Canadian Legislative Updates

The Vancouver Electric Vehicle Association is encouraging the City of Victoria to put in place more charging stations, which will in turn encourage more electric vehicles.

A representative for the association highlighted that creating more stations would help promote electric vehicles, and also noted that similar facilities could be implemented for users of electric bikes or mobility scooters.

It has been highlighted that the City of Victoria currently has one-tenth of the necessary stations in order to encourage people to adopt electricity as an alternate fuel to gasoline.

The province is currently in the midst of seeking a private administrator to manage a $2.7 million Community Charging Infrastructure Fund. The Ministry of Environment has invited municipal, regional, and First Nations governments and institutions to apply for money to install charging stations until March 31, 2013. The Ministry’s request for proposals highlighted that it will take considerable time and strong policies to bring new clean-energy vehicles into the mainstream market.

Provincial funds will be allocated to 300 charging stations rated as Level 2.