Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Coming to the Comox Valley

Comox Valley residents will soon have more options for plugging in electric vehicles thanks to funding support from the Province of British Columbia and Government of Canada, as new Level 2 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations will be installed throughout the region next year.

The Regional District of Nanaimo, in partnership with 11 other local and regional governments, will install a total of 28 new charging stations across Vancouver Island, with ten to be located in the Comox Valley. Four stations to be installed in the Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD), three in the City of Courtenay, two in the Village of Cumberland, and one in the Town of Comox.

This expansion of the existing network of charging stations across Vancouver Island is the result of an investment from all levels of government. Approximately $230,000 from the Province’s CleanBC Communities Fund and $275,000 from the federal government’s Green Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) will be available for the project, with participating local governments together investing more than $183,000. 

While the Comox Valley Regional District and Town of Comox have already considered appropriate locations for the EV charging stations, final decisions will be subject to site feasibility measures as the project progresses. The City of Courtenay and the Village of Cumberland will be deciding on the locations of charging stations in their communities later this fall.

“The installation of these new charging stations in key locations across the Valley will be a great benefit to our community that is looking towards a greener future,” said CVRD Board Chair Jesse Ketler. “By expanding electric vehicle charging access across our region, we are making cleaner transportation options viable for more residents and visitors.”

With grant funding in place, participating Mid-Vancouver Island governments will collaborate on the final site locations as well as a joint Request for Proposals for the charging station supply and installation. The installations are expected to begin sometime in 2021.

This expansion of EV charging stations across Vancouver Island will create greater opportunities for clean transportation, helping to make electric cars a viable option for residents while reducing pollution and supporting local green energy solutions.