Will Delta residents who own electric vehicles (EV) eventually be able to have access to faster charging stations at city-owned public facilities?
That remains to be seen as the City of Delta currently has no Level 3 charging stations available for public use. The stations are also known as DC Fast Charge stations.
During a recent update to council on Delta’s Electric Vehicle Strategy, which was endorsed by council in 2020, it was noted that Level 3 charging stations come at a significant cost compared to Level 2 stations.
Mike Brotherston, Manager of Climate Action and Environment, said a plan is in the works for a North Delta Level 3 location, and it’s hoped provincial government funding will help offset the higher cost.
The city’s network of Level 2 stations are “intended as a top-up and not a full charge” for those seeking a charge at a city-owned facility, he explained.
In 2019, BC Hydro installed a Level 3 station at the South Delta Recreation Centre to fill a gap in its provincial network of fast charging stations.
Available for public use with a fee, it was the only fast charge station at a Delta facility, but not part of the city’s network.
That station can charge one vehicle at a time and has been well used since it was installed, according to a previous Delta staff report.
BC Hydro last year began looking to further expand its network of public fast charging stations and identified the South Delta Recreation Centre site as an ideal location for another.
Delta council then agreed to amend a licence agreement with BC Hydro to use additional parking stalls at the recreation centre to install and operate up to three additional fast charge stations.
BC Hydro and Delta staff also had discussions about installing additional DC Fast Charge stations in North Delta. They were also looking at the possibility of securing funding under the Natural Resources Canada’s Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program to have those stations in all three communities.
Brotherston told council fast charge stations are more ideally located near transportation corridors where people travel longer distances.
“So, moving forward, we’re certainly looking at increasing the number of city Level 3, or fast charge, stations, and looking for funding sources for those,” he added.
Delta’s Electric Vehicle Strategy was endorsed by council in 2020.
The city from 2019 to 2021 installed 30 Level 2 charging stations at 10 civic facilities.
