Environment

Vancouver Condos may have to get Electric Car Charging Stations

by Amy Judd | July 7, 2009 at 12:20 pm

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Vancouver condos may be forced to get electric car charging stations in their parking lots, despite the fact that there are less than 10 electric cars currently in use in the city.

On Thursday July 9th, city staff are going to recommend to the council that the charging stations be installed in about 10 per cent of the new parking spaces and in some public city lots.

Don Chandler, past president of the Vancouver Electric Vehicle Association, says the move is essential.

"You're not going to go out and buy an electric vehicle if you don't have a place to plug it in. And Vancouver in particular is really lacking in that," said Chandler.

The city staff has said that it will be cheaper to install the stations now, rather than have to go back and install them later. It is estimated that the cost will be $500 to $2,000 for each stall.

Mayor Gregor Robertson has voiced his support:

"Electric vehicles are being increasingly adopted around the world, and we need to be leaders in supporting them.… Making our city friendly for electric vehicle infrastructure is a major step towards becoming the world’s greenest city."

Not everyone is agreeing that it will be money well spent however.