development and delivery of an awareness and educational campaign, through NB Power, that aims to increase the awareness of low-carbon vehicles and fuels available in New Brunswick.
"NB Power is proud to help put in place the infrastructure needed to support the adoption of electric vehicles in our province," said NB Power president and CEO Gaëtan Thomas. "Since the launch of our public charging network for electric vehicles in 2017, we have made significant progress in expanding the network to cover the entire province and make New Brunswick the first fully-connected province in Canada for electric vehicles."
The charging network enables owners of electric vehicles to travel around New Brunswick on environmentally-friendly power. Owners of electric vehicles shrink their vehicle carbon emissions by about 80 per cent when they charge up in New Brunswick, said Thomas.
"Our government is proud to be a partner in such a progressive approach towards greener infrastructure in our province," said Environment and Local Government Minister Jeff Carr. "We believe that expanding the network will make the difference for New Brunswickers to embrace electric vehicles more readily along with providing more options to make greener choices as we continue to find ways to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions now and in the future."
The new fast chargers are accompanied by a Level 2 charger at each location. These additional sites bring the provincial eCharge network to 67 level-2 standard charging stations and 26 level-3 fast-charging stations. The new chargers are in the following locations:
- Campbellton
- Caraquet
- Shediac
- Saint Andrews
- St. Stephen
- Sussex
- Fredericton (to be installed in Spring 2019)
"Our government is committed to encouraging change in our transportation choices by building the infrastructure needed for Canadians to drive electric and alternative fuel vehicles," said New Brunswick Southwest MP Karen Ludwig. "EVs are an essential part of Canada's clean energy future and we will continue to support projects like this that encourage the widespread adoption of electric vehicles."
NB Power's eCharge Network aims to enable drivers of electric vehicles to travel around New Brunswick. Drivers of electric vehicles may sign up to the eCharge Network online and download the eCharge Network app for iOS and Android to locate charging stations, add credits to their account and access charging stations. The eCharge Network is interoperable with the Electric Circuit in Quebec and the FLO network's thousands of stations throughout Canada.
Quick facts
- There are currently 67 standard level-2 charging stations available for use in New Brunswick.
- The eCharge Network currently offers 26 level-3 fast-charging stations available for use in the following locations: Aulac, Bathurst, Campbellton, Caraquet, Dieppe, Doaktown, Edmundston, Eel River Bar, Lepreau, Miramichi, Moncton, Perth-Andover, Prince William, Quispamsis, Richibucto, Salisbury, Saint-André, Saint-Quentin, Shediac, Saint Andrews, St. Stephen, Sussex, Tracadie, Waasis, Woodstock and Youngs Cove.
- Both plug-in hybrid and all-electric vehicles can charge at a 120-volt outlet or at standard level-2 charging stations (240 volt).
- An all-electric vehicle can recharge up to 80 per cent in as little as 30 minutes at a fast-charging (level 3 / 400 volt) station.
