Monday, November 16, 2020

Work underway for Prince Rupert electric Charging station

BC Hydro workers back to the installation work on Monday
morning, as they put the finishing touches towards a
new electric vehicle charging station in the city

BC Hydro workers have been busy over the course of the last few days working hard at a site just to the north of the Prince Rupert Court House at First Avenue West and McBride, as they continue with their work on the installation of an electric car charging station in the downtown core.

The new electric charging station (red) is just 
to the west of Mariners Park

The much anticipated arrival of the charging station began late last week with the excavation of the work area and installation of cement supports, with the actual charging station apparatus now in place.

So far Prince Rupert's biggest booster of the new wave for energy, Mayor Lee Brain has not made mention of the significant step in his hopes for a 'cleaner transportation future'; something he hailed earlier this summer with word from the provincial government of the expansion of an electric charging network for the Northwest.

The electrifying activity downtown has also escaped notice of the City's range of information sharing options.

Mr. Brain, who is a member of the BC Climate  Solution Council has long been an advocate for the new energy option for vehicles and most recently spoke to the theme in September.

“This initiative is something that we've been working on at the Charge North Advisory Committee for the last two years and is an example of what can be accomplished when we work together as one to solve common objectives. This infrastructure is key to empowering the use of EVs in the North by our residents and tourists alike, planting the seeds for future economic development and signals that our region welcomes a cleaner transportation future.”

The Prince Rupert station a Level 2 EV charging station is just one of a number of stations that have been proposed for along the Highway 16 corridor between Haida Gwaii and Prince George.

Electric Charging stations (blue) have been proposed for
a number of Northwest and Haida Gwaii locations

In the September update, it was noted that Prince Rupert was destined to receive 2 of the electric charging stations, so where the next one goes could make for a nice diversion for residents as they ponder the possibilities.

So far there is no indication when the switch to turn on the new charging station across from Mariners Park will take place.

To this point there do not appear to be many electric vehicles traversing the streets of the city, with the latest addition to the provincial network perhaps about to go online, it will be worth watching to see if there is a surge in electric car ownership in the area.

Some background on the road to the new energy future can be explored below:

2020

September 1-- "Planting the seeds for future economic development ... signals that our region welcomes a cleaner transportation future": Prince Rupert Mayor Lee Brain hails electric charging network announcement

2019

July 16 -- Province expands on vehicle charging station plans for 2019 
April 2 -- North Coast Regional District to move forward with Recycling Centre upgrade; other notes from March meeting
March 11 -- Mayor Brain to provide an update on plans for electric vehicle charging stations along Highway 16 at  Council tonight
February 6 -- Quest for funding continues, as NCRD hears update for electric charging system plan for Highway 16

2018

August 8 -- North Coast Regional District gains funding for further study on electric charging station plans through FCM/Federal funding announcement
July 9 -- BC Hydro fast charging plans bringing Highway 16 corridor one step closer to charging network
June 7 -- Renewable Rupert the next focus for City's Mayor


2017 


You can learn more about the provincial electric car initiatives from the links below:

Plug in BC

Clean BC

For more items of interest out of the provincial capital see our Legislature archive page.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.




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