We're making it easier to switch to an EV in B.C.

The Government of B.C.'s most recent Climate Leadership Plan aims to reduce net annual greenhouse gas emissions by up to 25 million tonnes below current forecasts by 2050.

The plan's initial 21 action items include making electric vehicles (EVs) more affordable and buildings more energy efficient.

BC Hydro's electricity generation was 97% clean for the fiscal year ending on March 31, 2019, and the plan calls for 100% of the additional electricity we acquire to be from renewable or clean sources, except where concerns regarding reliability or costs must be addressed.

BC Hydro's involvement

Information, rebates, infrastructure & grid readiness

We're helping B.C. get better prepared for the adoption of EVs by:

  • Providing a network of public fast chargers, which we are continually expanding across the province
  • Investigating challenges and barriers to EV charging in all different types of communities, and identifying opportunities for innovation and solutions
  • Working with Powertech Labs on charging stations and smart grid demonstration projects
  • Assessing the fast charging market and researching next-generation architecture to keep up with growing and evolving market needs
  • Developing a technology road map to assess how the EV market will evolve and how we can accommodate those changes
  • Providing customers with trusted, neutral and up-to-date information about the EV market
  • Administering and partnering with the Government of B.C.'s EV charger rebate program
  • Providing certified electrician recommendations to EV owners looking to install charging infrastructure
  • Identifying and supporting opportunities to reduce GHG emissions in BC as the fuel source for clean energy vehicles

We've also partnered with Natural Resources Canada to develop the Canadian EV Infrastructure Deployment Guidelines [PDF, 2.5 MB]

Installing an EV charger

ecoENERGY Innovation Initiative Demonstration Component Report

Increased system demand

Can the BC Hydro electrical system handle the increase in demand?

The increased demand from more EVs is something we've been planning for and will be able to supply. We're predicting there will be around 350,000 EVs on B.C. roads by 2030. This is estimated to add an additional 1,050 gigawatt hours of electricity load per year. The majority of charging takes place overnight, which is when residential power load from things like cooking, heating and lighting is the lowest.

We have also examined a future scenario with a dozen EV owners on the same street charging all at once. If 12 EVs are plugged into Level 2 chargers, this is simply the equivalent of running a dozen ovens at the same time.

We continually monitor the usage of each distribution feeder and perform equipment upgrades as needed.