Summerland, BC — Electric vehicle adoption is on the rise in Summerland, according to recently released municipal data. The information indicates a notable upswing in the utilization of the town’s electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure since 2020.
In a report presented to the Summerland council, Odessa Cohen highlighted substantial increases in the usage of the town’s EV charging stations. The metrics include charging sessions, fees collected, and kilowatt-hours delivered.
In 2020, Summerland’s charging stations dispensed 12,120.7 kilowatt-hours of power, recorded across 1,109 charging sessions. The municipality accrued $19 in charging fees that year. By 2024, a fourfold increase in power delivery was observed, with 48,093 kilowatt-hours distributed during 2,446 charging sessions. Consequently, the municipality collected $20,072 from these sessions in 2024. The number of unique users also grew, with 833 individuals utilizing the stations in 2024, up from 427 in 2023.
Currently, Summerland has 25 publicly available EV charging stations. These are strategically positioned throughout the community: 19 are Level 2 chargers, and six are Level 3 chargers, also known as fast chargers. Demand for the Level 3 chargers is showing a significant rise.
These charging stations are located in prominent areas, including downtown west, Lowertown, Memorial Park, Municipal Hall, and the Turner Street park. Memorial Park leads in usage, closely followed by the downtown west area.
Summerland initially launched its EV charging infrastructure in late April 2013 with the installation of three Level 2 stations, which initially offered free charging. Between 2019 and 2020, Summerland was awarded two grants from Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), allowing for the installation of an additional 22 charging stations, consisting of 16 Level 2 chargers and six Level 3 chargers.
Cohen noted that these charging stations, funded through federal, provincial, and municipal contributions, assist in meeting the federal goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. They also contribute to Summerland’s emission reduction goals, which aim to achieve an 80% reduction by 2050. Further, the charging stations align with the federal target for 100% zero-emission passenger vehicle sales by 2040.
