Highway 16/97 Electric Vehicle Charging Network Collaboration

The proposed project will engage 43 local governments along the route from Kamloops to Haida Gwaii in British Columbia, in order to develop an Electric Vehicle (EV) network of fast charging stations.In rural communities, transportation is often more than half of the GHG emissions and over two thirds of the annual energy cost in the community. Transportation electrification is one of the only ways to address these emissions and costs in slow growing rural communities. Electric vehicles are in the plans of the local governments, but limited capacity in small communities to research and plan the infrastructure, combined with the necessity for extensive collaboration to make EV’s practical in the region, has stalled progress. This project addresses these issues by bringing the capacity for communities to design a network to support local priorities, economic development and transportation options for residents. The individual communities will decide the best locations for stations based on local priorities and feasibility, the capital structure, the ownership and operation model and overall project direction. Our collaborative approach recognizes that northern BC’s rural and dispersed population demands customized, innovative transportation solutions that reflect the region’s unique geography and climate conditions. Integration with regional tourism marketing, as well as public and car dealer outreach, will be key components of the project.In addition, the study will identify opportunities to integrate solar photovoltaic canopies for charging stations to increase awareness of local renewable energy and explore an integrated narrative of home energy retrofits, local renewables, and electric vehicles resulting in driving on sunshine.The proposed study will build upon lessons learned from both Accelerate Kootenays and Southern Alberta EV Collaboration, both community-driven approaches to electrifying rural areas.This study will set up the opportunity to achieve significant benefits including:• Decrease community-wide greenhouse gas emissions• Drive economic development through EV tourism• Increase transportation choices for residents and businesses • Reduce transportation costs and vehicle maintenance for new EV owners