Electric vehicle use is on the rise in Summerland, according to recent data released by the municipality. The figures reveal a substantial increase in activity at the community’s electric vehicle charging stations since 2020.
In a report presented to the Summerland council, Odessa Cohen detailed the significant growth in charging station utilization. The numbers encompass charging sessions, the total revenue from charging fees, and the total kilowatt-hours (kWh) of power delivered.
In 2020, Summerland’s charging stations provided 12,120.7 kWh of power across 1,109 charging sessions, generating only $19 in fees. By 2024, the power delivered had quadrupled to 48,093 kWh, and charging sessions increased to 2,446. Consequently, the municipality saw a significant rise in revenue, collecting $20,072 from these sessions.
The data also shows an increase in the number of residents utilizing the charging stations. In 2024, 833 individuals used the stations, compared to 427 in the previous year. Summerland currently has a total of 25 public electric vehicle charging stations across the community. These include 19 Level 2 chargers and six Level 3, or fast, chargers. The Level 3 chargers have been experiencing heightened demand.
The charging stations are located in various areas, including the downtown west, Lowertown, Memorial Park, Municipal Hall, and Turner Street park. Memorial Park experiences the highest usage, followed closely by the downtown west area.
Summerland’s initiative began in late April 2013 with the installation of three Level 2 charging stations, which were initially offered free of charge. In 2019 and 2020, the municipality secured two grants from NRCan to install an additional 22 charging stations, comprising 16 Level 2 and six Level 3 chargers.
According to Cohen, these charging stations, funded by federal, provincial, and local sources, are aligning with the federal goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, as well as Summerland’s local emissions reduction target of 80% by the same year. Furthermore, these stations support the federal mandate of 100% zero-emission passenger vehicle sales by 2040.
