BC Hydro Expands Electric Vehicle Fast-Charging Stations by Triple in One Year, Aims to Reach 800 Charging Ports by 2026
BC Hydro Expands Electric Vehicle Charging Network in British Columbia
BC Hydro, the primary operator of electric vehicle (EV) charging sites in the province, has been at the forefront of a rapid expansion of charging infrastructure. The expansion supports the growing EV population in British Columbia, currently numbering around 195,000 vehicles.
Over the past year, BC Hydro has tripled the size of its public fast-charging network for electric vehicles in British Columbia. This expansion has seen the installation of more than one charging port per day, bringing the total number of operating charging ports to 591 across the province, up from 173 just one year ago.
BC Hydro operates 111 of the 155 charging sites along these highways, covering more than 70 percent of the network. The "Electric Highway" project, completed by BC Hydro, ensures fast-charging locations are available roughly every 150 kilometers along key travel routes.
Chris O'Riley, President and CEO of BC Hydro, stated that the company is proud to be a key partner in North American electric vehicle adoption and is paving the way to a cleaner, more sustainable, and convenient transportation future for British Columbians.
The current expansion plan for BC Hydro's public fast-charging network involves rolling out fast chargers with power ratings of 180 kilowatts (kW) and higher. BC Hydro also plans to integrate battery storage systems connected to their grid to help manage localized power needs, especially benefiting rural and outage-prone areas such as the Gulf Islands, northern Vancouver Island, and the eastern Kootenays.
The expansion targets higher power chargers, smart grid integration, and supports rural community resilience through energy storage solutions. BC Hydro aims to expand its network to 800 charging ports by spring 2026.
Recent major site expansions include 17 new ports at Vancouver's Kerrisdale hub, 16 at Maple Ridge's Haney Place Mall, and 22 at the Colwood Park & Ride on Vancouver Island. Faster options are on the horizon, with the first 400 kW chargers expected to roll out later this year. These 400-kW chargers will deliver 100 kilometers of range in only three minutes on compatible EVs.
BC Hydro's network expansion supports the increasing demand for EVs in British Columbia. The number of electric vehicles in the province is expected to grow to between 700,000 and 900,000 by the mid-2030s. About 85 percent of the charging ports in the network are classified as fast chargers and support CCS, NACS, and CHAdeMO connectors.
For more information on BC Hydro's EV Charging Progress, please refer to the report below.
[Report on BC Hydro's EV Charging Progress]
[1] BC Hydro. (2022). BC Hydro's EV Charging Progress. Retrieved from https://www.bchydro.com/content/dam/bchydro/docs/about-us/reports/ev-charging-progress-report.pdf
[2] BC Hydro. (2022). BC Hydro's Sustainability Report. Retrieved from https://www.bchydro.com/content/dam/bchydro/docs/about-us/reports/sustainability-report.pdf
[3] BC Hydro. (2022). BC Hydro's 2021 Annual Report. Retrieved from https://www.bchydro.com/content/dam/bchydro/docs/about-us/reports/annual-report-2021.pdf
[4] BC Hydro. (2022). BC Hydro's 2021-2026 Strategic Plan. Retrieved from https://www.bchydro.com/content/dam/bchydro/docs/about-us/reports/strategic-plan-2021-2026.pdf
- The expansion of BC Hydro's public fast-charging network for electric vehicles in British Columbia aligns with the company's long-term strategy, which is outlined in their 2021-2026 Strategic Plan, focusing on both science (technology) and environmental-science, as part of its overall commitment to a cleaner, more sustainable future.
- BC Hydro's financial ambitions also play a significant role in their expansion plans, as the growing popularity of electric vehicles (EVs) in British Columbia presents a prime opportunity for investment and growth, allowing the company to increase its market share in the power and energy sector.
