The City of Surrey has received a $56,000 grant from the Provincial Government to help build 14 new level-two electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.
“It’s important to build viable energy infrastructure in order to support the growing demand for alternative fuel vehicles,” said Mayor Dianne Watts. “Surrey’s new charging stations will give electric vehicle drivers more freedom and flexibility to move throughout the city and the region.”
The City is also taking part in a new Metro Vancouver program to establish a network of 75-150 charging stations throughout the region, in collaboration with the private sector.
“Expanding the market for electric vehicles will go a long way to improving air quality in Metro Vancouver and ensuring more sustainable transportation options. In order to do that, we have to make it considerably easier for drivers to access the power they need,” says Councillor Marvin Hunt, Chair of the Investment and Innovation Committee.
The charging stations will be built at seven civic locations across Surrey:
- Ocean Park Library – 1 station
- Surrey Museum – 1 station
- Surrey Arts Centre – 1 station
- Surrey Sport and Leisure – 1 station
- Guildford Recreation Centre – 1 station
- New City Hall – 8 charging stations: 3 Public and 5 Fleet
- Existing City Hall – 1 station
City staff is proceeding with detailed design and a procurement process for the 14 stations and exploring policies relating to “pay-for-use”.
The funding has been allocated through the Provincial Community Charging Infrastructure Fund (CCIF), which is managed by the Fraser Basin Council. The grant provides $4,000 per station, with each station costing, on average, $7,000. The City will cover the remainder of the installation costs. The stations will be up and running no later than March 31, 2013.
The City of Surrey has received the prestigious E3 Fleet Gold Rating from the Fraser Basin Council, and has implemented a number of additional green fleet initiatives, including:
- Creating a new by-law that requires all new gas stations to include alternative vehicle fuel sources such as electricity, compressed natural gas, hydrogen or propane
- Diversifying its fleet with hybrid, hydrogen fuel cell, electric, and compressed natural gas vehicles
- Becoming the first major Canadian city to host free electric vehicle charging at City Hall
- Becoming the only Canadian city to host three hydrogen fuelling stations
- Creating Canada’s first 100% compressed natural gas municipal waste collection fleet
- Moving forward with plans to establish an organics biofuel facility that will process residential and commercial kitchen and yard waste into fuel, which would then be used to power vehicles, including the City’s waste collection fleet
