Qualicum Beach will be getting one of the first high-speed electric vehicle charging stations (DCFC) in the area.
Director of planning Luke Sales said that a year and a half ago when they had BC Hydro install the town’s existing slow charge stations (of which there are now six), they checked a box on the forms that said they might be interested in a high-speed charger.
To the town’s surprise, BC Hydro called recently and said there was a grant available and it would install a DCFC at no cost to the city, except the electricity.
Looking for a highly visible site, Hydro and the town settled on the Memorial side of The Old School House arts centre in the middle of downtown.
Sales said the $80,000 station will charge vehicles in something like 15 minutes rather than six hours. Because it is high voltage equipment, Sales said the electrical use could kick the city into a more expensive rate and cost $80-$100 a month if it is well used.
Asked about insurance issues around public use of the high-power device, director of finance John Marsh said that if something happened, the city would be involved either way, so that will be considered.
BC Hydro said they would like to have the charger operational by this summer.