News release

SURREY: BC Hydro opened four fast charging hubs in Surrey over the past six weeks, which feature a total of 20 new 180-kilowatt chargers, adding 40 charging ports across the city. These are BC Hydro's first ever EV fast charging hubs, which brings its fast charging network to more than 200 charging ports in communities throughout the province.

"Surrey is the fastest growing city in British Columbia, and it is great to see that drivers will have more places to fast-charge their vehicle away from home as we continue to build out B.C.'s electric highway," said Bruce Ralston, MLA for Surrey-Whalley. "We will continue to support electric vehicle fast charging in the community so drivers have options when they're on the go."

In collaboration with the City of Surrey, BC Hydro completed its first hub at the Surrey Arts Centre in early June. This location has four 180-kilowatt dual port chargers, which can add up to 180 kilometres of driving to an average EV in about 10 minutes.

Since then, it has opened hubs at three additional locations:

• the North Surrey Sport & Ice Complex hub site (10950 126A Street) with six 180-kilowatt chargers;
• the Surrey Guildford Recreation Centre hub site (15105 105 Avenue) with six 180-kilowatt chargers; and,
• the Surrey Sport and Leisure Complex hub site (16555 Fraser Highway) with four 180-kilowatt chargers.

"A growing number of Surrey residents are making the switch to an electric vehicle from one powered by fossil fuels," said Garry Begg, MLA for Surrey-Guildford. "That's why we are working to expand B.C.'s public charging infrastructure and build an economy powered by clean, affordable electricity."

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. This means up to 40 vehicles can use these new 20 chargers at once.

"These new charge hubs will make electric vehicle charging more convenient and accessible for EV drivers in Surrey," said Mike Starchuk, MLA for Surrey-Cloverdale. "These locations are also wheelchair accessible and are well lit to enhance safety for all users."

All four locations feature a curbless design, cable management systems and a lower display on the new chargers for better accessibility.

"I am happy to see BC Hydro's continued investment in expanding its electric vehicle charging network in Surrey," said Brenda Locke, Mayor of Surrey. "With the completion of these new fast charging hubs, Surrey has now reached a milestone of over 320 public charging stations, making it easier for residents and visitors to transition to cleaner, more sustainable transportation options. As we strive to reduce our carbon footprint and promote a healthier environment for our community, these state-of-the-art fast-charging hubs are a significant step towards achieving our goals. I thank BC Hydro for their ongoing commitment to establishing Surrey as a leader in EV infrastructure."

The adoption of electric vehicles across British Columbia has increased significantly. There are now more than 160,000 EVs on the road in B.C., and BC Hydro predicts there will be between 700,000 and 900,000 EVs within the next 10 years.

"British Columbians are embracing electric vehicles faster than any other jurisdiction in Canada and that's why we are continuing to make investments for growth within our current system and building out our fast charging network across B.C.," says Chris O'Riley, President and CEO of BC Hydro. "These new chargers are part of our expansion plan to achieve geographic connectivity of our EV fast charging network, with a station located at least every 150 kilometres throughout B.C."

BC Hydro's provincewide fast charging network currently includes 223 charging ports at 93 sites in communities throughout B.C. BC Hydro is looking to add 3,000 ports to its network by 2030. The chargers are funded in a partnership with the Province of B.C. and Natural Resources Canada.

Additional files:

• Fast charging hubs in Surrey [PDF, 216 KB]

Contact:
BC Hydro Media Relations
Email: media@bchydro.com
Phone: 604 928 6468