Motorists in Summerland are increasingly embracing electric vehicles, according to recently released municipal data. The figures reveal a substantial rise in the utilization of the community’s electric vehicle charging stations since 2020. This includes a significant increase in the number of charging sessions, the overall value of charging fees collected, and the total kilowatt-hours of power delivered.
In a report presented to the Summerland council, Odessa Cohen detailed the accelerated use of the town’s electric vehicle charging infrastructure. In 2020, the charging stations provided 12,120.7 kilowatt-hours of power across 1,109 charging sessions, yielding only $19 in collected fees. By 2024, the power delivered had quadrupled, reaching 48,093 kilowatt-hours across 2,446 sessions. The municipality collected $20,072 in fees during that year.
The number of individuals utilizing the electric vehicle charging stations also saw considerable growth. In 2024, a total of 833 users accessed the charging stations, up from 427 users in 2023. Currently, Summerland has a network of 25 public electric vehicle charging stations distributed throughout the community. This network includes 19 Level 2 chargers and six Level 3 chargers. The demand for Level 3 chargers, which are also known as fast chargers, has shown a notable increase.
The charging stations are strategically located in the downtown west area, Lowertown, Memorial Park, Municipal Hall, and Turner Street park. Memorial Park sees the highest usage, followed by the downtown west area. Summerland’s initial foray into electric vehicle charging began in late April 2013, with the installation of three Level 2 stations, which were initially offered without any fees.
Between 2019 and 2020, Summerland was awarded two grants from Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) to facilitate the installation of a total of 22 additional charging stations, consisting of 16 Level 2 chargers and six Level 3 chargers. Cohen highlighted that these charging stations, funded by the federal and provincial governments along with the municipality, are helping to advance the federal government’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. The stations also support Summerland’s own emission reduction objectives, targeting an 80% reduction by 2050. Furthermore, they contribute to the federal target of 100% zero-emission passenger vehicle sales by the year 2040.
