Halfway between Quesnel and Prince George, electric vehicle drivers now have twice as much refuelling zap. BC Hydro has completed work on upgrading the fast-charging capacity at Hixon. There is now juice flowing for a new 100-kilowatt charging unit.
“We are working to make it easier for drivers in B.C. to go electric and use more of B.C.’s clean, reliable hydroelectricity,” said Bruce Ralston, Minister of Energy, Mines and Low-Carbon Innovation. “This charging location in Hixon will help make public charging more convenient as a growing number of people in northern British Columbia make the switch to electric vehicles.”
The Hixon site originally opened in January 2020 and is located near the intersection of Cariboo Highway and Colgrove Road. The site was built with one 50-kilowatt charging unit which can add 50 kilometres of driving to an average electric vehicle in about 10 minutes. The additional 100-kilowatt charging unit was brought into service on Nov. 25 which can add 100 kilometres of driving to an average electric vehicle in about 10 minutes. This updated location also includes a curbless design and lower displays on the new charger for better accessibility.
“As the primary fuel supplier for electric vehicles, we are building out charging infrastructure to ensure we can accommodate the volume and variety of electric vehicles that will be on B.C. roads in the coming years,” said Chris O’Riley, president and CEO of BC Hydro. “BC Hydro will add 325 charging units to its network at 145 sites within the next five years.”
BC Hydro’s provincewide fast charging network currently includes 124 charging units at 80 sites in communities throughout BC. The charging stations are funded through a partnership with the Province of BC and Natural Resources Canada.