Seamus O’Regan Jr., Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, on February 1 announced a $200,000 investment to install four electric vehicle (EV) fast-chargers at the Nanaimo Airport to encourage the adoption of zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) by British Columbians, as part of the Government of Canada’s commitment to building a clean energy future.

The Government of British Columbia, through the CleanBC Go Electric Program, and the Nanaimo Airport also each contributed $100,000 to this initiative, bringing the total project cost to $400,000.

The EV chargers, funded through Natural Resources Canada’s Electric Vehicle and Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Deployment Initiative, are now available for public use. The installation supports the government’s goal to have 100 per cent of passenger vehicle sales being ZEV by 2040 by giving Canadians more options on their roads.

“Canadians want greener options to get to where they need to go. We’re giving it to them. This is how we get to net zero by 2050,” O’Regan said. To make electric vehicles more affordable, the government is providing incentives of up to $5,000 for consumer purchases and full tax write-offs for businesses.

The government states it has provided over $600 million to help make EVs more affordable and infrastructure more readily available. This includes support for the establishment of a coast-to-coast network of fast chargers, as well as charging in more localized areas, such as retail stores, apartment buildings, on-street and workplaces. This investment also includes establishing natural gas refuelling stations along freight corridors and hydrogen stations in metropolitan centres.

“We take pride in being pro-active with our environmental stewardship and we are always looking to enhance our great customer service. These EV stations serve both strategic objectives,” said Dave Devana, President and CEO, Nanaimo Airport. “The EV Stations will reduce our greenhouse gas emissions while enabling us to embrace sustainability.”

The total project cost of the electric vehicle fast-chargers at the Nanaimo Airport is $400,000. (Photo: Nanaimo Airport)