For immediate release
Langley, BC – The President of the New Car Dealers Association of BC says an announcement by the province that will create an additional 44 electric vehicle charging stations brings us a step closer to the creation of an EV highway that supports the increasing adoption of zero emission vehicles.
BC’s New Car Dealers have worked immensely hard with the provincial government over the past decade to encourage and support the adoption of EVs. Key aspects of the CleanBC Program have included incentives on the purchase of new EVs, ongoing education about the latest technology and features across all brands, and policy and funding decisions that have facilitated access to fast charging stations across the province.
As a result of the latest announcement, the province suggests fourteen communities will benefit from the charging stations. The program is funding two fast-charging stations each in Coquitlam, Nanaimo, Surrey, Quesnel, Mission, Port Alberni, Summerland, Kitimat and Kelowna, and four fast-charging stations in Vancouver. The program is also funding two fast-charging stations and four Level 2 charging stations in Whistler, as well as three fast-charging stations and one Level 2 charging station in Richmond. Terrace will receive four fast-charging stations while Victoria will receive eight fast-charging stations.
“We know that consumers respond to rebates, especially when they know they are achieving an environmental objective, but access to charging where we live, work and drive cannot be overstated,” says Blair Qualey, President, and CEO of the New Car Dealers Association of BC (NCDA). “Where range anxiety was once a significant concern among perspective EV owners, today it is much less so because of announcements like the one we are seeing today that will see more charging options for drivers.”
The BC government has made significant investments in recent years, supporting the developing of more than 2,000 public Level 2 charging stations, 200 public fast-charging sites, and over 480 fast-charging stations. The goal is to complete the provincial Electric Highway by 2024 and 10,000 public EV charging stations by 2030. These measures are meant to support BC’s ambitious targets for zero-emission vehicles which would see 90% of all new light-duty vehicle sales in the province be ZEVs by 2030 – and an ultimate goal of 100% by 2035.
About the New Car Dealers Association of BC: The NCDA is the provincial industry association that represents over 400 new car and truck dealers throughout British Columbia. Members of the Association provide over 27,000 family supporting jobs for British Columbians and are responsible for over $15.6 Billion of retail sales in the province.
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Media Contact:
Kelly Gleeson
[email protected]
604-240-6231
