BC Hydro has opened a new electric vehicle (EV) charging hub in Richmond with eight new charging ports to help support EV adoption in the Lower Mainland.
"This new electric vehicle charge hub in Richmond 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."
This hub site was built in collaboration with Parks Canada and is located in the parking lot of the Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site at 12138 4th Avenue. It has four 180-kilowatt chargers, which can add up to 180-kilometres of driving to an average EV in about 10 minutes.
"This partnership reflects Canada's commitment to sustainability by expanding EV charging infrastructure at national parks and historic sites administered by Parks Canada," said Julie Dabrusin, Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature. "These efforts make it easier for people to explore Canada in a cleaner, greener way, supporting our transition to a low-carbon future."
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. The site features chargers equipped with CCS, NACS, and CHAdeMO connectors in various configurations to accommodate a wide range of EVs.
"Richmond families and businesses now have access to eight new fast-charging ports right here in Steveston," said Kelly Greene, MLA for Richmond-Steveston. "This hub makes driving electric more convenient and connects our community to B.C.'s growing clean transportation network."
BC Hydro also has an existing EV fast-charging site in Richmond with two fast chargers at the Real Canadian Superstore at 4651 Number 3 Road. The two sites now provide a combined 10 charging ports for EV users in the community.
"Parks Canada is proud to partner with BC Hydro to expand electric vehicle charging at places administered by Parks Canada, starting with the Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site in Richmond, British Columbia," said Ron Hallman, President and CEO of Parks Canada Agency. "The partnership with BC Hydro provides a value-added service for visitors and supports the Greening Government Strategy to reduce emissions and promote the use of zero emission vehicles."
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.
"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 in Richmond are part of our investment in electric vehicle infrastructure - supporting EV adoption across the Lower Mainland, reducing range anxiety and helping more British Columbians transition to zero-emission driving."
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 350-kilowatt chargers at some locations, capable of delivering up to 100 kilometers of range in just five 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 784 charging ports at 175 sites in communities throughout B.C. BC Hydro is looking to reach 800 charging ports in its network by spring 2026. And BC Hydro will soon 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.
Contact:
BC Hydro Media Relations
Email: media@bchydro.com
Phone: 604 928 6468
