Electric-vehicle charging network planned for N.L. in 2020

Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro has laid out its plan toinstall a network of high-speedelectric-vehicle charging stations across the island portion of the province, hoping to have it up and running by the end of 2020.

The energy utility posted a tenderWednesdayinviting bids for land leases for 14 such stations near or on the Trans-Canada Highway, in specific locations from Port aux Basques to St. John's. That would then lead to the installation of Level 3 chargers, which take between 30 minutes to an hour to charge an electric vehicle.

"Hydro is actively working to bring the province more in line with EV accessibility levels seen across the country," said a spokesperson for NL Hydroin a statement. The utility declined an interview.

In the last two years, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia have installed similar provincial networks, and Newfoundland and Labradoris currently the only province in Canada without any publicly available Level 3 chargers.

But the key to catching up with the rest of the country is cash. NL Hydro stated the project depends on funding, and if that is not approved it could cancel the plan at any time.

Despite that potential problem, the head of an electric-car lobby group is applauding the tender.

"If they follow the same type of chargers that have been installed elsewhere in Atlantic Canada, we will end up with a very nice, robust networkthat will allow anybody with any electric car of just about any age to traverse back and forth across the island," said John Seary.

However, Seary, who saidhis organization has lobbied for such a networkat least the last two years, doessee one major shortcoming.

"This is a first step. It's along the Trans-Canada it does not include the Burin, it does not go up into Labrador or up the Northern Peninsula, et cetera," he said.

"However, you start with your primary corridors first, and then from there you can see where your traffic flows are and get a lot of information from that."

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Encouraging electric

NL Hydro's tender looksto lease land in order to install and manage its charging stations. It calls for two parking spaces at each stations, to be available for use 24 hours a day, with room for possible expansion.

"Hydro expects that this project will materially increase the numberof EVs in Newfoundland and Labrador," the tender stated.

Less than one per cent of cars in the province are electric or hybrid models, according to Service NL.

While several Level 2 charging stations exist across the island at private businesses, capable offully charging vehiclesovernight, the tender noted that increasing charging infrastructure iskey to encouraging more drivers toswitch to electric.

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Seary agreed, sayingthe No. 1 questionhe gets from potential ownersis how they can easily charge cars on a cross-island trip.

"This will allow them to make that trip, the odd time that they want to do it, and do it quite easily," he said.

However, similar expectations elsewhere haven't always led to results. New Brunswick expected a surge in ownership after it installed a provincewide network of chargers, but so far has fallen 80 per cent short of its predictions.

But Searysees additional incentive to switch in this province, as electricity rates are set to spike in Newfoundland and Labrador by 2021 as the Muskrat Falls project comes online and the province looks for ways to mitigate the increase.

He and Drive Electric NL havepresented its case to the province's Public Utilities Board, saying that more electric vehicles on the road could soak up some of Muskrat Falls's surplus power, and help keep ratepayers from having to pay for that surplus via taxes.

Seary said he spends about $800 annually on electricity to fuel his Tesla, compared with his former gas bills of around $4,000 a year.

Save onfuel, spend on meals

While EVs save on fuel bills, Seary said, the new charging network also offers businesses and the province a few ways to make money.

The tender specifies charging stations must be located within a certain distance to the TCH and to the necessary electrical infrastructure, but Seary urged more than just gas stations to apply as hosts.

"As the charging environment matures, people are realizing, 'Hey, Ihave a small sandwich shop if Ican put a charger on the premises or have one located nearby, Ican encourage customers to come over and have a meal here,'" he said.

To that end, the tender also stated that land providers can expect increased traffic, and therefore "no compensation in the form of rent or otherwise will be paid to the owners."

Seary also said he has fielded inquiries from as far away as California from electric-vehicle owners who are hoping to drive across Newfoundland and Labrador, and waiting for such a network.

"There is a tourism market that's waiting for us to have this done. And it's the right kind of tourist for us," he said.

"They're not the ones who fly into St. John's, drive out an hour or two here and there, and then go again. They're the ones who want to drive around and visit all the parts of the province."

NL Hydro's tender closes Nov. 13, with plans for construction to begin in the summer of 2020.

It does not specify what funding it'swaiting on to make the network possible, butNatural Resources Canada is currently considering submitted requests for suchfunding projects.

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