Electric vehicle charging station may surge visits to downtown Picton
Administrator | Jul 28, 2017 | Comments 0
Recharging in The County has a brand new meaning.
A high-capacity electric vehicle charging station is now online in downtown Picton. Located in the parking lot at 55 King St., the Level 3 charging station, also known as a direct current fast charger (DCFC), can charge an electric vehicle to 80 per cent in about 30 minutes.
The County of Prince Edward received a $75,000 grant in 2016 to install the charging station through the Electric Vehicle Chargers Ontario (EVCO) grant program, part of the broader Ontario Climate Change Action Plan.
“With the surge in popularity of electric vehicles, we welcomed the opportunity to join the growing network of electric vehicle charging stations across the province,” said Mayor Robert Quaiff. “As the highest capacity charger currently between Oshawa and Kingston, this service will help more people choose to drive electric vehicles and support those who have already made the switch.”
The County owns and operates the station, while ChargePoint is the service provider. The station offers the two most common connector types (SAE Combo and CHAdeMO), which will accommodate a majority of electric vehicles. The County is currently offering the charging service free to users.
“We want to raise awareness of the service and encourage people to use it,” said Neil Carbone, Director of Community Development, County of Prince Edward. “This is another amenity that will encourage people to visit The County and explore downtown Picton while they wait for their vehicle to charge.”
In addition to installing the electric vehicle charging station, the County is rehabilitating the parking lot at 55 King St. When the work is completed this fall, the parking lot will include 48 spaces and new lighting.
“Improvements to the parking lot, in addition to the rehabilitation of Benson Park, will go a long way toward revitalizing this important area of downtown Picton and creating better connections between King Street and Main Street,” Carbone added.
Filed Under: Local News
