Vaughan civic centre resource library gets 2 electric vehicle charging stations

Yorkregion.com
May 2, 2016
By Adam Martin-Robbins

Those who drive electric cars in Vaughan will soon be able to juice up their vehicles while kicking back and catching up on some light reading or browsing the stacks for a copy of the latest best seller.

A pair of Level 2 charging stations, which can fully charge a vehicle in four to six hours, is being installed at the new civic centre resource library on Major Mackenzie Drive, next door to city hall.

City officials are hoping to roll them out in time for the library's grand opening in September.

The provincial government drove the local initiative by flowing $17,500 in funding to the city.

That money is part of the $20 million Queen's Park is dishing out to create a network of nearly 500 electric vehicle charging stations across the province.

Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca, MPP for Vaughan, announced earlier this week the government is teaming up with 27 private and public sector partners to install charging stations in more than 250 locations including along highways, at businesses and condominiums and in some public places.

The hope is that creating a network of charging stations will relieve “range anxiety” some consumers feel about the distances electric vehicles can travel compared to regular cars and trucks, he said.

While Vaughan scored a couple of Level 2 charging stations, some locations will be outfitted with Level 3 charging stations - or Direct Current Fast Chargers - that can charge a vehicle to 80 per cent in 30 minutes. Other locations will have both types.

This move comes on the heels of increased incentives for electric car buyers, with the province offering rebates of up to $14,000, but those rebates are capped at $3,000 for vehicles priced between $75,000 and $150,000.

Vehicles costing more than $150,000 are not eligible for rebates.

There are an estimated 6,400 electric vehicles on Ontario roads, according to provincial officials.