By: JGK Staff
BC Hydro has launched its first fast-charging hub on Vancouver Island in Colwood, featuring eight new charging ports for electric vehicles (EVs) at Quarry Park. This initiative, a collaboration with the City of Colwood, aims to make clean energy options more accessible and support the increasing number of EV drivers in British Columbia.
The Colwood hub includes four 180-kilowatt chargers, capable of adding approximately 180 kilometers of driving range to an average EV in about 10 minutes. These advanced units also offer dual charging, allowing two vehicles to use a single charger simultaneously by splitting the power (e.g., two 90-kilowatt outputs). This means up to eight EVs can be charged at once using the four chargers. The site is designed to be wheelchair accessible, with a curbless design, cable management systems, and lower displays on the chargers.
The adoption of EVs in British Columbia is rapidly growing, with over 180,000 EVs currently on the road. BC Hydro anticipates this number will rise to between 700,000 and 900,000 within the next decade. The new charging hub in Colwood is expected to support this growth, reduce range anxiety for EV owners on Vancouver Island, and contribute to reduced climate impacts and improved air quality. It is also seen as a way to stimulate the local economy by attracting eco-conscious businesses and creating new opportunities in renewable energy infrastructure.
BC Hydro plans to continue expanding its fast-charging network by building more multi-charger hub sites along highway corridors and in densely populated areas. Future hubs are planned for Vancouver, Maple Ridge, and Port Moody. Currently, BC Hydro’s network consists of 432 charging ports at 135 sites across the province. The company aims to nearly double its network to 800 charging ports by the spring of 2026. This expansion is funded through a partnership with the Province of British Columbia and Natural Resources Canada.
